The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation: Czech Culture and the Rise of Communism (The Harvard Cold War Studies Book Series)

Abrams, Bradley F.

ISBN 10: 0742530248 / ISBN 13: 9780742530249

Published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005

About this Item

Through a reading of major publications, this book recreates a postwar mood sympathetic to radical social change, thus casting doubt on the standard view of the communists' rise to power. It also raises questions about the relationship between war and radical social change, the communist takeover of the region, and the role of intellectuals. Series: The Harvard Cold War Studies Book Series. Num Pages: 372 pages, black & white illustrations. BIC Classification: 1DVKC; JH; JPFC. Category: (UU) Undergraduate. Dimension: 227 x 153 x 30. Weight in Grams: 532. . 2005. Annotated. paperback. . . . .

Seller Inventory # V9780742530249

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation: Czech Culture and the Rise of Communism (The Harvard Cold War Studies Book Series)
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0742530248
• ISBN 13: 9780742530249
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

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.

About the Author

Bradley F. Abrams is associate professor of history at Columbia University.