The Power of the Powerless (Routledge Revivals): Citizens Against the State in Central-eastern EuropeJohn Keane 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. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
1 The power of the powerless | 10 |
2 Spiritual values independent initiatives and politics | 60 |
3 Catholicism and politics | 69 |
4 On the question of Chartism | 79 |
5 The human rights movement and social progress | 85 |
6 Prospects for democracy and socialism in eastern Europe | 90 |
7 Chartism and real socialism | 97 |
8 Who really is isolated? | 115 |
9 The alternative community as revolutionary avantgarde | 122 |
10 Thoughts inside a tightlycorked bottle | 129 |
11 On not living in hatred | 135 |
Charter 77 Declaration | 142 |
Notes on Czechoslovak contributors | 146 |
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Common terms and phrases
accept achieve activity aims alternative anti-bureaucratic revolution appear aspect attempt attitude authorities automatism become bureaucratic Catholic Charter 77 Chartists citizens civil classical dictatorships Communist conflict countries course create critical Czechoslovakia defend demand democracy democratic dissident movements eastern Europe economic essays etatist existing expression fact Flying University force freedom fundamental future genuine greengrocer greengrocer’s groups Havel historical human rights ideal ideology important independent individual Jan Patočka John Keane legal code living means merely moral nation nature official structures one’s opposition organization parallel polis Party Paul Wilson people’s Poland political programme position possible post-totalitarian system power structure powerless Prague principle real socialism real-socialist reality regime represents responsibility revolution revolutionary ritual role rules samizdat sense situation slogan socialist society solidarity Soviet bloc Steven Lukes struggle things tion totalitarian traditional truth unity Václav Václav Havel violence words workers