Introduction

Taken as a whole, the experience of European countries in transition (CITs) represents a unique contribution to the sustainable development discourse, globally and regionally. At one historical moment, transition redefined the context for sustainable development discourse in Europe. Yet, surprisingly, the lessons learned in human, technical, and governance terms are rarely expressed or applied by CIT governments in international forums. The opportunity for doing so with one voice rapidly gave way to divergent perspectives as the forces unleashed following the fall of Communism took sway. CIT governments set differing social, economic, and environmental priorities on the basis of reemergent national consciousness, local conflicts, urgent restructuring, and regional integration into new blocs. Nevertheless, a common ecological consciousness of transition has persisted. It emerges occasionally on the political level but more significantly is embodied in special regional institutions and the new civil society. Simultaneously, the relevant international forums have undergone a perceptible shift towards more inclusive mechanisms in international law- and policy-making. It is through this shift from government to governance that some voice has been given to the lessons learned from transition in the sustainable development discourse.

Convergence and divergence

Convergence

Shared ecological consciousness

The late 1980s and early 1990s was a time when ecological consciousness erupted throughout Europe to such an extent that borders no longer mattered and those systems reliant upon strong artificial borders disintegrated. The role of environmentalism in the politics of transformation, revolution, and transition in Eastern Europe is well established.