Final answer:
The difficulty in creating democracy and market economies in Eastern Europe post-Soviet Union is due to the lack of experience with democratic practices, the revival of ethnic conflicts, and the need to develop entirely new political and economic systems during a period of significant upheaval.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Eastern Europe faced significant challenges in transitioning to democracy and market economies. The reason it was so difficult lies in several factors:
- The regions had limited experience with democratic structures and market-driven economies due to decades of centralized control and planned economies under Communism.
- There was a resurgence of ethnic conflicts and nationalistic tensions once the overarching Soviet influence disappeared, complicating the political landscape.
- Many of the countries had to simultaneously build new political systems while addressing economic hardship and fostering private ownership and capitalism, often in the presence of old networks of power.
Moreover, transitioning countries were also integrating into the European community and adjusting to the ideals of the European Union, which required extensive reforms and adoption of new legal frameworks and standards.