In the negative argument by analogy with the development patterns of Westem capitalism, the references to the East-Central European processes of transformation speak of the "dilemma of simultaneity"¹ and the central problem of "asynchronism".² These terms denote far-reaching paradoxes and enormous obstructive potentials which arise from the uniqueness of historical events. Whereas "asynchronism" refers to the dramatic diffi-culties connected with the differing speed in time of the transformation in politics, the economy and society, the "dilemma of simultaneity" points to the structural incompatibilities and deficits for the protagonists that relate to the simultaneous transition to political democracy and a market economy. The paradigm of the reform elite assumes that the market economy not only presupposes political democracy, but is in fact indispensable for its consolidation. However, democratic regimes have been considered possibly unsuitable or indeed dysfunctional for the establishment of "dynamic market systems", because their implementation could in turn undermine political democracy.