Content.- Introduction: Conceptualising the Analysis of “Making Regions” in Post-socialist Europe.- 1 Research Idea: History and Regional Diversity.- 2 Transformation, Modernisation, and Path Dependent Change — the Theoretical Context (1).- 3 Path Dependence and Macro-political Constraints: Actors, Institutions, Cultural Resources — Approaches to Change and Continuity in Change.- 4 The “Region” from the Perspective of the Western Debate — the Theoretical Context (II).- 5 Actors, Institutional Arrangements, Networks and Discourse — Approaching “Making Regions” in the Context of Transformation.- 6 Research Design and Approach to the Field.- Transformation Regimes and Legal Frameworks for Local and Regional Development Policy in Poland and Hungary.- 1 Transformation Regimes in Poland and Hungary: Legacies, Actors, Strategies (Melanie Tatur).- 2 Building the Legal Framework for Local and Regional Development Policy in Poland (Andrzej Bukowski).- 3 Building the Legal Framework for Local and Regional Development Policy in Hungary (Melanie Tatur).- Malopolska: Making Tradition Work.- 1 Introduction.- 2 History: Reference Points of Regional Identity Discourse.- 3 Malopolska Today: Socio-economic Profile.- 4 History and Interests: Defining Regional Identity.- 5 Actors and Institutional Arrangements in Regional Development Policy.- 6 Strategies in Regional Development Policy.- 7. Conclusion.- Hajdú-Bihar Case Study: Corporatist “Partnership” or Elitist Clientelism?.- 1 Central Questions.- 2 History: Identity and Institutions.- 3 Economy and Space.- 4 Regional Actors, Strategies, Arrangements.- 5 Preemptive Institution-building and Grounded Institutionalisation: Hajdú-Bihar and the Polish Cases Compared.- Sector Versus Region, Homogeneity VersusDiversity. The Silesian-Dqbrowa Coal and Steel District in the Context of Linked Areas.- 1 Introduction.- 2 The Historical Background of Regional Identity Discourse.- 3 The Dinosaurs Are Dying out, But Where are the Mammals? The Economic-social Profile of the Katowice/Silesian Voivodship.- 4 The Contraction, Downsizing, and Weakening of Heavy Industry.- 5 Making a Region under Centralised, Fragmented and Politicised Governance from Warsaw (1989-1997).- 6 The Administrative Reform, Supra-regional Developments, and the Region-making (1998-2002).- 7 From Sector to Region. Real Change or Just Wishful Thinking.- 8 Conclusion.- References.

The study combines the debate on regionalisation with transformation research. It regards the formation of regional actors and institutions not primarily from the perspective of formal organisational structures, but also a consequence of the macro-political transformation regime and region-specific opportunity structures. These structures include evonomic restrictions, historical legacies and cultural resources that are conveyed in present informal mechanisms, personal networks, discourses, and development strategies.

The qualitative empirical approach offers a vivid picture of regional developments. The two volumes cover Malopolska and Silesia (Poland), Hajdu-Bihar County (Hungary), Timis County (Romania), and the L'viv and Donetsk regions (Ukraine).