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The most important threats to postcommunist new democracies are the following: persistence of Leninist mentalities and authoritarian practices; cynicism; longing for authoritarian paternalism; nationalism; absence of moral clarity and delays in coming to terms with the totalitarian past; ideological confusion, weakness of political parties, and rise of populist anti-systemic demagogues; institutional weakness; inconsistencies in developing accountability and rule of law; and widespread corruption. To understand how East-Central European societies have evolved since 1989, we must understand the building blocks that contribute to the establishment and functioning of open societies.