The Power of the Powerless: Citizens Against the State in Central Eastern Europe / Edition 1

by Václav Havel, John Keane

Overview

Books of great political insight and novelty always outlive their time of birth and this reissued work, initially published in 1985, is no exception. Written shortly after the formation of Charter 77, the essays in this collection are among the most original and compelling pieces of political writing to have emerged from central and Eastern Europe during the whole of the post-war period. Václav Havel’s essay provides the title for the book. It was read by all the contributors who in turn responded to the many questions which Havel raises about the potential power of the powerless.

The essays explain the anti-democratic features and limits of Soviet-type totalitarian systems of power. They discuss such concepts as ideology, democracy, civil liberty, law and the state from a perspective which is radically different from that of people living in liberal western democracies. The authors also discuss the prospects for democratic change under totalitarian conditions. Steven Lukes’ introduction provides an invaluable political and historical context for these writings.

The authors represent a very broad spectrum of democratic opinion, including liberal, conservative and socialist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780873327619
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/01/1985
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	228
Sales rank:	362,667
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

Editor's preface, Introduction, The power of the powerless, 2 Spiritual values, independent initiatives and politics, 3 Catholicism and politics, 4 On the question of Chartism, 5 The human rights movement and social progress, 6 Prospects for democracy and socialism in eastern Europe, 7 Chartism and 'real socialism', 8 Who really is isolated?, 9 The alternative community as revolutionary avant-garde, 10 Thoughts inside a tightly-corked bottle, 11 On not living in hatred, 6 The Power of the Powerless, Appendix Charter 77 Declaration, Notes on Czechoslovak contributors

Editorial Reviews

‘This brilliant text is undoubtedly the finest analysis ever made of the 'post-totalitarian'systems.’ - Times Literary Supplement

‘A profound intellectual tour de force that analyzes the 'post-totalitarian'system of Eastern Europe. ... Havel's The Power of the Powerless has not lost its intellectual appeal.’ - Slavic Review

From the Publisher