The absence or near-absence of liberal traditions in Central and Eastern Europe had led to the fear that pluralistic party systems might not emerge in post-communist countries; moreover, the fact that the countries of the area had to reconstruct their political system as well as their economy and their society, rendered the challenge particularly difficult to meet. Yet viable party arrangements are now found in a number of these countries, although most parties, except on the whole the ex-Communist parties, are relatively poorly organized and have tended to lack strong and able leadership. The future remains uncertain, however, given the continuing internal problems of the parties themselves, as well as the institutional and cultural handicaps under which post-communist societies have to operate.