Following the development line which has its roots in private property, market economy, human rights and democracy, Western countries have adopted a consistent strategy for setting up what is usually called the Information Society. Simultaneously, after the breakdown of communism, a transition process had been launched and is now on the way in Eastern and Middle Europe. This process is more painful than it was expected, and the collapse of the old system - as the example of former Yugoslavia shows - may become a serious threat to stability in a much wider area.

Some major problems which have been inherited from the former regimes, and those which were generated afterwards, will be presented. The presentation is not intended to open a general discussion on post-communism; it should provide a framework for a more detailed analysis of the ways how information technologies and services could be used in such specific conditions to support a positive evolution of these societies.

The ultimate objectives are clear (privatised, restructured, modernised and market-driven economy, social stability, human rights, democracy, quality of life), but the paths which should be followed to meet these objectives are not so obvious. If Western countries are entering the Information Society from a socio-economic level which they have attained already, what are the practical implications of the inverted approach, that is, of using a higher-level philosophy (Information Society) to improve the underlying structure of the ex-socialist countries? What role may play the information technologies if these countries are to be brought, and not just linked, to the West? These are the key points and they will be discussed in terms of applicable development strategies, human resources, knowledge-based programs, and international co-operation, particularly academic co-operation.

The Croatian experience and some actions and programs that have been prepared, particularly in relation with Dubrovnik, are used as an illustration of the speaker's ideas.