In this article, the author focuses on the explanation of the social perception of corruption in post–Communist countries. The objective of the article is to find out why high corruption of governments and politicians in Central and Eastern Europe does not often lead to their fall. The author found the answer especially in the weakness of civil societies, in the societies‘ disinterest in politics and their inability to advocate their demands for change. In the first part of the article, the author focuses on the problems of civil societies in post–Communist countries in general. In the following part, the author discusses the nature of corruption in post–Communist regimes and finally, in the concluding part of the article, the author interc...