The first chapter provides the background of the region, outlining the socio-economic developments from 1990 onwards, with a focus on factors contributing to GDP growth and welfare trends. It examines the role of international organizations in promoting good governance principles and the quality of administration. The chapter introduces the book and addresses key questions concerning the specific character of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, such as: “Does one CEE region exist, or should regions within the region be distinguished?”, “How have the region(s) developed over the last 30 years according to international comparisons and statistics?”, and “What dilemmas emerged during the reform processes?” The countries covered include Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The preliminary answer to whether we can speak of one coherent region depends on one’s perspective. From a societal viewpoint, progress is evident across all countries in the region, as is the persistent gap between this region and the older EU member states. In that sense, there is one CEE. However, in terms of public sector development, a wide variety of trajectories are visible. In that sense, there is not one CEE region. The countries vary significantly in their control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, voice, and accountability, and in their responses to the dilemmas connected with public administration (PA) reforms.