Velvet Revolutions

Velvet Revolutions

Author: Miroslav Vanek

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2016-01-04

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 0199342741

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The Velvet Revolution in November 1989 brought about the collapse of the authoritarian communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia, marking the beginning of the country's journey towards democracy. Though members of the elite have spoken about the transition to democracy, the experiences of ordinary people have largely gone untold. In Velvet Revolutions, Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mücke examine the values of everyday citizens who lived under so-called real socialism, as well as how their values changed after the 1989 collapse. Based on 300 interviews, Vanek and Mücke give voice to everyone from farmers to managers, service workers to marketing personnel, manual laborers to members of the armed forces. Compelling and diverse, the oral histories touch upon the experience - and absence - of freedom, the value of family and friends, the experience of free time, and perceptions of foreign nations. Data from opinion polls conducted between 1970 and 2013 factor into the book's analysis, creating a well-rounded view of the ways in which popular thoughts, trends, and attitudes changed as Czech society transitioned from communism to democracy. From this rich foundation, Velvet Revolutions builds a multi-layered view of Czech history before 1989 and during the subsequent period of democratic transformation.


Book Synopsis Velvet Revolutions by : Miroslav Vanek

Download or read book Velvet Revolutions written by Miroslav Vanek and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-01-04 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Velvet Revolution in November 1989 brought about the collapse of the authoritarian communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia, marking the beginning of the country's journey towards democracy. Though members of the elite have spoken about the transition to democracy, the experiences of ordinary people have largely gone untold. In Velvet Revolutions, Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mücke examine the values of everyday citizens who lived under so-called real socialism, as well as how their values changed after the 1989 collapse. Based on 300 interviews, Vanek and Mücke give voice to everyone from farmers to managers, service workers to marketing personnel, manual laborers to members of the armed forces. Compelling and diverse, the oral histories touch upon the experience - and absence - of freedom, the value of family and friends, the experience of free time, and perceptions of foreign nations. Data from opinion polls conducted between 1970 and 2013 factor into the book's analysis, creating a well-rounded view of the ways in which popular thoughts, trends, and attitudes changed as Czech society transitioned from communism to democracy. From this rich foundation, Velvet Revolutions builds a multi-layered view of Czech history before 1989 and during the subsequent period of democratic transformation.


Czechoslovakia (from the beginnings to 1989)

Czechoslovakia (from the beginnings to 1989)

Author: Vladimir Opěla

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2019-05-20

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13: 3111579964

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Keine ausführliche Beschreibung für "Czechoslovakia (from the beginnings to 1989)" verfügbar.


Book Synopsis Czechoslovakia (from the beginnings to 1989) by : Vladimir Opěla

Download or read book Czechoslovakia (from the beginnings to 1989) written by Vladimir Opěla and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2019-05-20 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Keine ausführliche Beschreibung für "Czechoslovakia (from the beginnings to 1989)" verfügbar.


Making History

Making History

Author: Michael Long

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Published: 2005-02-02

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 1461639913

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In December 1989, Václav Havel and a relatively small group of intellectuals and students brought about the collapse of the communist regime of Czechoslovakia in what is now known as the Velvet Revolution. Making History: Czech Voices of Dissent and the Revolution of 1989 brings together the personal narratives of eleven former dissidents who, though close associates of Havel, operated without his international celebrity. The narratives, based on interviews conducted by the author in Prague and Berlin, relate each individual's personal experiences on topics such as growing up in Czechoslovakia, life as a dissident, the Velvet Revolution, and the achievements and failures of the Czech Republic since 1989. Through their many voices we come to understand that the life of a dissident is one of hardship, uncertainty, and constant surveillance; yet at the same time life in the underground allows a certain degree of freedom unattainable in official society. For more information about the book, please visit Michael Long's website.


Book Synopsis Making History by : Michael Long

Download or read book Making History written by Michael Long and published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. This book was released on 2005-02-02 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In December 1989, Václav Havel and a relatively small group of intellectuals and students brought about the collapse of the communist regime of Czechoslovakia in what is now known as the Velvet Revolution. Making History: Czech Voices of Dissent and the Revolution of 1989 brings together the personal narratives of eleven former dissidents who, though close associates of Havel, operated without his international celebrity. The narratives, based on interviews conducted by the author in Prague and Berlin, relate each individual's personal experiences on topics such as growing up in Czechoslovakia, life as a dissident, the Velvet Revolution, and the achievements and failures of the Czech Republic since 1989. Through their many voices we come to understand that the life of a dissident is one of hardship, uncertainty, and constant surveillance; yet at the same time life in the underground allows a certain degree of freedom unattainable in official society. For more information about the book, please visit Michael Long's website.


A History of Czechoslovakia Since 1945

A History of Czechoslovakia Since 1945

Author: Hans Renner

Publisher:

Published: 2023

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781003440208

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First published in 1989, A History of Czechoslovakia Since 1945 is a comprehensive account of Czechoslovakia under Communist rule, tracing events from 1945 to 1990. The author focuses on the last twenty years in particular, when the Prague Spring offered a brief period of liberalization, but was followed by harder times, with the hope of change fading, and society becoming paralyzed. Dr. Renner describes vividly the country's fortunes under the Soviet rule of Stalin and Brezhnev, and how it pioneered the policy of glasnost during the Prague Spring of 1968. The book concludes with a special look at the influence of Gorbachev's glasnost on the regime of Czechoslovakia. Dr. Renner combines a chronological overview with a passionate yet scholarly discussion of underlying political, economic, and cultural issues and developments, making this book invaluable as an authoritative and lucid account of Czechoslovak history, as well as an explanation of the role this country and in events played in the shaping of modern Europe.


Book Synopsis A History of Czechoslovakia Since 1945 by : Hans Renner

Download or read book A History of Czechoslovakia Since 1945 written by Hans Renner and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1989, A History of Czechoslovakia Since 1945 is a comprehensive account of Czechoslovakia under Communist rule, tracing events from 1945 to 1990. The author focuses on the last twenty years in particular, when the Prague Spring offered a brief period of liberalization, but was followed by harder times, with the hope of change fading, and society becoming paralyzed. Dr. Renner describes vividly the country's fortunes under the Soviet rule of Stalin and Brezhnev, and how it pioneered the policy of glasnost during the Prague Spring of 1968. The book concludes with a special look at the influence of Gorbachev's glasnost on the regime of Czechoslovakia. Dr. Renner combines a chronological overview with a passionate yet scholarly discussion of underlying political, economic, and cultural issues and developments, making this book invaluable as an authoritative and lucid account of Czechoslovak history, as well as an explanation of the role this country and in events played in the shaping of modern Europe.


Historical Dictionary of the Czech State

Historical Dictionary of the Czech State

Author: Rick Fawn

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 429

ISBN-13: 0810856484

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Czechoslovakia has been at the center of some of the most difficult--and tragic--episodes of modern European history: its sacrifice to Nazi Germany at Munich; the Communist Coup of 1948; and the military crushing of the Prague Spring. It has also enacted momentous change almost magically, as in the peaceful overthrow of communism in 1989, and then the negotiated end to the country in 1992. Czechoslovak history has consequently produced enduring political metaphors for our times, such as the Velvet Revolution and Velvet Divorce. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Czech State has been thoroughly updated and greatly expanded. Featuring a chronology, introductory essay, appendix, bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries, this detailed, authoritative reference provides understandings of the Czechs as a people; the territory they inhabit; their social, cultural, political, and economic developments throughout history; and interactions with their neighbors and the wider world.


Book Synopsis Historical Dictionary of the Czech State by : Rick Fawn

Download or read book Historical Dictionary of the Czech State written by Rick Fawn and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2010 with total page 429 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Czechoslovakia has been at the center of some of the most difficult--and tragic--episodes of modern European history: its sacrifice to Nazi Germany at Munich; the Communist Coup of 1948; and the military crushing of the Prague Spring. It has also enacted momentous change almost magically, as in the peaceful overthrow of communism in 1989, and then the negotiated end to the country in 1992. Czechoslovak history has consequently produced enduring political metaphors for our times, such as the Velvet Revolution and Velvet Divorce. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Czech State has been thoroughly updated and greatly expanded. Featuring a chronology, introductory essay, appendix, bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries, this detailed, authoritative reference provides understandings of the Czechs as a people; the territory they inhabit; their social, cultural, political, and economic developments throughout history; and interactions with their neighbors and the wider world.


The End and the Beginning

The End and the Beginning

Author: Vladimir Tismaneanu

Publisher: Central European University Press

Published: 2012-05-15

Total Pages: 604

ISBN-13: 6155053650

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A fresh interpretation of the contexts, meanings, and consequences of the revolutions of 1989, coupled with state of the art reassessment of the significance and consequences of the events associated with the demise of communist regimes. The book provides an analysis that takes into account the complexities of the Soviet bloc, the events? impact upon Europe, and their re-interpretation within a larger global context. Departs from static ways of analysis (events and their significance) bringing forth approaches that deal with both pre-1989 developments and the 1989 context itself, while extensively discussing the ways of resituating 1989 in the larger context of the 20th century and of its lessons for the 21st. Emphasizes the possibility for re-thinking and re-visiting the filters and means that scholars use to interpret such turning point. The editors perceive the present project as a challenge to existing readings on the complex set of issues and topics presupposed by a re-evaluation of 1989 as a symbol of the change and transition from authoritarianism to democracy.


Book Synopsis The End and the Beginning by : Vladimir Tismaneanu

Download or read book The End and the Beginning written by Vladimir Tismaneanu and published by Central European University Press. This book was released on 2012-05-15 with total page 604 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fresh interpretation of the contexts, meanings, and consequences of the revolutions of 1989, coupled with state of the art reassessment of the significance and consequences of the events associated with the demise of communist regimes. The book provides an analysis that takes into account the complexities of the Soviet bloc, the events? impact upon Europe, and their re-interpretation within a larger global context. Departs from static ways of analysis (events and their significance) bringing forth approaches that deal with both pre-1989 developments and the 1989 context itself, while extensively discussing the ways of resituating 1989 in the larger context of the 20th century and of its lessons for the 21st. Emphasizes the possibility for re-thinking and re-visiting the filters and means that scholars use to interpret such turning point. The editors perceive the present project as a challenge to existing readings on the complex set of issues and topics presupposed by a re-evaluation of 1989 as a symbol of the change and transition from authoritarianism to democracy.


Bohemia in History

Bohemia in History

Author: Mikuláš Teich

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1998-10-29

Total Pages: 418

ISBN-13: 9780521431552

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Essays on the history of the Czech lands from the ninth century to the fall of socialism in 1989.


Book Synopsis Bohemia in History by : Mikuláš Teich

Download or read book Bohemia in History written by Mikuláš Teich and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1998-10-29 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Essays on the history of the Czech lands from the ninth century to the fall of socialism in 1989.


The Velvet Revolution

The Velvet Revolution

Author: Daniel Kroupa

Publisher: Karolinum Press, Charles University

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9788024644486

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On the thirtieth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution that toppled the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia from November to December 1989, this book gathers dissident academics, a student leader, and a foreign correspondent to discuss the revolution. These interviews, however, are not just the recollections of participants--they are also deliberations on the history of Czechoslovakia, the fall of the Soviet Union from the perspective of Central Europe, and the values that form the Czech nation. Accompanied by a wealth of photographs and a detailed chronology, the book documents the events leading up to that fateful month and the path Czechs and Slovaks have taken since. As the interviews and interviewers represent a diverse variety of professions, generations, and opinions, The Velvet Revolution: 30 Years After offers a multifaceted meditation upon one of the most dynamic periods in recent history.


Book Synopsis The Velvet Revolution by : Daniel Kroupa

Download or read book The Velvet Revolution written by Daniel Kroupa and published by Karolinum Press, Charles University. This book was released on 2019 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On the thirtieth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution that toppled the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia from November to December 1989, this book gathers dissident academics, a student leader, and a foreign correspondent to discuss the revolution. These interviews, however, are not just the recollections of participants--they are also deliberations on the history of Czechoslovakia, the fall of the Soviet Union from the perspective of Central Europe, and the values that form the Czech nation. Accompanied by a wealth of photographs and a detailed chronology, the book documents the events leading up to that fateful month and the path Czechs and Slovaks have taken since. As the interviews and interviewers represent a diverse variety of professions, generations, and opinions, The Velvet Revolution: 30 Years After offers a multifaceted meditation upon one of the most dynamic periods in recent history.


The Small History of Great Events in Czechoslovakia After 1948, 1968 and 1989

The Small History of Great Events in Czechoslovakia After 1948, 1968 and 1989

Author: Zuzana Profantová

Publisher:

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 466

ISBN-13: 9788022409261

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Book Synopsis The Small History of Great Events in Czechoslovakia After 1948, 1968 and 1989 by : Zuzana Profantová

Download or read book The Small History of Great Events in Czechoslovakia After 1948, 1968 and 1989 written by Zuzana Profantová and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation

The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation

Author: Bradley F. Abrams

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 380

ISBN-13: 9780742530249

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The material effects of World War II, in combination with Eastern Europe's disappointingly undemocratic interwar history, placed radical social change on the postwar agenda across the region and shaped the debates that took place in immediate postwar Czech society. These debates adopted both a cultural form, in struggles over the meaning of the recent past and the nation's position on the East-West continuum, and a directly political form, in battles over the meaning of socialism. The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation examines the most important and politically resonant fields of historical and cultural debate in Czech society immediately after World War II. Bradley Abrams finds that communist public figures were largely successful in controlling debate over the nation's recent past--the interwar First Republic and the experiences of Munich and World War II--and over its location on the East-West continuum. This success preceded and was mirrored in the struggles over the political issue of the times: socialism. The communists engaged their political foes in the democratic socialist and Roman Catholic camps, and, surprisingly, found significant support from a major Protestant church. Abrams's careful reading of major publications re-creates a postwar mood sympathetic to radical social change, questioning the standard view of the communists' rise to power. This book not only contributes to the specific literature on Czech history, but also raises questions about the relationship between war and radical social change, about the communist takeover of the region, and about the role of intellectuals in public life.


Book Synopsis The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation by : Bradley F. Abrams

Download or read book The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation written by Bradley F. Abrams and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2005 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The material effects of World War II, in combination with Eastern Europe's disappointingly undemocratic interwar history, placed radical social change on the postwar agenda across the region and shaped the debates that took place in immediate postwar Czech society. These debates adopted both a cultural form, in struggles over the meaning of the recent past and the nation's position on the East-West continuum, and a directly political form, in battles over the meaning of socialism. The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation examines the most important and politically resonant fields of historical and cultural debate in Czech society immediately after World War II. Bradley Abrams finds that communist public figures were largely successful in controlling debate over the nation's recent past--the interwar First Republic and the experiences of Munich and World War II--and over its location on the East-West continuum. This success preceded and was mirrored in the struggles over the political issue of the times: socialism. The communists engaged their political foes in the democratic socialist and Roman Catholic camps, and, surprisingly, found significant support from a major Protestant church. Abrams's careful reading of major publications re-creates a postwar mood sympathetic to radical social change, questioning the standard view of the communists' rise to power. This book not only contributes to the specific literature on Czech history, but also raises questions about the relationship between war and radical social change, about the communist takeover of the region, and about the role of intellectuals in public life.