Who is Running Croatian Enterprises

According to the results of empirical studies, the Croatian post-socialist executive elite contains an equal number of old socialist directors and new managers. The data presented therefore provide equal support for the thesis of survival and for the thesis of change in the elite. The thesis of conversion of power is supported by data on share ownership. Through the process of privatisation the majority of directors converted the power they had under socialism into shares. Since the new elite is younger and less educated than the socialist cadres the thesis of technocratic continuity cannot be accepted. Changes in ideology are reflected in the data on party membership. Under socialism, about 15% of directors were not members of the Communist Party, and today almost two-thirds of managers are not members of any party. But among those who are party members, most are in the ruling HDZ party. Regardless of party (dis)affiliation, the vast majority of both the elite and citizens accepted the new ideology which gives priority to the nation over the individual. This resulted in a delay in solving the problems which have appeared in the process of privatisation.