In Ukraine, today’s political realities and yesterday’s revolutionary dreams may not be in line, and progress has come slowly.

In Poland, the anti-Soviet Polish Solidarity movement has reinvented itself in a democratic and economically strong Poland.

In the Czech Republic, the younger generation knows little about the Russian invasion and subsequent demonstrations that took place 40 years ago, and the country has problems discussing its past.

In Hungary, people still commemorate 1956 revolution — when approximately 200,000 Hungarians gathered in front of the country’s Parliament to demand an end to Soviet rule. Even as they move forward, Hungarians never quite leave the past behind.

Correspondent Dave Marash reports in a Worldfocus signature series: After the Fall.

Ukraine achieved independence in 1991 and again in 2004, when pro-Western forces peacefully took control of the country in what was dubbed the Orange Revolution.

Worldfocus special correspondent Dave Marash reports on today’s political realities and yesterday’s revolutionary dreams in Ukraine — where political progress has come slowly.

Correspondent Dave Marash travels to the shipyards of Gdansk, Poland, where the movement was born in 1980.

Worldfocus also explores the post-Soviet Czech Republic and Hungary in our signature series: After the Fall.

Today, the younger generation of Czech citizens know little about the invasion and subsequent demonstrations. It poses a problem for schools and families to talk about their country’s political past.

Worldfocus correspondent Dave Marash reports on the forgotten history of the 1960s in present-day Czech Republic.

The revolt ended in defeat, with thousands of Hungarians killed and many others injured or imprisoned. Nonetheless, the revolt and its participants are still commemorated in Hungary each year.

Special correspondent Dave Marash reports from Hungary, which never quite leaves the past behind as it moves forward.

Below, bloggers discuss the lasting effects of the revolution and its commemoration today.

Blogger “Marilyn” describes and posts images from this year’s anniversary in Hungary, traveling to a cemetary in Budapest where many of the revolutionaries are buried.

The “Stucki Family” blog — written by Americans who have lived in Hungary for two years — writes about the resolve of the Hungarian people.

The “Hungarian Spectrum” blog writes that in Hungary today, political parties portray the revolution in very different lights.

The 1956 revolution in Hungary has also been compared to many modern conflicts.

American blogs of differing political persuasions have likened Hungary in 1956 to Georgia in 2008, including Michelle Malkin and The Huffington Post.

The “pentafluoropyridine” blog discusses U.S. inaction in Hungary in 1956 compared to action in Iraq today in response to a statement from President George Bush on the Oct. 23 anniversary.