In Quest of History

On Czech Statehood and Identity

Priban Jiri, Hvizdala Karel

Not for sale in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic!

In honor of the 2018 centennial of Czech independence, philosopher of law Jiri Priban and award-winning Czech journalist Karel Hvizdala took the opportunity to examine key moments in Czech history from the ninth century to the twenty-first. Covering such a broad span of time allowed them to look into the past and question how Czechs have viewed their history at different points – and what that means for the Czech present and future. As contemporary politics drift closer towards totalitarianism, historiography from scholars and thinkers who experienced twentieth-century totalitarian regimes is more important than ever. In their spirited dialogue, Hvi‍dala and Priban raise and explore these crucial issues, sharing subjects normally reserved for university seminars with the broader public.

About the Author

Jiri Priban is professor of law at Cardiff University, United Kingdom. He is the author of numerous books in Czech and English, including, most recently, "The Defence of Constitutionalism: Or the Czech Question in Post-National Europe", also published by Karolinum Press.

Karel Hvizdala is a journalist and essayist. He has published more than thirty books of interviews, as well as written twenty radio plays, five novels, five books on the media, and two memoirs.

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