What Is Everyday Life Like After Communism? East European countries have been experiencing a ~ajor peri~d oftransition. State Communism, dependence, and command economres are bemg superseded by democracy, independence, andcapitalism. Yet, within are latively short period, it has become clear that many East Europeans are ambivalent about these changes. This has been reflected, for example, in the electoral victories of former Communists in various countries. What has been far less clear for many foreign observers is why such ambivalent sentiments have become prevalent.