UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT AND THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE ARMAMENTS INDUSTRY IN SLOVAKIA

An analysis of contemporary uneven development in the Republic of Slovakia is based, theoretically, upon a regulationist interpretation of the restructuring of state socialism and, empirically, upon an examination of regional dependence on armament industry production complexes. Rather than a simple transition to capitalism, contemporary regional economies in Slovakia are seeing the uneven marketization of economic relations alongside the emergence of mercantilist capital. Enterprises have been faced with economic collapse as the Cold War ended and, within this context, new forms of mercantilist accumulation are emerging which may transform themselves into a capitalist class. However, the nature of such regional change is highly contested.