I'm not fully up to the situation on Poland to comment somewhat wisely. But I was in Slovakia when these changes were happening. A lot of people had to change occupations. Many of my relatives were unemployed for a year or two before they found something else that fit their education and experience. The unemployment programs were somewhat generous--and that helped the transition. As well, Slovakia became an active country to build European cars. At least three big plants were built between 1995 and 2000.

Whether the Slovak shock was deliberately planned by "the Chicago boys" or was something just that had to happen, I'm not sure. For sure, there were too many enterprises that were no longer viable. And for sure, there were friends of the governing Slovak Party that made a lot of money in those times.

As far as I can tell, Slovakia's ultra-right wing is only a minor force in their politics. The ultra-right is more prominent in the Czech Republic and has taken over the "democracy" in Hungary.