Civilisations d'Europe centrale I

The course focuses on exploring the phenomenon of Czechoslovak dissidence, which was born at the dawn of 1977 and broke up following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The aim is to retrace its genesis and dynamics, focusing on its main protagonists and the various unofficial activities they carried out in the context of the Normalisation that was established following the fall of the Prague Spring in August 1968. Emphasis will also be placed on other unofficial or oppositional activities, with a view to deconfining the paradigm of dissidence by restoring its complexity and protean character.
 

To work on and develop a critical mindset in relation to a contemporary historical episode, with an acute understanding of what is at stake and why, while considering the transnational and plurivocal dimensions of a phenomenon that was and is open to interpretation.

Courses requiring this course

Ex cathedra courses and guest lectures.

Contribution to the teaching profile

Understand the political, cultural and historical issues that define the emergence of a phenomenon, grasp the notion of cultural transfer, compare different historical and cultural perspectives, analyse texts critically.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Bolton, Jonathan. Worlds of Dissent: Charter 77, The Plastic People of the Universe, and Czech Culture under Communism. Harvard University Press, 2012.
Day, Barbara. The Velvet Philosophers. The Claridge Press, 1999.
Skilling, Harold Gordon. Samizdat and an Independent Society in Central and Eastern Europe. Ohio State University Press, 1989.
Havel, Václav. « La politique et la conscience ». Essais politiques. Václav Havel, Calmann-Lévy, 1989, pp.221-247.
Havel, Václav. « Le pouvoir des sans-pouvoir ». Essais politiques. Václav Havel, Calmann-Lévy, 1989, pp.67-157.
Havel, Václav. « Le sens de la Charte 77 ». Essais politiques. Václav Havel, Calmann-Lévy, 1989, pp.41-64.
Patočka, Jan. « Ce qu’est la Charte 77 et ce qu’elle n’est pas : Pourquoi le droit est pour elle et toutes les calomnies et mesures de coercition seront impuissantes à l’ébranler ». Quatre inédits de Patočka. Jan Patočka et Erika Abrams, Esprit, no.352, 2009, pp.164-167.
Ricoeur, Paul. « Jan Patocka, le philosophe-résistant ». Lectures I : Autour du politique. Paul Ricoeur, Seuil, 1991, pp.69-73.s

Contacts

Astrid Muls
Astrid.Muls@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• Other

Other

Students will be assessed on the basis of a written assignment relating to one of the themes explored during the course.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

The grade will be based on the written work submitted by the students (100%).

Language(s) of evaluation

• french
• (if applicable english )