중동부유럽

The purpose of this paper is to present a reflection on the social situation in Central Europe, particularly in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The author did not focus on the sociological, political or economical situation of contemporary societies; the author dealt with the phenomenon of the current crisis as well as the hopes of intellectual elites in the above mentioned countries. Both these Central European countries have gone through a difficult period of economic and political transition, which is sometimes associated with disillusion among intellectuals. This phenomenon is linked with unfulfilled expectations of the legacy of the Velvet revolution. As a significant and specific feature of Central European identity we can see the revolt against bureaucracy and totality in many ways, especially through language and literature which – by means of bizarre stories – points to the affliction and destructivity of the impersonal machineries of our times (Hašek, Hrabal, Kundera, Havel, Tatarka). At the same time we see the struggle for human freedom, dignity and moral values which have always been present in the history of the small states in Central Europe. The re‐discovery and re‐evaluation of intellectual history serves as an inspiration when dealing with today’s social problems in the global world and at the same time gives hope that these countries will not succumb to nationalism, chauvinism and moral relativism.