Susan Zimmermann's article on the perspectives of the Eastern European Left, in the current world context is quite fascinating not just because of the information it provides about Left thinking in that region but also because it reminds us so much of our own debates. She notes the prevalence of the view that one has to be flexible and selective in accommodating to and making use of the new global order for the benefit of the country and its population. But those subscribing to this view fall into two distinct groups: some want to use this selectivism for "catching up" while others wish to turn away from the objective of "growth at any cost". She emphasises the need to go beyond this goal of "catching up" which is common to both the old protectionism and to the new selectivism. Much of this selectivism is inspired by the example of East and South East Asian countries. But these countries themselves are marked ^by important tensions as the article on Singapore points out. The promotion of "communitarianism" has been necessarily associated with a turn away from liberal democracy and with authoritarian forms of governance. But there is a growing disjunction between this tendency and the vigorous growth of capitalism with its accent towards individualism. How these tensions develop is a matter of great interest.