Judicial Reform

General Overview.  In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the transition from socialism to capitalism required a fundamental reorientation of legal and judicial institutions in many countries.  During socialist times, these institutions were subordinate to the executive and the Communist Party.  Their role was, almost entirely, to enforce the governments’ plans.  When that role changed, countries were confronted with huge tasks of institutional reform....    more >>

Regional Challenges.    Transition countries in Europe and Central Asia differ significantly among themselves not only in the specific problems they face, but also in both judicial capacity and in the “demand” for well-functioning judiciaries.  Both capacity and demand relate to income levels and the extent of transition toward the market economy. Several recent surveys of the both the business community and the general public reveal that current demands are not yet being met....    more >>

The World Bank's Strategy.   In the first half of the 1990s, the World Bank supported legal reform efforts in Eastern Europe and Central Asia mainly by helping to draft new legislation for the market economy. However, since mid-1990s, the focus of the Bank’s loans, grants, and analytical and advisory services has been to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of judicial institutions...   more>>