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A Moveable Place With A Moveable Past: Perspectives on Central Europe
Author(s) -
Gerner Kristian
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
australian journal of politics and history
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.123
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1467-8497
pISSN - 0004-9522
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8497.00050
Subject(s) - politics , interpretation (philosophy) , civilization , mythology , central asia , join (topology) , chronology , east central europe , political science , history , political economy , economy , ancient history , sociology , law , classics , archaeology , philosophy , linguistics , mathematics , combinatorics , economics
This paper discusses whether the region which in the 1990s has been called “the Visegrád Four” is a political and/or cultural whole and if so, in what respects. Using the concepts “centre” and “periphery” the paper argues that parts of contemporary Central Europe were political and cultural centres of the European civilisation in previous eras. The interpretation and use of this past in the Central European states’ contemporary endeavour to join NATO and the EU is discussed. That historical chronology is superseded by what may be labelled the “mythological presence” of things past is especially noted.