Dependent capitalism in Central and Eastern Europe: long‑term trends and new shocks
To cite this article: Butkaliuk, V. 2026. Dependent capitalism in Central and Eastern Europe: long-term trends and new shocks. Futur Bus J 12, 225 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-026-00932-4
Abstract
This article examines the long-term consequences of the development strategies adopted by post-socialist economies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which are characterised by large-scale inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the significant involvement of foreign capital in transformational processes. It analyses how FDI has reshaped economic structures whilst creating a specific vulnerability pattern. Whilst supporting productivity growth, export expansion, and partial convergence, FDI has also deepened dependence on transnational corporations, external financing and international production networks. An analysis of the global financial crisis (2007–2009), the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020s geopolitical upheavals shows that these shocks exposed the sensitivity of CEE economies to shifts in external demand, capital flows and corporate strategies without fundamentally altering the underlying structure of dependence. The article concludes that these strategies combine persistent structural dependence with a notable capacity for adjustment and recovery.
Keywords: CEE, FDI, Dependent market economy, Post-socialist transformation, Neoliberalism
Full text: https://rdcu.be/fuyrU
Global Inequality in the Age of Militarised Capitalism
Anatolii Arseienko & Vitalina Butkaliuk
To cite this article: Anatolii Arseienko & Vitalina Butkaliuk (15 Sep 2025): Global Inequality in the Age of Militarised Capitalism, International Critical Thought, DOI: 10.1080/21598282.2025.2546467
Abstract
The article explores how rising military spending, linked to the militarisation of capitalist economies, has affected the working class since the end of the Eastern Bloc and the Warsaw Pact. It highlights the significant increase in military budgets in the United States and other NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) countries, despite promises that these funds would be used to address domestic issues. The authors argue that this militarism has led to more wars, has boosted capital accumulation for large corporations, and has worsened inequality, driving some countries back to early 20th century levels. The reliance on military force in both foreign and domestic policies has also weakened trade unions and collective bargaining. The growing gap between rich and poor is due to income differences, uneven tax burdens, and reduced support for the needy. Many families now struggle with costs like education and healthcare. The worsening situation for workers and the shrinking middle class requires a stronger fight against militaristic policies and for global peace.
Keywords: Militarisation of the capitalist economy; peace dividend; militarism; neoliberalism; inequality.
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/21598282.2025.2546467
Vitalina Butkaliuk 