Civil Society As a Discursive Frame: Methodological

CEU eTD Collection Department of Sociology & Social Anthropology & Social Sociology of Department Civil SocietyasaDiscursiveFrame: the requirements of the degree Master of Arts Václav Havel’s Anatomy ofReticence Anatomy Havel’s Václav Mariya Plamenova Ivancheva Central European University Professor Gáspár MiklósTamás In partial fulfillment of Budapest, Hungary Professor András Bozóki as aCase Study Supervisors: Submitted to Submitted 2007 by CEU eTD Collection M. foralife-in-a-true-world. struggle uncompromised Diana forherexemplary my mother blackhumour,andto Czech schooled andcontagious curiosity intellectual his inspiring Plamen, for To my father tomyparents. projectaredevoted invested inthis research efforts that allmy liketosay I wouldsimply Yet, would beappropriate. assuch this thesis of dedicating theact that I amfarfromtheconfidence half. –second –allsenses virtual been my who hasalways Stefan my twin-brother to notleast, last but and, to findit; whenwould, and mostneeded whereand Ileastthought my truediaspora forbeing andDaniel Stefan, Sasho, Neda, tomyfriends contemporaneity; and history and Budapestintheir Hungary CentralEurope, emotional map: and my mental locationin new toa introduction imaginative patient and CEU not just bearable, but also pleasant and meaningful: toGerg andmeaningful: alsopleasant but bearable, CEU notjust who at alsogoestoafew people madethelastyear My eternalgratitude were bynomeanslessencouraging. giveupthistopic, –attemptstomakeme –andmaybejust whose consequent Berliner, David andtoDr. writings; on preliminary comments instructive and their helpful for Rooney Tom Vedres and to Dr.Balasz project; version ofthisresearch who abroader Kalb, werethefirstonestosupport Don Professor and (UCL) Davies Mererid toDr. grateful also sincerely I am suggestions. his thoughtful and with thisstudy and timelyinvolvement Bozóki forhisresponsible Professor András muchto I alsothankextremely andpursued. be studied should ofdissent that thelegacy my belief reaffirmed and articles arguments Hisdaring the year. throughout with him communication human thehonest and insightful comments for thethrough-provokingconversations, MiklósTamás Gáspár Professor supervisor, tomyacademic grateful than Iammore At thefirstplace, Acknowledgements Ę for the for CEU eTD Collection history and critical social theory I analyze Vaclav Havel’s essay Wiith help the of framework alignment,discourse analysis and analytic tools from intellectual The present study attempts to refocus the “East-Central Europe 1989” ‘chapter’ of‘civil society’. context? activist local their beyond dissidents in 1989.Butwasthere astrict term understanding“civil of the society” asutilized by the fall before the state-socialism of intellectuals and critical activists and Western dissidents European Eastern between dialogue the of ‘currency’ exchange the was society” “Civil Abstract eastern and western side of the Iron Curtain could align. could Curtain Iron the of side western and eastern was aimed demonstrate to the idea/l of an independent lifeof society, towhich people on both the political stance of “anti-political politics” – was employed to address audiences in the West. It As such the conception of civil society – in the existential principle “life-in-truth” and the argue that it displayed the discursive strength of civil society as a frame. Discussing the context, argumentative structure, and the stylistics of the text as a discursive act, I Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy (1985). CEU eTD Collection Selected Bibliography Conclusion 4. 3. Civil Society as a Discursive Frame: Methodological ...... 30 Considerations Havel...... 21 2. ADefinition of Civil in Society beforeEast-Central Europe 1989: Casethe of Václav 1. Con-textualizing ...... 6 the Problem Introduction 4.3 The Text as ...... 46 a Discursive Act 4.2 Schematic and Argumentative Structure of the Text...... 42 4.1 Context...... 35 Voices in the Debate...... 15 1.3 Excurse: Central European DissidentIntellectuals and Civil Society - Discerning 1.2 The Legacy of Civil Society after 1989...... 11 1.1 Civil Society before 1989: towards an East-West Intellectual Dialogue...... 7 Anatomy ofReticence ...... 57 ...... 1 ...... 60 : A Discursive ...... 35 (Frame) Analysis CEU eTD Collection partners from the Western side of it. a dialog into Curtain with potential sideIron the Eastern the of sphereon public fragile the of claims extend the aimed to It action. for collective frame a discursively articulate to dissidents the by utilized notion, useful and conventional but patchy, a primarily was asautopianit for strategic acoming society? argues that or action, This study blueprint for incentive moral ideal, an high wasitwas its role: and an aligning what intellectuals, as used by of in term dissident content the the society civil Europe, East-Central of meaning understanding Was 1989 andtheir of events the aftermath? and astrict there in refracted intellectual on or the isthe reflected debate thelegacyof this understanding how inthisnewdialogue. But spoke seemingly West Eastand language thatthe common the ‘currency’, exchange the was it transitions: following the and revolutions peaceful activists fromintellectuals betweenEastand the intellectuals from and critical cooperation dissident the Westlegitimacy of Europe. of state-socialismso tightly as‘1989,connected East-Central andEurope’ ‘civil society’. The loss of Civil in thesociety regionand aconcept event beenaparticular hasscarcely there of history Europe modern In the was perpetuated was not by undergroundonly theIntroduction associative buzzword of the 1 CEU eTD Collection between these two approaches historical accounts are usually confined to accusations to areusually confined approaches historical accounts two between these have) both ‘truthfully’ worked ‘fruitfully’ and 1980s.Thirdly, throughout the trapped Lockean, Hegelian, Toquevillian, Marxian, orGramscian – in which civil society (should theoretical methods to test the applicability of one or more different paradigms – say They purely 2005). use Outhwaite Isaak 1995,Murthy 1999, (see e.g.Rau1987, concept togiveintellectuals have dissidents’ definition the endeavoured ananalytic of the use of region. Secondly, withdraw from incivic activism are seen as a “drawback”opposition of the working civil society in the to their and/or dissidents anumber of of this political careers thepost-1989 approaches quantitative e.g. Mendelson &al 2003; 2003; Howard Kaldor 2003,Kopecky&Muddestrategy, 2003).Forsuch both Eastern (see countries inthe post-communist “barometers” byWestern detected society of civil and Western the regime change in 1989: they display the levels of “efficiency” (or rather deficiency) discuss the political implications of the dissident’sEurope in several different ways. practice of civil societyanswers in and toafter the They approaches. diverse represent texts The materials. published from questionalready selections what “civil each reference since2000, and2003-4),often without theyusually represent other, to society” These1999- 2003). volumes around the anniversaries 1989 (1993-4, of usually appear meant for the dissidents in East-Central 1993, Tism comprises quitefew a volumes work of (though, mainly essay collections, e.g. Blackburn First of all, a number of scholarly accounts apply quantitative approaches to The existing literature on the dissidents’ theory and practice of civil society ă neanu 1998,Tism ă neanu 1999,Kaldor&VejvodaKopeky&Mudde 2 CEU eTD Collection abstract ideas use, pragmatic inhave their how, show to is aim my Since sociopolitical activists. and intellectuals Western implications, and of European East-Central anetwork with interaction in discursive the its role I analyze the work with 1980s the from analyzeVáclav – the Czechplaywright thetextof viewpointHavel.the I the help of two Reticence of Anatomy actors. troubled societies inin the for blocappealsSoviet collective from international support itas a articulate to European dissidents employed strategically newly this idea/l.rediscovered Theymanaged of the main reasons for the thatone Idemonstrate intellectuals andactivists. European andWestern Eastern between success-story of civil empiricalsociety application, I explore how the term wasin used in thethe intellectual dialogue1980s was instead of In answer measuring question,purely this to its conceptor the theorizing that Eastern context civic of andbeyondEastern Europe, activism underground the of dissidents? the local played beyond“civil the society” therearole which was thisaddresses: study lifesocial in This the 1980s. hasleftdeficiency animportant question unanswered which 1998, Mendelson 2003,Howard2003), itis vastly ignoredin accounts of its re-birth and inbeen allegedthe overemphasized decay society civil inof Wedel 1990s(see the e.g. 1989” Europe ‘chapter’ of history the civil of society. EveniftheEast-Westhas axis ideal allegedmoral the by civil society of dissidents. “betrayal” of the (Kennedy apologiesRoundtable1992; LSE2000)or (Tism To prove this point, in my study I concentrate on one of the central texts – torefocus “East-Central the study attempts Against the present background this discursive frame, discursive (1985) – of one of the main dissidents in East-Central Europe in in Europe main dissidents the East-Central (1985)–of one of and use itfor the most immediate needs of the 3 ă neanu 1999) of neanu 1999)of post-1989 the CEU eTD Collection on the contextually specific understanding and use of1989 it synthesizesa theoretical the scattered opinions on the problem. Then, on the ground, reflecting notion, it shows some goals. First of all, in illustrating more fully the fully more in illustrating all, of First goals. and under divergent conditions of life. existing misunderstandingbetween topoi of people livingin political different contexts contributed that tothe 1989events and in thedevelopments ittheirunmasked aftermath; intellectual dialogue East-West the andtofoster intheWest, audiences address different to itacted cooperation; and for comprehension called that frame, as a complex operate not only as a set of measurements or a preexisting intellectual convention: it was made Thus,1987:184-185). Ishow fused the that theoryandpractice of society civil to worked diverselanguages and divergent of expression (Tism used and conditions, socialization different lived radically under which Curtain Iron of They mutual sidessupport intellectualsthe rallied and of understanding of the two the thepower of demonstrated ideas as“lifewords. and“anti-political intruth” politics” the theory and practice of civil society meltinto as a subtle discursive appeal. Iargue that in how show I society, civil and resistance of ideas his and 1989, West Dialogue”. East- for “European initiativesNetwork Curtain, theIron the grassroots across important most the oneof of andcoagulation conceptualization tothe contributed which frame a alignment of collective mobilization collective of alignment frame and analysis discourse critical sciences: social applied of field the from methods By thisaddressing highly issueproblematic believe,I this fulfillsstudy main two In lightthe of Havel’s central andspeeches in essayspublished West beforethe . I study the discursive dimensions of study the civil dimensions I society discursive as of 4 modus operandi ă neanu 1988; Feher&Heller of civil society before Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy CEU eTD Collection Czechs, Poles and Hungarians who insisted it into relevance in late 1980s the (GartonAsh 2000:401-2). accusing Westerners started have of imposing thisEuropeans definition Central on them, changes whereas,the from after the Westernyears view ten point itweresuddenly remark: following the makes Ash Garton Timoty 1990s late the in University European Central the at conference a at remarks concluding his ‘Easternwith Europe’. use The iscomplicated evenfurther by post-1989 the developments of the region. In literature of thisperiod – and more specifically Havel’sin texts – thisterm is used almost interchangeably – theHungarian writerGyörgy (1983) Konrád Czechand novelist Milan Kundera(1984)) –in thebroader despites the rebirthof this term inthe 1980s (whichstarted withtwo articles by dissidents from the regions firstly, itcould also include Austria and West Germany, whichwere not apart of the SovietBloc; then, state formations to the East of these ones. The category of Central Europe is also slightly problematic: address processes that took part not only in the above mentioned countries, but also in abroader numberparts of of the former SovietUnion, whichthis study aims to avoid. Yet, Isometimes use the term when I between twoother possible but problematic categories. Simply saying ‘Eastern Europe’ could also include countries: Hungary, Poland and formerCzechoslovakia. I do this simplificationfaced with the choice 1 I text the of chapter third the In events. the of aftermath in the implication practical of dissent to show the possible flaws in the theory of civil society before 1989 and in the the case, and asa disclaimer: Iuse existing comments on Havel’s work and onthe legacy of formulation a as seen be might part This Havel. Václav of works inthe society civil preceding in examine parts to order briefly and critically specificthe of understanding in made the on Idraw observations there the sorts: isan of excurse The secondchapter case European East-Central inthe its specific intellectuals implications and of concept the last subchapter, in the and, in 1989 peaceful revolutions the after literature academic discuss the legacy of before the“rebirth civilof society” in in the East-Central Europe 1980s.the on Then I go to dissidents’ life intellectual Western in the played society civil of understanding practice and theory the which role and use of literaturecivil society on thein Westerndissidents’further use and theunderstanding problematic of civil society. are and still of WestEurope East divided. the andtheory practice of I brieflymy study sketchits diffusion the and inplace the aftermath society, civil mega-frame formation the of the forof research reasonsandpaths possible it of thein 1989,the and thebroader question why on theframe level of activistof academic In this work Iwill In useEast-Central Europe asageographical category would that designate three The text isThe intext structured following the way:in thefirst chapter Icontextualize 5 1 . CEU eTD Collection autonomous and self-organized public sphere that catalysed the fall of fall state-socialism. the of catalysed spherethat public and self-organized autonomous independent an of reappearance asthetriumphant literature academic Western the journalistic representatives travelling the East of Europe. It was subsequently recreated in intellectuals,main dissident publishedWest, andbyWestern in the academic and re-birth date of theas aprimary are out still Europe in peaceful pointed Eastern revolutions 1980s. Yetthe term. A theoretical secondhalf 20 the the of ideal was represented in Europe America Eastern and inLatin events concurrent almost the came with revival mostly in inreports 1989,the discussion term of the civil society was forgotten widely 2003).Its (Kaldor on the Europe in Eastern regimes state-socialist of collapse before the more than a century For 1. Con-textualizing the Problem on my results and the symbolic power of words as they shape and are shaped by worlds. reflection Iconcludewith a arguments. support the syntactic, tools usedto and semantic of Havel’s figurecivil of withinsociety it. The section third is tothe dedicated pragmatic, andlocate articulation the structure andargumentative its schematic Then Idemonstrate itemerged that from,address. particular andaudience the setting and to itwas destined context historical broader the both – text the of interpretation the for context substantial text of Václav Havel a frame indialogue,alignment. analysis and discourse East-Westframework the discuss briefly the methodology that I use to show the instrumental use of civil society as Thus, in the fourth and last chapter of the work I apply this methodology on the on methodology this apply I work the of chapter last and fourth the in Thus, Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy th century culminated in century that the regime inthe changes 1970s and 6 divided into Ifirstly parts. three divided provide CEU eTD Collection relation between family, civil society and state: civil society represents a broader family abroader civil represents society state: and society family, civil between relation interaction between (1820) gave aleading definition society autonomous of civil theas an social sphere of public (state) and W.H.Hegel’s hand, Onthe other guaranteed. Georg private (family). befreedom could thus only regulations: of market Hegelwith procedures carried precise out the suggested a dialecticcitizens: thebetween distinction men men and –includingap-propriation – is of rights guaranteed by social protects its unity the statealaw-abiding contract the government of common-wealth of people (John Locke, (John of people common-wealth commercial acts (Adam Ferguson, acts(Adam commercial law wouldthat rulethrough the of as apolitical society the envisaged civil regulate order ones. society often reduce civil contemporary On (seeKeane ground, of this theorists state to the 1988:38-39). the concurrent traditionsin sphere lessreference or autonomous asamore was theorized society civil questioned: in theorizing interestingcivil society into twobe only to conceptcame The 1988:37). (Keane tradition classical the stemming from main for social society civil of as a member was understood also a state of citizen every century and political The term ‘civil long society’ was usedinterchangeably with ‘state’ the – until 18th the theories Dialogue Intellectual an East-West 1989:towards Societybefore 1.1 Civil on itself once this coterminous use was On the one hand, the liberal tradition stems from the Scottish Enlightenment Scottish the from stems tradition liberal the hand, one the On An Essay on the History of Civil Society History of An Essay onthe Two Treaties onGovernment Two Treaties 7 Elements of the PhilosophyElements of of Right , 1688-1702). A , 1688-1702). 1977) or the 1977)or CEU eTD Collection Gramscian theory in a new academic interest in social movements, grassroots movements, in social interest academic new ina theory Gramscian by policies was This (Arato&Cohen a revivalopposed trend 1992: 4-11). the of welfare-state the of and defence the critique neo-conservative of upsurge the between communitarianism; and. liberalism rights-oriented individual between democracy; deliberative and representative between division dychotomic in the circulated debate The procedural. were rather society invested conceptof the civil which theorists political in debates The governance. and democratization development, of practice and in theory and foundapplication global liberal states its in society the western civil institutionalized the through functioned theory liberal The camps. opposing intwo society society.Buttigeg self-regulated e.g. (see 1995;Keane 1988:23-24) and aso-called create thestate abolish thatwouldgradually “organic” intellectuals of it education place andfreecouldproper change: a new through take of association class alsoseen alocus civil of social was as society Yet, intermediation. cultural forand social society as a tool for state control with consent (instead of coercion) through institutions civil saw Gramsci sphere’. ‘public andthe ‘private-’ the between asphere as society Hegel’s of civil Hefollowed understanding modernin state. democratic system the expressingin free will, the their theunderstanding embodied asactors people of opposed recreates individualism and disenfranchises any citizenwith no private property. society the in Hegelianpolitical philosophy with mistrust: fosteringin egoistic aspirations civil society 2 society came from Antonio Gramsci. Inhis 1926-1935 of citizens-bourgeois needs the regulates which then of citizens, would thelawfully abidestate, by functioning centralized and guarantee This servitude of people to property productionand regulationprocesses that made Karl Marx treat civil By the end of the 20 Yet, the decisive critique against both the liberal, and the Hegelian version of civil th century, the two traditions had split the practice of civil 8 2 . Prison Notebooks Gramsci CEU eTD Collection attract new from activists inattract “the their other Europe” far wereoften campaigns from Western the that shows this exchange on literature The scarce as of cooperation on nuclear disarmament, human rights, and environmental protection. Ironcurtain.the (Arato&Cohen 1987) 1992; Heller&Feher behind practice to put Marxism of illusion the realize reluctantly West in the intellectuals left-wing more and More Curtain. Iron the behind dissent intellectual and movements peace impetuswith forin solidarity 1970s,there wasanew late movement the and riseof Solidarity the the spring, ended the Prague that intervention Soviet the wereseveral.literature After violent the suppression of Hungarianrevolutionthe in 1956, academic West inthe recognized in the to this process for interest the The reasons state. life totalitarian inthe of theconditions and under civil society state between distinction the of thenecessity reappraisal of for were testimony activities dissidents’ European civil surroundingin reappearanceof the academic debate, society The East-Central 1989. curtain. Iron thinkers and developedactivists that anew in interest tradition the behinddissent of the Feher&Heller 1987;Keane 1988).Itwasthis second camp left-wing of predominantly War (see Cold the of blocks opposite two the between war nuclear a of “Doomsday” the disillusionment with the welfare state, and the apocalyptic expectations of the in which started the vigourinsecurity 1960s,with further feltin Westby gained the the the third world (seee.g.Hann&Dunne 1996, Comaroff&Comaroff This2001). revival, in movements liberation and activism rights civil movements, new-left in mobilization Besides, cooperation between between in blocs was builtthe issues Besides, cooperation the face of of urgency All these paradigms have been commented on – in one way or another – in the 9 peacenik ’s attempts to CEU eTD Collection voices against the centralized power of the Welfare state every which bureaucratizes of state Welfare the power centralized the against voices civil society between facedin the challengesindicated whichWestern societies and distinction blurred the the state. also they Yet, dictatorships. totalitarian the under and association of speech Representativesrights of andviolation initiative despitecivil theof suppression inEurope society civil Eastern throughout KonrádGeorge and thenewlyVáclav Havel. all ‘ferment’ praised They of developed the West European dissidents’the communities Central likeof Adam Michnick,Europe Jacek Kuron, Left raised somefigures gradual toof collapsestate-socialism, voice prominentof the of and gave the in activism civic of significance the voiced volumes These 1992). Arato&Cohen ed., significance of East-Central European itscontext of use(seeKeane 1988,Kaldor 1990 theoretical with the markedoccupation a new academic that appeared 1989 afewvolumes re-definition in peaceful revolutions the years around the time. that In Westernat society perception of of them, re-use the of well-forgotten this concept has apainful struck chordthe self-the term civil initiated written by wasnot andby history primarily dissidents: of the only concept the society in the lightwhich was used tobridge this semantic gap(see Tism of the society, languageof civil the interest: shared newly realized builtdialogueon a was newly realizednew that show from this époque accounts notwithstanding, the Explicitdifferences socialismsurviving state spoke thelanguage that of (Feher&Hellerunfreedom 1987:184). (détente, disarmament and peace) seemed far from the urgentissues of interestfor people from behind in theiron curtain and refugees the West–thenewinsecurity languageof adequate (Tism The broad range of literature on ‘civil society’ in the late 1980s suggests thatthe 1980ssuggests late the in society’ on ‘civil rangeliterature broad of The ă neanu 1990). As East Europeanneanu 1990).AsEast point weretryingdissidents – both out to 10 ă neanu 1990,Keane 1988). CEU eTD Collection 1982:150 and Kaldor 1991)In yearsthe existingthe following, split literature use and the (seeCarter of Europe the newfuture of skeptical many also voices were there yet Ash (e.g. intellectual 1990); audiences byWestern society of drafted success the civil of accounts celebratory welcomed of with The 1989 were intellectuals. peaceful revolutions andcritical Western activists and dissidents European between dialogueEastern had East-West of the theexchange ‘currency’ become 1980scivilsociety By thelate 1.2 TheLegacy ofCivilSociety after 1989 (discussion in Arato&Cohen 1992; Tamás 1999). below’ ‘from and society state between relationship the of asachange perspective, civil society anti-political inananti-statistifwas considered and– even not apolitical – hence, ‘from above’: self-reform failed had that state-socialism of totalitarian context in the coined power, state of critique a direct polis”, “parallel a signified society civil Lastly, civic andself-management. suchthatwouldnurture political practice: initiatives of form normative a moral, for stood It economy. and state the from independent sphere, needcontested of individual inviolabilityliberty, of life,private and publicemancipated and newly acquired the represented It activist practice. and grassroots democracy radical of ideal the recognize could intellectuals critical Western the in which messages a were sending dissidents Eastern society, European ideaof civil the recuperation of and(Arato&Cohen growth 1992:37, 44;Keane 1988:11-13). social solidarity,autonomy and participation under the weight of consumption, efficiency weakening lifeand of sphere of subsequent (whatClaus Offecalls the welfare-statism), Speaking from the tormented totalitarian context, through their civil activism and activism civil their through context, totalitarian tormented the from Speaking 11 CEU eTD Collection between state and civil society in Gramsci’s works, than the simplest application to the 1987). Recentfor amore hasargued scholarship complex of relation understanding the in in 1992; reference toCentral (discussion Arato&Cohen Murthy Europe Rau 1999; for society which civil in existliberalcan only within state the of support latter the AlexisParsons,a differentindividuals)extent, or to overlap deTocqueville andTalcott free of activity (economic market and society civil in which Marx, and Hegel of tradition reads the of society. latter The civil trend ofWestern understanding dominantthe of “civil society against the state”, and against the market, was already in controversial to was intaken by alter-globalization movementinthe 1990s.the This‘non-party politics’ division.proposed motives in theof a global civil society – otherinterpretations could be used toshowhow particular dissidents’which outlines legacy positive the 1989useof the of society’‘civil in allthreeversions understanding articleKaldor’showever – In contrast quoted to 2003:588-590). LSE Speech(Kador rather version liberal”, andof society,civil “postmodern” byKaldoras inMary described her clashed “neo- “activist”, tothe contributing inWest, ideologies the and controversial different with different aspects Central thinkingEuropean of concept. this of the motives – in liberal frameworkswithin and inherentthe theanti-statist state the of a revolutions; secondly,between the western social thought of a working civil society – of civil society before 1989 and its controversial reality in the aftermath of the peaceful ideal a utopian between firstly, dichotomies: irreconcilable into term of the understanding A variation of the of A variation In the aftermath of 1989, different aspects of the ideal were recuperated by activist version , anti-political aspect of the civil society ideal society civil the of aspect anti-political , 12 CEU eTD Collection created NGO specialists, were newly often The not able to organizations. address orvoluntary in forthat matterparticipation mass to no been mobilize has members’there of NGOs, initiative mushrooming the 3 2003). Kopecky&Mudde2003, Howard (e.g. inregion the variety of authors have argued for a subsequent decay, rather than heyday of asa but, civil society, civil a working of model anexemplar recreate to society wanted initiatives and actors high of profile Avariety project. political neo-liberal the reaffirm andthus create, reform and the introduction of parliamentary democracy: a vigorousmarket possibilityfacilitating for to re- mechanism a was them, to according society, Civil initiatives. civil and in of ideal self-agement in the civil society: of secondaspect the invested foundations In number 1990sa 2003:589). the (Kador great Western of andAmerican European the surround disappointing agenda” faceofthe rhetoric in anti-political “newpolicy the worse” (Gartonrather Ash in Roundtable LSE 2000) society. “Certainly post-communist Central Europe is party politics aswe it,know or civil of ideal versions of the two other inthe betrayed version saw the anti-political it experience: European Eastern tothe of parallels drawing weary leftwas rather Western the 1999), non-party (Tismeneanu Gramscian politics of tradition partial tothe adherence examples were Václav Havel, (RenwickKonrád and György 2005).Yet,even in this and negation mutual andnon-partyof perpetuation wherethemost distinguishedpolitics, – opposition political –liketheCzechand Hungarian variedand cooperation between anti-political be not called civil society can of Alan the Renwick dissidents’understanding of showed, anti-statist (Buttigieg of dissidents’ the trend thought 1995).Besides,astherecentwork As these books, representing western “barometers” of civil society of sorts, have detected, despite detected, have sorts, of society of civil “barometers” western representing books, these As The second – en bloc : their versions on the question of division between state and society neo-liberal version – of the newly emerged civil society, tried to 13 3 In the rush the “portable” Intherush CEU eTD Collection of organizations and initiatives from pre-socialist orsocialist times. about issues of local importance. Grassroots activism was “patchy and weak”, and there was no restoration byformer used often were liberties newly obtained the process: liberal democratization was commented on as apotential bothto peril activistthe non-party andpolitics, the to were seen as a power than proposition rather of opposition (Bozóki nation-state 1999) – specific legacy of the (Arato&Cohen The in 1992). society political Europe Eastern (re)creation a strong of authoritarian traditionscholars acquainted with historical the of development regionthe thepredicted in Eastern Europemarginalized, oppositional In years after and revolutions, societies the early the groups. – in which intellectualsversion anti-individualist, the by respect commend not did individualism Their period. intellectuals inthepost-Communist dissident of the inpractice very the political garde ‘bought’ their that in support media the (Szelenyi 1997:62). avant- new technocratic a of knowledge economic and technical specified the returning subsequently were intellectuals madeadoublecompromis Many them of their consciousness. with said to haveobservable mistakes ofboth socialism andcapitalism (Giddens 2000)– huisticthe compromisedthe into falling not – society way” a “third for dissidents the of incentive the following their In it instead of and of isnetworks potential this, 1998). arguedthat (Wedel, cooperation class conscienceinitiatives. In these new realities, the dissidents were seen as ‘gatekeepers’information to to corporatepopulation didnot become their clientele and remained sceptical donor-driven the to interests(see Kalb forExcept asmall 2002:318). circle ofcivic vast activists, majority the the of model of civil society NGOs was uncritically adopted by the post-communist societies of subaltern of civil 2003:589),whichsociety (Kaldor supported voices from This misalliance between normative ideal and political pragmatics was intensified was pragmatics political and ideal normative between misalliance This 14 post-modern CEU eTD Collection Murthy, 1999, Outhwaite 2005) or in Murthy, jargon pragmatic 2005)or 1999, Outhwaite a rather the discussing political lessmore or relevant theoretical seee.g.Rau1987; traditions, Arato&Cohen 1992, languageto relateitin andto (in attempt ways: either philosophical the abstract, a highly has in in 1989 case madethe its after and of exploration of society two practice civil intheDebate Voices Discerning - Society andCivil Intellectuals Dissident European Central Excurse: 1.3 impact of the dissidents as such. and of (inter)action sphere the of short recognizing fall studies mostthe of governance, and global of democratization processes andmacro-level biographic accounts (Tism grasp” by hard understood increasingly to term are the Central dissidents European the what society and civil we nowcall what between connections the point that the impediments. In aftermaththe of 1989 “theboundaries haveconceptual been expanded to understandany to by theuse attempt concept facesof dissidents the the significant conceptionlegacy” ofcivilsociety has left 2003), a strong (Kopecky&Mudde, cultural Kopecky (e.g. & Mudde 2003). behindit risethe ‘uncivil’of and disruptive groups pressure social movementpolitics whosee least from those not opposition encounter frequently has society civil of practice the theory and asuncivil. conjuncture, In this initiative protest anti-system or oriented centralized societies political suppressed both civil society as understood by western the dissidents tofoster opportunistindividualist claims topolitical power. Thus, strong ă neanu 2001:977). Besides, unable to bridgeneanu Besides,unable to 2001:977). thegapbetweenmicro-level The discussion above shows that the academic literature on the theory theory on and the literature the academic that above shows The discussion dissidents’ “[T]he that statement undisputable an remains it whereas Thus, 15 CEU eTD Collection are supplementary contextually-specific: East-Central European dissident intelligentsia dissident European East-Central contextually-specific: supplementary are and party Theseelites experts 1999). (Bozóki categories technocrats skilled bureaucracy, ‘intellectuals’ as definition of other the and code”) “moral-behaviour a professing (intellectual-ideologues (Bauman In 1987:4-7) sense,this one shoulddistinguish between ‘intelligentsia’ relations knowledge/power specific of as carriers referent its rather designates It criteria. particular to fulfilment bounded tothe is not intellectual of category the legislators, intellectuals- and intellectuals-interpreters between distinction precise otherwise in bemade. his Bauman states to As asacategory intellectuals of term the differentiation inunderscored academic scholarship on 1989 the transitions (though Bozóki 1999). This hasdifference been mentioned often ina slap-dash manner, but been hasgenerally intellectuals opinions is of dissidentthe very term the of ‘intellectual.’ understanding and the discourse theacademic between difference crucial study. One present of the structure/form of civil society, but also elaboration of its (en)actors is a necessary element Presidentof Czechoslovakia in 1990.Forthis reason, adiscussion not only of the as power alsoan elected but cameto in real engagement politics, nowith society most visible was dichotomy This power. political in to strives own thein their or casesociety-against-the-state, of Václav Havel who incivil- of was understanding dissidents theiranti-statist the criticised either radical shared the most radical activistto the in practice 1989 (seee.g.Glenn2001,Howard 2003). Thus, legacy the of version of civil work of politicalthe society theNGO duringand/or sector bind transition, the it to trying A discussion of the dissident-intellectuals under state-socialist regimes requires a requires regimes state-socialist under dissident-intellectuals the of A discussion Kulturträger (carriers of culture), which might as well include high- include well as might which culture), of (carriers 16 CEU eTD Collection the two groups expressed different interests. Unlike the latter, who Unlike thelatter, sawcivicinterests. expressed associations two groups the different states (Bozóki Besides,1999:1-5). before 1989,speaking the language civilof society, inengaged vigorously liberation and politicsstruggles, often entered ahead of nation- usually in remained stateopposition power,to in Central humanisticEurope intellectuals in West (Tismthe intellectuals critical leftist) (traditionally the and intellectuals dissident European Central 2003). (Kopecky&Mudde andgroup highly moralistic butunqualified political-society members of latter the former from the experts between emerged rivalry when a political of 1989, aftermath governance.issue became in pragmaticThis the very attitude towards problematic the them Many of rejected civil of society. in and practice engaged theory andthe opinions, (see Havel 1991a). This groupof critical thinkers,evenif monolith innot theirvisions ideologues – called firstly “dissidents” in Western the academic and activist discourse Kennedy humanistic 1992,Szelenyi totheIt wascontrasted group of 1997). intellectuals- beforein political(see 1989 the liberties andclimate soft-hand the reforms under technically skilled andpolitically classlimitedapathetic conformed to and acquisitions class (Konrád&Szelenyi to 1979).The power’ class road a newexpert ‘onthe socialist in regimes inthe East-Central Europe graduallymanaged1970s-1980s tocreate state- the distinction, foster this To distinction. class a knowledge-based developed intellectuals. critical European Western the and technocracy, highprofile intellectuals European of –theEast groups other totwo be contrasted could On the other hand, a difference persists between the (situationally left-libertarian) (situationally the between persists difference a hand, other the On societies classless supposedly the regimes socialist under hand, one On the ă neanu 1990).Unlike in West,the where critical intellectuals have 17 CEU eTD Collection AmericanJeffrey Political theorist C. Isaak(e.g,1995, 1999[1996]):the 1989 civilsocieties. example A forgood such reflections are anumber of by articles the to praise theirhumanistic contribution to the development of the Easterntends trend EuropeanA certain post- region. in the dissidents the of role the to in reference voices main discern inthe positions The debate. of group scholarswestern issubdivided into three fact… The Left’s local prestige depended onit.” (Tamás 1999:184). a strange was dissidence European in Eastern Left Western the of interest “[t]he together LSE, Tism in discussedsocieties had Discussion Roundtable problems(as whichadvancedcapitalist global issues, and championing thedream of capitalism,instead of criticising the (Zizek 1990); 1990;Habermas they were alsoaccusedoften not sharinginterest of in Left the for vision utopian a new creating of instead region, in the struggles nationalist lean towards nationalism as opposed to internationalism;suspected –in the most cases unjustly, since the great majority of them were liberals – to to return to the traditionlatencies. hadThey variouswere negative dissidents there expectedthat the intellectuals of the life, small sense integrity, asense of humour…” (Tamás 1999:188-189). human hummumdrum of beauty the stressing morality, a commonplace of with aid the state socialist system, the much;within severe repression suffering from little too than autonomy,too rather they had the only dignify from for former sufferedand oblivion of the avoiding atomization as theguarantee duty, right left to “escape politics altogether One the ground of these contrast in categories of intellectuals, one could easily critical intheWest, wereseemingly recognized While hardships these ă neanu 1988). There were matches and mismatchesneanuincome 1988).There matchesand this attempt to were 18 CEU eTD Collection one. consolidation in ofastrong years,political society the post-1989 suppressing the civil discussed of the in light the problematic highly becomes statement The latter the actual role of civil society to be contentious and challenge the role of the state and political society. political and state of the role the challenge and becontentious to society of civil role actual the File). The book Ash’s Garton of review book 5 Jones, Pryce (David them in role his on emphasis vigorously ofsome events inthe the region before 1989 (see1990) e.g.Ash arguably a discretewith Czechoslovakia. He visited dissidents, helped inthe support of samizdat and witnessed anddepicted DDR, changed he thefocusofthe study. in his the In 1980s he regime frequented Germany, repressive Poland, Hungary ongoing and the with encounter his Germany, Nazi of history the on research intended 4 society “uncivil as initiatives and civic opposition andparadoxically neglectedextra-parliamentary authoritarian rather people)“them”(the and elite); for them political post-1989 the of practice dissidentsthe is understanding of civil society in its Manicheandivision of worldthe into “us”(the in identifiesof group the aproblem dissidents’ aroundPetrKopecky scholars commonto people andclashed with ideasAsh dissidents’ the (Garton 2000:204).A values thatinGarton Ashthose he were applicable e.g. rather detects 1999[1990]), 1998 want to be Bürger and bürgerlich.”… Europewerein“We insaying movements effect Eastern Ash claims opposition the that [We want] “old Whereasadapt. in1990Garton hadto which they to politics, ofliberaldemocratic truth” truths and tested models…” “half-way andthe intruth” “living idealof between dissidents’ contrast sees glaring the (see Ash Garton Timothy historian British The countries. in their people common of needs a decisivedetect post-socialist clash to the political andsuperfluous everydays realities, countries. own in their consciousness civic of development the to political andcontribution theory, highly thedissidents’sophisticated praises author As Kopecky Muddeand note, the connotationof “civil” society should be “civilized” contradicts of framework the in revolutionary”: “velvet ofa nickname anecdotic the acquired Ash has Garton scholars ideals, other highmoral onthedissidents’ comments In more sceptical 5 ” (Barnfield&Kopecky ” (Barnfield&Kopecky Kopecky&Mudde1999, 19 ed 2003). 4 CEU eTD Collection we gotwereNGOs” (Ferenc in Misslivetz quoted Kador 2003). What society. was civil we dreamed of “What 1989: after sphere in thecivic technocracy post-1989 societies (Tamás quoted in Tism societies quoted (Tamás post-1989 Besides, many among themhave been withdisappointed illiberal sentiments the of the authenticity. and integrity, morality, of ideals shared of set interchangeable and dynamic and their ends: civil dissidentsthe have been misinterpreted from theirWestern defenders in both theirmeans society did not Roundtablelike Others, LSE). represent Hungarianphilosopher Gáspár Tamás, Miklós claim that a unity – prerogative that ifofachieved not –is still Adam (seee.g.in achievable Michnik quoted theory and practice, jargon civilof normalcy society return to as sees(Michnik 1999).He it amoral as but as a a former movement personof liberal rather Solidarity –has spokes adopted the gradually disenfranchisement and return to power of the ormer altogether negative vision “velvet post-1989 the restoration”of citizens’ revolutions in theWestern,in aswell thelocal is context, also subdivided. his Despite in collection). article latter the Tism legacies of of necessary years post-1989 the (e.g. considerations 40 Leninism regimes. He underlines the imposition of western models of democracy without the Tism of the former dissidents theintentions for havingmisinterpreted and activists intellectuals critical blame western and neglected the conditions of life under totalitarian regimes. ă ă neanu 1988;Tism neanu underlines the different dimensions of under dimensions repressive the of riskneanu inprotest different the underlines The tiny group of former dissidents, who still engage in the explication of the Lastly, some scholars as the US-based Romanian historian Vladimir Tism Vladimir historian Romanian US-based the as scholars some Lastly, ă neanuforKen asimilaropinion Jowitt’s ed.1999, see also 20 ă neanu 1999) or withrole of dominant neanuthe 1999)or nomenklatura , the Adam, the Michnik – ă neanu CEU eTD Collection intelligentsia. It was not considered as an organization, rather a free association of people (see e.g. Falk B. 2005:84-88, PontusoFalk 2004:6). e.g. (see of people association free a rather organization, an as considered not was It intelligentsia. philosopher Jan Pato put to becauseprison of their allegedly anti-system songs. oriented The Charter,beheaded by the the not represent of did politics visions astheir reasons, political for marginalized community Prague. Agroupof of primarily humanistic they intellectuals, were often dissident the of figures main the of one since ever was detainments later despite and released was Havel term, prison his of termination the for Olga wife his of campaign of signatories main the of one as specifically more and 1970s, late in the came dissent of issues in engagement Czechoslovakia board of Dubcek’s on hismorefirstreform opposition. serious Instead in heenter periphery regime struggle in events the didthe againsttotalitarian not of 1968; the in remained Havel field. dissidents’ the of development the to contribute to able and oppositional figure: he was a part of humanisticthe intelligentsia, and as such he was dissidents. and activists European andEastern peace activists-intellectuals Western between in relation the scene. He was also a spokesperson of the alliance, and – as such – also a prominent actor Charter claimed the liberation from prison of the Czech rock group rock Czech of the prison from liberation the claimed Charter 6 death of Jan Pato intellectual life in the country ever since 1960s,and the a prototypical after ‘dissident’ the Václav Havel in the events of 1989 Czechoslovakia. A participantin the oppositional of role have broadly the discussed Europe in1980s Eastern dissidents studiesof Several 1989: the Case of Václav Havel 2. A Definition of Civil Society inEast-Central Europe before A and himself, playwright autodidact philosopher Havel wasnotonly activist an fightDesignedfor to human inrights, general, right and of artisticexpression inparticular,the þ þ ka, Jiri Hajek Havel and and was signed by 237 people mainly fromPrague the ka in 1977, Havel was one of the exemplary figures of the dissident Charter 77 Charter 6 . After his detainmentin late1970sandthe the broad 21 Plastic People ofthe Universe that were CEU eTD Collection conferences, activist and academic forums. In this sense, it is also easier to understand to easier is also it sense, this In forums. and academic activist conferences, the West, bothin and presented translated broadly were essays polemic limited of number a essays. Yet, in academic and whole anumber inthe 1989besides Westbefore hisletters of of volume works works (seeThe work e.g.of Havel Keaneis also 1999). realities (Kopecky&Barnfield post-socialist the to inappropriate as which areseen rather 1988), handy for theor in1999), or into tointroduce it hishis ideal attempts pre-1989 anti-politicalof politics, currenton occasions enterprise. civil society – bein it his authoritarian career political of a philosopher-king (Tucker He never such published as 1992).AsCarter suchhe of ofhaving is betrayed theimperatives accused 1980s often the dissidents, on the contrary, were always skeptical to the one-party state and preferred the practice of civil association of (civilsociety) structures in practice independent the from the official regime structures preferred and (Bloem2002:2-7). state one-party the to skeptical always were contrary, the on dissidents, and enlightened paternalism, protecting the party leading positionthrough democratic legitimacy; the reaffirm the role of the party the in longstanding national traditioncombining socialism and democracy, mainopposition and the dissidents is available in: reform oppositionboth before and after1968 tried to 7 in actor its AshTism aftermath 1988,Garton (Keane 1990, in main bloc,Eastern an dialogue East-West beforethe participant 1989,political active seen from abroad: he was recognised as onefollowing of the main advantages actor of theand civillimitations. society inOn thethe positive side I could claim Havel’sCzechoslovakia(1990-1993) andof Czech the Republic(1993-2003). role as of Revolution Velvetthe became subsequently 1989, and of aPresidentof Knownmore in home,in abruptly 1989.and the he at mainregion abroad was themotor place regime took change inEurope East-Central countries three of the only out there predominantly activities:undergroundin network tight one reasonsthe of perhaps,why traditional ideas of reform the opposition (Bloem 2002) In this conference paper Filip Bloem gives a concise account about the differences between the between differences the about account concise a gives Bloem Filip paper conference this In Having chosen the works of Havel as a case study, my paper will face the 22 ă 7 .. They had cooperate to neanu 1990,Hauner CEU eTD Collection describedby atlength variety (e.g.of Keaneauthors 1999, Kopecky&Barnfield1999, Pontuso 2004). In 9 Hungary (Kennedy 1992:30). high- of a development for rankingpotential technical intelligentsiaand withclaims to reform andpoweras dissent Kadarthe government did in post-1956 cultural for freedom much leave not did Czechoslovakia workers, and Church laicsas Solidaritythe movement had createdPoland; it besides, post-1968 the 8 Klaus Václav Czech Republic, the and Czechoslovakia of minister prime the with term on the debate heated a initiated he presidency Even if hispost-1989 is society of discussion peculiar. of civil concept the status quo in the country. of change the with dissolve to then and adherents, of majority vast a reaching activists, type’ version frame of of managedcivil society which to spreadfrom nucleusa small of ‘ideal almost an about speculate me to allow they work: my for beneficial be also might opposed Polishto the cross-class oppositional alliance in 1980s. the with the reformbalance to communication managed than which opposition, Hungarian persecuted the opposition saidhave more theseare to severely of been Czechoslovakia: dissidents humanistic in the the of case region-representative necessarily not the and society, civil of version country; they were seenwidely known andand quoted commented in literatureWestern before and 1989. after as a became they tinythus and in aplay, cues of precision sentential the with Havel by Discussed single-class – of society, in Central civil and,Europe. allthat political politics,power issuesof as in interest EastWestthe life dialogue inthe 1980s Cold anti- – in war,dissidence, truth, central of issues synthetically and briefly addressed they Furthermore, facing. were their immediate context – on what occasion they were written and what audience they The debate between Havel and Klaus in 1994 over potential changes to the Czech constitution is constitution Czech the to changes potential over 1994 in Klaus and Havel between debate The Czechoslovakia where the dissidents of thecountry were neithermixturea of intellectuals, in the Havel Václav dissident Czech the of case very the that, than Other anti-political Havel’s of case extreme the from stem mainly limitations The 9 , in his texts as a dissident he never uses the term “civil 23 8 Yet, these facts Yet,these CEU eTD Collection experience in the figure of “life in truth” or in Václav Benda’s notion orin notion a “parallel of of “life inVáclav in Benda’s figure experience the truth” approaching 70 years of age, did not survive the interrogation andsuffered aheart attack (Pontuso 2004:6). Jan Pato Polish opposition, underground anddedicated Czechto thelate anddissidentphilosopher Hajek, and numerous othersignatories were questioned by the state police. Pato “life in “anti-politicaltruth”, andpolitics”, –arguably “parallel – polis” terms the of employment his in implies practice this that society political towards stances furtherthe on Czech second the elaborates one society, post-1968 post-totalitarian the in dissent and resistance of practice the describing in powerful more much is essay first everin sinceknown the Keane Whereas 1988collection). its appearance and quoted the Anti-political PoliticsAnti-political essays his in resistance and society civil scholarly intuition of these works, itis not difficult toallocate Havel’s understanding of him in roleofanarbiterthe it Following 1988,Kaldor1990ed.). (Keane main the WestTism(see e.g. dialogue ontheconcept when the editors of a few essay collections have assigned Havel a central role in the East- 2005:322-324). This most initiatedstrategy in was probably late1980s-earlythe 1990s 11 actually highly dependent (Havel 1991d:63) not that muchto the concept itself, but rather to the social conditioning onwhich the independence were parallel structures to official state institutions allowing independent life of society.Havel’s objections were 10 society couldprevent the desired rapid transition to market economy (Pontuso 2004:123-129) (regionalism of small-scale (fn14) work and civic initiatives) and the persuasion of Klaus that astrong civil very brief terms it could be reduced to the opposition between Havel’s adherence to adherence Havel’s between opposition the to be reduced could it terms brief very Powerless itskeeping motives of his inbefore closely to twoessays 1989 society” as such. Yet many commentators have spoken of his version of civil society, Written primarily for the audience at a meeting between the Czechoslovak and Czechoslovak the between a meeting at audience the for primarily Written After the “spontaneous” anti-petition that followed the Chareter 77 petition, Pato petition, 77 Chareter the followed that anti-petition “spontaneous” the After Initial disagreement withBenda’s 1978 concept notwithstanding, Havel still adopts the idea of þ ka and 11 , The Power of the Powerless Politics andConscience (1984, hereafter quoted as [PC], as as [PC], hereafter quoted (1984, (seee.g.Tism The Power of the Powerless 24 seeks to find to “dissident” common seeks of ground ă neanu 1988, 1990), or even neanu 1988,1990),or for designed ă neanu 1990;Renwick 2005,Falk Politics and Conscience The Power of the of Power The laissez-faire 10 . ([PP] 1978) and 1978) ([PP] þ ka, by that time þ ka, Havel, ka, economic was CEU eTD Collection lies” (PP142)of post-totalitarianthe whichhasdevelopedregime subtle for mechanisms of “panorama the against of ifcommandable)resistance practice not (even commendable the as isseen truth in Life dimension. a social lack not does in truth” “life Havel’s principles, of existential for thefulfilment possibility true only as the self-sacrifice on and Heidegger inFreiburgbefore the World War II–and influenced by his writings later such nonconformity be implemented to itsoutside of official 127) structures”.(PP for is noway practically there that more politically ossified hasbecome which of Hussak] [Czechoslovakia system in “a is dissent that in truth,” “life society: civil of understanding and vision his of elements the of be one to find commentators in what powerless, the of is not satisfied with this category either – yet, he points out its potential of empowerment act that is recognized as resistance towards the thick ideology of the Party-state. of ideology thick the towards resistance as is recognized act that “dissident” ideasof improving the manufacturing technology (PP 173-174). 13 perpetuating elite” (END Bulletin,by self- a July-August run 1982:23 ) clique undemocratic an of superstars; bunch a for travel-club elite “an being stop to members END support conference1982, DanSmith,in Chairpersonof Coordinating Committeethe appealed to co- 12 Europe” Eastern of attraction beto “the havetourist out turned which intellectuals, humanistic like-minded enclave of Asinstances apparatus. not well-knownfound “dissent”the could such only amongst be inits power state of impersonal – this the judgement of another perspective tests PC). Yet, Havel does not totally deny the categorization, but rather tries to broaden it.observers and to visitors countriesthe in He Sovietblocthe (anidea developedin further labelled of a category of andactions from people insider’s viewpointWestern the polis”. For Havel in 1978 “dissident”could onlybe used in inverted comas, since it rather Borrowed from Borrowed earlierthe phenomenology of Pato Havel gives an example with his beer brewery shift supervisor, who was harshly punished for his This observationdid not only recur in the texts of Havel andother reticent dissidents. At an the 12 . Itcouldbe toany attributed also arbitrarily opinion and 25 þ ka – a student of of ka –astudentboth Husserl 13 Havel CEU eTD Collection an academic ceremony in Toulouse, where the Czech dissident was invited to receivea to was invited dissident Czech the where inToulouse, ceremony an academic in length at represented and division society as however is seen etc. It still contacts foreign unions, trade education, forms of networks, information accessible parallel in is self-organized of society represented expression civil second This polis”. “parallel in Benda Václav dissident Czech the of notion the following in membership a community common values sharing andissues of interest: The social choice. moral and existential an on primarily based is It state-socialism. under dimensionexperience ofcentre the of principletruth” the with coincides of power “the centre that claiming regime repressive the of centre (PP 130). of Thus,life couldHavel’s makein opposing the“lifeis inlie” that being to him emanated from very the in truth version is control of primarily civiland coercion societyof society. It is the stemschoicethis every onedirectly of ofthe citizensvoluntary of suchsocial regime The second motif of Havel’s understanding of civil society is related to the state- the to related is society civil of understanding Havel’s of motif second The for and themselves alone, to responsibility but to have and for the world.”(PP 193-195). individuals that responsibility contained self introverted, foreshadow general a solution and, thus, itisnotjust theexpression of an the most articulated expression so far of living within the truth… itmust or, structures” “parallel Havel calls in what place takes The communication dangerous. (PP148) exists. Butthis place ishidden and therefore, fromtheperspective of power,very omnipresent: thishidden sphere…Thisis where the potential for communication fact thatexplosive,incalculable political ofpower livingwithin truth residesthe in the hidden the living slumbers there sphere of life in its real aims,oftherefore, its hidden openness to lies, truth…The singular, of life the of surface openly orderly the Under within the truth has an ally, invisible to be sure, but 26 Anti-Political Politics , an essay dedicated to CEU eTD Collection never refers to Havel himself. Yet the two main motives of the concept of civil societyTamás Inhistext Gáspár M.Tamás. former in dissident and Hungarian the philosopher even dangers of this anti-political version of civil society. or flaws ideational of the conclusions similar rather they reached approaches, different by political scientists,Central both Using European anddissidents byWestern scholars. civil society in his dissidentpolitical i.e.politics, “politics from below”( PC397-398)“. yearshuman…”anti- essentially truth, the to service as morality, practical as in“politics society impersonalAgainstmachines, servitude this to power Havel his offers principles civil of insociety: because especially post-totalitarian the politics, to conscience opposes directly which politics, anti-political of principle the Havel rejects the idea ofmutual control of civil society and the state. Instead he professes reflect this moral dimension as a political phenomenon” (PP 154). In his essay from 1984 must necessarily ideas [that] political alternative as“independent, mentioned briefly philosopher – firstthe president, Thomas Masaryk (Bloem 2002:7) developed his work already the inlate in 1970s (see e.g. most political he got in his first propositions fora political reform in his notionof small-scale works that every word said stemsfromhe principle the of truth(quotedRenwick life in in 2005:308). Initially the during his first years as a president of the country: one year after taking the present position he still wrote 14 in what further develops Havel There Peace award. Already in 1994 the theoretical side of conceptthis was put under disquisition by In yearsthe following the 1989peaceful Havel’s revolutions, understanding of (AP 388) statistical choruses ofvoters,producers, into consumers, patients, tourists, or soldiers.transformed are people machinelike; more ever grow States humanity. actual our of thereby, and speech natural and sense common our of conscience, System,ideology, and It might be noteworthy that Havel arguably claimed the stances onanti-politics and lifetruth in apparat havedeprived wellus-rulers as asthe ruled-of our 14 was discussed critically both by theorists and by and theorists by both critically discussed was 27 PP: influenced 173)and by renownanother Czech The Power Powerless of the he CEU eTD Collection Kopecky&Barnfield 2005following Renwick 1999,and have Linzand Stepan (1996)) simply reinvents enemythe of 1989revolution,the communism. notion this state, the of power abstract impersonal the for and before responsible not membership, volitional fluctuating, with movement social anew as society civil of idea Tamás thevery discovers paradox incivil society of Central of Europe 1980s.the The ideas”, “lofty civic a based on rule andarbitrary order political a non-coercive of concept inMarxistintelligentsia further, onlegitimizing Even communist keen rule”(215). this revolutions live of ideals 1989 could only uptothe “fanciful daydreamsand of the the fight against the utopianism wouldlimitor least contradict at Thus,in partially feature (211). andintheir anti-utopian of rational order, andtruth” opinion, every external which aimedrational aregoverningorder people the civil society as understood basedonpreference, “inner orotherness andsearch of authenticity,nature, difference, in the only by listening to opinionsthe of people.”the On (210-211). this basis he disclaims the be discovered can community opinion…political of dominion the of approval an entails should be ashumiliating:considered institutional rule abstract idea that the rejects theory, Tamás contract Western fathers of founding the on Drawing non-hierarchical. and voluntary be should society civil that it: the ideas Havel’s conception follow of trends 1989 that herecognizes closely the Recent studies from Recent studies from field sciencethe notably in (most of political Besides, Tamás’s argument continues, “the needs of the political community political the of needs “the continues, argument Tamás’s Besides, hierarchy, notoppression.(Tamás 1994:208-209) something exist acknowledged yourself, onahigher than to plane order, theresult is superior of a something worship you If societies. oriental ancient in intrinsically destructive even in the adoration of power such as it was practiced itmight be felt asalien, cumbersome, andoverwhelming, butthere isnothing 28 CEU eTD Collection group (see interests group indiscussion Renwick 2005:304-307). institutions, nosympathy andmodern of understanding representing party politics as liability for relations preference ofhuman toroutinized compromise, as opposed ethical civil society,Renwick finds that in Havel’s case one could distinguish all the main characteristics of an most notably ethical basis in andtheoffered “social debates 1987. contract” of action of an inthe is easily most discernable 1980s, but ethical community,“political opposition” befound could inboth Czechoslovakiathe and Hungaryin the no version sinceof 1970s.Thethird the in ever of Poland opposition inthe conceptions the waspresent group” version, “pressure The Konrád’santi-politics. second of George that than extreme more as Renwick by is seen that politics anti-politic of variation Havel’s pressure groupapproach representability highest the findsthat Renwick but alsovariations, are there approaches three In these of (Renwick 2005:288). state.” the one“entering from and outside”, state the “engagingstate”, type of relation “ignoring ofcivilsociety the state: the understanding relationshipattitude the to of and of of basic types dissidents’ three between distinguishes Theauthor party politics. dissidentspost-communist to irrelevant been have might that understanding ethic or anti-political towards the state: the conditions of properly (even if not perfectly)with functioning conversant democracy.least was that one the was his society civil of versions dissidents’ other Amongst society. civil of practice the of version inHavel’s inconsistency shown also In its casesin juxtaposition with theLinz other typology (1996) andof Stepan Renwick defends the need of a more subtle interpretation of the different levels of levels different the of interpretation subtle more a of need the defends Renwick , and , political opposition 29 Beszél Ę circlein in Hungary its 1980s early . The first case was represented in represented case was firstThe . anti-politics , CEU eTD Collection appeal for cooperation and collective action, I analyse Havel’s text Havel’s analyse I action, collective and for cooperation appeal Considerations 3. Civil Society as aDiscursive Frame: Methodological fall state-socialism.of mutual understanding and cooperation across Iron the Curtain in yearsthe precedingthe for appeal discursive in the dialogue; intellectual East-West the of frame a as society its instrumental need before 1989:inthefusion dissident’s of theory and practice of civil critique outlined above.Iwould try however toexpand the dimension of civilin society definition of Havel’s conception of society andcivil willkeep inmindits persuasive the to stick will I analysis my In implication. political its and society civil to approach theoretical Havel’s of reinterpretation another yet give to try not would I my sense, In of this democracy. based ontheprinciples insociety political practical application Havel has its legacyina problematic both theoretical and grounding, inits post-1989 the audience at a conference in 1985. In order to ground the abstract use and to theabstractof concepts a conference order inground audiencethe 1985.In at Havel and perceived by a reader – and as speech act – as which it was intended to address would reduce mutual the mistrust. which cooperation further a of principles potential identifies Havel activists, Western and Eastern the between misunderstanding of moments basic some pinpointing By Itengagesdialogue 1990). (Hauner ina the Western polemic European peace movement. This short essay is often referred to as one of the main documents in the East-West In both In is it both these approaches idea visible the that of by society civil as professed In other to discuss the role of theory and practice of civil society as adiscursive society of civil and practice discuss of theory role the to In other In the following text I treat the essay as both a textual document – written by 30 Anatomy ofReticence Anatomy . CEU eTD Collection ideologies: indeed, they need with resonate ideologicalto prominent visions, butthey are Frames with confused areoften observers (Snow&Benfordbystanders 2000:613-614). or for meaningantagonists,engaged constituents, in andand of production maintenance the areseen(Snow &BenfordMovement agentsactively assignifying actors 1988:198). demobilize and antagonists” to garner bystander support, to andconstituents, adherents mobilize “to guides action potential and experience organizes constructive agency. It phenomenain Framing theirsocial implies dynamics,environment (1974:21). and events label” and identify perceive, “locate, to individuals enabling interpretation”, of “schemata as frames conceptualized Goffman Ervin sociologist analysis, frame movement mobilization and political campaigning (see e.g.). The founding father of Chouliarak&Fairclough 1999). Van Dijk discourse and(seee.g. andcontext, 1994, power. (discourse) text between relations interaction, of discourse, genres of and aspects other turns strategies, style, socio-historical perspective of differentlevels or dimensions of discourse, such as syntax, in method enables analysis the The audience. the impact on andtheir potential represent, they text or repertoire discursive speech, within the level coherence of meanings, implicit their clarifies It contexts. political and in social transmitted messages discursive analyse Marxist and neo-Marxist theory. alignment frame and analysis critical discourse sciences: socialshow theory the impact and of communicationideas, I work with two methodstheory. from Itsthe fieldattempt of applied is tosocial Frame analysis is usually applied in more empirical work in studies of social of in studies work empirical more in applied usually is analysis Frame critical linguistics, of field from the methods successfully uses analysis Discourse 31 CEU eTD Collection 16 1998:847- (Steinberg itself. of meaning 852). production the how observing without constraints conjunctural points out the impossibilityauthor the Lastly, to understand resources. the socialof material lifecontrol of framesand only power of throughinstitutionalstrategies and and resources cultural as frames of issues the in public sphere. As construction a fourth problematic social and field,of interaction Steinberg talk shows between the in distinction formation; frame between in context macro the and individual the maps, reifying or the texts discontinuous modular flow coherent ofdraw discursive often texts.analysers frame Then, the texts, third flaw discursive as to identifyof frames the links between representation the in Secondly, unspecified. largely of frames interrelatedness and range centrality, the leave scholars processes 15 in for action asamega-frame society’ a ‘civil of the operation study assumes current frames protest of formation the discuss to of (Stibnergconflict” 1998:853). theory and social inpsychology to order frametrace formation and in diffusion a“terrain between acombination discourse meanings. with Heoffers preferred discourse their struggleinverts in meaning, to process of which as actors interactive discourse dialogic so-called“cracks” inframe Steinberg alignment uses Mikhail Bahtin’s of understanding flaws significanthas in theory produced (Steinberg frame 1998:847) field of protest research, Marc W.Steinberg shows that plainly referential use languageof semiotic dynamics of the framing process. the in understanding role discourse of important field: central the of kitthe analytic tool Drawing on a wide in the rangegap particular a identified ofhas studies studiesmovement social of scholarship fromhowever, the (Snowantidotes & Benford 2000:613fn2). actually subvertingamplifying, extending or existingideologies, as their or components (Steinberg 1999) analyses onthe frame formation incollective mobilization of Spitalield milk weavers and cottonspinners In his research on the British working class in the 19 Steinberg identifies five “cracks”frame in analysis.Firstly, neglecting discursive and rhetorical is usedprimarily process ontheexplanation of Steinberg’s framing the Yet, work however,in yearsmethods, of recent independence two general Despite the these 16 32 . Stepping on former research however, my however, former research . Stepping on th century, Steinberg has produced intricate produced has Steinberg century, 15 . To address these address To . CEU eTD Collection they they need tomobilize)(see Benford 1993:678-679). which audience the to reality of visions negotiated of the (impact resonance and reality), (interpretations for of changingreality), (alternatives aspectsof problematic prognostic dispute of meanings of its own frame on all levels of frame formation: diagnostic movementin a of itacrucial how appeared on phase I elaborate a peace conference). at was employed in truth”) “life of principle existential in its politics anti-political (Havel’s society civil the close reading of reading close the theory complement(outlined inSnow&Benford 2000)to those analysisof in discourse allowsframe alignment me use of to categories It the 1998:855). discourse”(Steinberg a monologue, arrest multivocality thatisthe to meaning ortemporarily dampen within “actors can realize power within discourse to the extentthat they can convert the dialogue in instances some intuition that approach dialogic follow I Stenberg’s the restricted. is in frame analysis tilt” “discursive of the use research. My present of the resources how thisframe wasformedalign managed and to isdifferent beyond audiences the temporally and spatially isolated context which he explores. western intellectuals; and, thus, secondly the implications of dialoguethis interactionand beyond the dialogue amongst East-Central Europeandissidents,and between audiences,themtheir and including in the crucial concept, ofthe formation frame theoretical the firstly, 1989: before society ofcivil use the of Focusing onthe particularcase studies of internal political struggles, Glenn neglects two important aspects 18 of democratization(see 2001:31-33). paths subsequent the and state, the with negotiations in processes setting agenda in influence alternatives, excluding mobilization, resource aspects: four in success of their terms –in Poland and Czechoslovakia – countries European Central of two democratization the in entrepreneurs movement bysocial society claim about injustice, identity agency Heand (2001:26). examines critically explains the and use of civil support, Indeed, Glenndoes fulfil purposethe sets he to himself inexploring civil society as athreefold with the political aspect of how the ‘masterframe’ of civil society in resource mobilizationof popular strategic and contested point of view by Glenn III(2001).John The study dealsreveals persuasively and 17 1980s in East-Central Europe Glenn’s work (2001) lacks a complementary theoretical and discursive aspect to such analysis. such to aspect discursive and theoretical complementary a lacks (2001) work Glenn’s its from explored persuasively been already has frame master a as society civil of use The discursively Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy in the interaction with one audience (the Western audience participants Western interaction withone (the inthe 17 . Despite the limitations of these studies ofthese limitations the . Despite . Thus, I show how an instance of the frame of 33 18 , a discussion of CEU eTD Collection audiences? between intellectual and for possibilities Western cooperation Eastern and debate indicate representation in Havel’s as a discursivework frameis that used instrumentally to in society civil understanding its tothe contribute of feature and dothese how if Secondly, how? and arerepresented features pragmatic or analytical which speech – in implied inmyto Firstly, ishow the represented/enacted/referred work. society civil Snow&Benford 2000). 1993, audience (Benford tothe ofimportance issues with of resonate and degrees the beyond civil cooperation indicates action local its ways forsociety strategic and context; of frame action European East-Central the which in points the text; the of structure the in frame of “civilsociety” the amplification of and articulation moments discursive the movement: NuclearDisarmament intheWestern European discourse levelsof resonance also emphasisetext as a discursiveon which act (semantics,structure and schematic organization of aspectsthe text and the complementing dimensions of the pragmatics ofandissues and argumentative access, atstake); local setting, actors’, participants, dimensions, syntaxthe of thetext text). Inaddress this and (global and1997:6-7):context 1993:270 Dijk van ofanalysisdifferentclusters (see system I the diagnostic, prognostic and Thus, the primal task of this study is to analyse Besides frame broader this analysis, moreseveral of specific be questions will 34 Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy in three CEU eTD Collection the territory which met territory the inof debatesextensive andhuge Europe, protest Britain, forces on rangenuclear deploy intermediate to in 1979 NATO of decision the of result movement was burgeoning more vigorously than ever before. On the one hand this peace Western European was the continent a European On the War. theCold of blocs of evensrecent and withindevelopments polarized the post-WWII Europe, inthe two would grab maintainand attentionthe selectedthe of audience (Garton Ash 1993:79). moment, cues and settingarguably made rightdrama stage the that that choose him fine dramaticis of of East-West dialogue:itof development author’s moment sense the a in written essay Havel’s was only Not reasons. main two for piece the analysing of beinto should ofthe in preparation and takenconsideration address essay. These note editor’s to thetextin Havel 1990). Pamphletthe 77Foundation of inCharter Stockholm Wilson, samethe year (Paul was first published in the Czechoslovak samizdat publication samizdat Czechoslovak inthe published was first Suhrkamp. Havel was not house West German identitiesediting by the published European collection on permitted to leave inin Amsterdam, my in absence” was 1985. It then appear in to thea subsequent essay country for the conference; ofReticence Anatomy the essay 4.1 Context 4. Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy The text – clearly a polemic – was an attempt to respond to a particular– clearlyrespond a The text sequence to –was polemic to an attempt factors inthe importantinformation This background cuesabout give can is an essay which Havel intended to present “at a peace conference a peace “at present to intended Havel which essay is an : A Discursive(Frame) Analysis 35 Obsah and reappeared in and reappeared context CEU eTD Collection Kaldor,Dan Smith, Ken Coates, who providing theoretical analysis and Cold war ‘dealignment strategy’. 21 international human rights covenants (Tism 20 raise to powerof CDU the lead the to stagnation and of the impact of government protest by 1984(Carter 1992:114). Conservative of the reelection the but agenda, the on put was problematic disarmament and peace the Germany West and Britain both in delayed; was deployment the and successful government 19 supporta European 1992:122).One theAppeal of (Carter wasto demandsof decisive the movement peace of the agenda andpolitical theoretical the elaborated intellectuals for Nuclear central Britishthe figures of Campaign was of the activist P.Thompson who one Edward DisarmamentDisarmamentin waslaunchedwas historian mainlyby 1980.It (END) drafted the and CND – a Nuclear Appealthe in for European The respect: this decisivedocument 1992:205). think tankpolitical and fronts, the minority openly dissidents of challenging the party”(Carter of sorts, were“anxious peace exploreWestern theits groups to official and spacebetween party in which engaged Yet, groups. independent European Eastern and peace officials both with communicate socialist gradual inreforms Sovietthe Union. Security and in Cooperation Europe gradualdétentein the Final Act ofthe the Helsinki signing Warpolitics, of Cold the birth of in Solidarity the movement was suppression.Poland andits also It catalysedby as inEurope potential collaborators interesttheir campaigns. wasrevived This after the Western activists in happening in the undergroundthe civil society in East-Central hand, by middlethe of 1980s the movementthe started expressed in renewed interest of with actions(Carterat protest 1992:114-115).On andpetitions mutual support other the trespassingnational borders –including those of countriesthe behind the Iron curtain – Germany West and Italy Netherlands, the Belgium, Except for E.P.Thompson, other important theorists on the British END were April Carter Mary Carter April were END British the on theorists important other E.P.Thompson, for Except There the governments of the countries of the Soviet Bloc declared they would abide by by the abide would they declared Bloc Soviet ofthe countries ofthe governments the There the on pressure the was Netherlands the in only – success mixed with were protests These In terms of strategic action, this revived interest was represented in attempts to ă 20 neanu 1990:7)neanu and later by Gorbachev’s pro-Western course and course pro-Western by Gorbachev’s later and 36 19 . In acts of solidarity, activists were activists solidarity, of acts In . 21 CEU eTD Collection parts parts of samethe system.(Kaldor 1989:12-13) competing as than complementary, as rather blocs two the saw détente citizens The them. between power balance-of- of the inpreservation managed was and blocs competing two between clash as interpreted environmental policies, demilitarization, tolerance and pluralism etc. In this the official détente was dealt with these governmentaltwo levels: itwas about arms topicscontrol and disarmament. “Détente from below” but orcitizens détente within 22 a broader range of topics for cooperation on the grassroots level – between détente from below and détente from above were delusive as, at Conference, pointed the1982ENDSupporters from differenceout the their viewpoint committees on the Eastern side of the Iron Curtain (Burke 2004:199). As a British activist peace i.e. state-fostered “officials” with contacts on primarily based was Union Soviet the and Europe East-Central towards movement Western the of policy the however, publications,primarily level, a inideas,discourse on inexchange of articles, and wasexpressed and petitions across the polartwo blocs in Coldthe War (Baehr2000; Burke 2004). the Ironanti- Americanism formationsLeft-wingtraditional of in and and Britain Europe claimedreciprocity of the Curtain.contradicted it sentiments, anti-Soviet own Thompson’s following On the level an nuclear war: vision acoming of apocalyptic accomplished. appealpresented The of strategicwould action, buffer between “freeEurope”(Thompson “from Portugal.” belt” countries of Poland to 1982:1): a that the two Another in armed demandBaehr 2000). creation waspresented a plea forthe a “nuclear-free of superpowers on European governments todrift away from (E.P.Thompson in Unitedthe States quoted in case total couldpressure version of an informal that détente of represent put civic politics official disarmament Itwasto movements forEurope. network” exchange throughout between grassroots was not “détente from below The so-called “détente from above” or official détente was taking place primarily on primarily place taking was détente official or above” from “détente so-called The below” from place wastaking by“détente middle 1980sthe the Yet, of the language of Cold war[…] we the cannot find general any guiderules us to in distinctionsofficialbetween autonomousorganizationsand belongs tothe 22 ”. It was an attempt to create andmaintain “transcontinental was an to create ”. It attempt 37 CEU eTD Collection movements (Carter 1992:115-116). At the third European Nuclear Disarmament (END) Nuclear Disarmament third Atthe European 1992:115-116). (Carter movements peace European Western for forum and body umbrella an into independently grew After the British ENDhadlaunched the conventionannual inEND initiative 1981,this Burke 2004). (Tism Europe peaceful and afree create only then realities,could which andchangeof political human rights primarily on predicated intellectual dialogue in the state-socialist they countries; claimed theneed for growing panEuropean imply the dissolution of the Soviet bloc and thus had no intention to change the status quo radical claims even most the fact that the was problematic more for them dissent; asactof regarded for mutualcommittees peace of activities and occasions official disarmament the of out campaigning peace of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact, did not importance (Tism independents refusal toengageinissuesdogged European of of East-Central global the Western conferences 1990:98). were alsogrowinglyactivists (Hauner, to the impatient the officials, wereblacklisted, and generally notallowed participate to at the movements’ with independents usually ended incomplications: thelatter often into got trouble with and (Burke2004);meetings vice others the versa with the delegitimized collaboration and independents officialseastern between ones exposure –the cooperation with by Western the Against this background of mutual mistrust, ashift of position happened in 1984. Besides, the members of independent peace groups regarded and were regarded regardedandwere peace groups independent membersof Besides, the August 1982:22) simplicitiesof Cold War rhetoric.” (John Mepham, END Bulletin, 10,July- event its in own terms. All we know is thatwe have to reject thedangerous Everything is unpredictable. ..to understand each initiative,each contact, each making contacts between East and West. Everything is anexperiment. peaceniks ă neanu 1990:8-9). The neanueasterners 1990:8-9). had troubles: yetother notonly was with a growing mistrust. The westerners, were on double on Themistrust. were westerners, a growing with 38 ă neanu 1990, CEU eTD Collection to East-Central Europe in the early 1980s. In the yearshad himselfmake a few attempts tocontacttoCentral dissidentsEuropean duringfollowhis visits he was also attacked by members E.P.Thompson, idea rejected the (Burke2004:200-201). founding END’s British the headedbyoneof afraction debates, heated After Network. extentproduced its political and –had agenda theoretical to decide whethertojoins the branch of END. The organizationschism theBritish to – almost brought Curtain divide Iron the arguably conceptualized that gave that conference the Yalta of anniversary thefortieth of occasion the itsorganized on name to the movement –aseminar facedpublicof Thefirst Network the Network event the amajor challenge. and, to a larger 190) 2004:189- created.(Burke East-Westdialogue for was Network conference aEuropean andprimarily independent with groups avoid with At contacts officials. endof the the andrepressive regimes intheRest of work refocus theircollaborationEurope, to inthe oppressions stance the against take to groups for Western need urgent the 2004:189). (Burke conference the access to permitted not were who activists European Eastern of the support in 23 its strategic framework of refocusing a faction of require movement the their countries. This alarm for thegrowing hardshipsin mutual the communication made from independents from of participants absence ostensible to the incontrast represented were Europe from committees Eastern peace official in1984the inPerugia convention Thompson’s arguments for this rejection came from various aspects. Thompson inYet, February months1985 –two before Westernactivists appeared ina silent demonstrationon the stage with mouthbound with red cloth 39 Anatomy ofReticence 23 . They claimed They . was written waswritten – CEU eTD Collection categorically from the “Network for East-West Dialogue”, preserving their to right Dialogue”, forEast-West preserving “Network from categorically the withdraw bring hadorganization and British himback–the END to – inorderto havingabout understood the treachery, provisionally from Thompson resigned the participation the meetingbyof at the mildthe more wing proponents of END: British the Curtain (Burke 2004:203). Iron the beyond change regime and rights civil for fight the of down in cooling interested not definitely and war, Cold in the stance anti-American decisively in their perseverant with organizationscollaborate hadEND to local context their within committees: official with negotiations legitimacy position and ENDwasnot goingof profit British the from peace to neglecting on theleast, the but not Last 2004:202). participation broader for(Burke even claim was left as Thompson’s western responses”. an with eye on partly – they acted “Westerners already the Campaign would – intellectualsEND’s network be ‘usual tothe dissident limited the suspects were for Britishcontacting working classwasweary of that thoughtthe independent only groups, Nuclear exposing them harsherto repressions by Furthermore, authorities. the ahistorian of Disarmamentthe legitimacy and further their diminishing in Europe, movements Eastern peace the threaten rather would it (CND), campaigns: movement’s the to results positive any bring not would with officials negotiations ceasing the he that claimed experience of this Speaking out 1982) in Thompson represented is correspondence (the countries. bloc Soviet ofthe governments repressive the movement should not insist ondisarmament, but should usetheweaponspeace as a strength Western toputunderthe pressure that claimed who , Racek Vaclav pseudonym the under intellectual Czech anonymous 24 some of them in epistolary form on the pages of the The first and most important instances of such communication was the exchange of letters between an between ofletters exchange the was communication such of instances important most and first The The allegedly firm position towards the Network, however, was contradicted by 40 New New Statesman 24 (Hauner 1990). CEU eTD Collection West dialogue” (Hauner 1990:105). The dialogue” West 1990:105). (Hauner Reticence Ironcurtainthe (Burke 2004:201). independent both communicatein peace beyond thecountries with and officials groups discursively into the into discursively intervened text Havel’s show, will chapters next As the movement. Peace Western counterframing the in focus communicative of East-West change the against them amongst factions other of – namely “penetrating 1992:185)in momentvery (Carter essay” of the –and reticence resistance dialogue.becould readasameaningful his reaffirmed that position. condition It was figuresHavel, prominent most inthe oneof ifnot dialogue, theEast-West desired,even also 1993:270) waslimited from within their own countries. In sense,this absense the of a powerfulas atthePerugiameetingbut their (ENDBulletin guests 1982:22) as invited Europeans only were Eastern peace movements. European of core Western the discursive occasionsthe gatheredannually political significance act:its andecisions attemptin followed July one the that in 1985, Perugia. Asafollow Perugia uptothe and meeting and implications,in Amsterdam END Convention Fourth the wasactually conference” “Amsterdam peace of the Amsterdam END Convention was to have to demonstratebeforebutlooking somethingcrucial:forto commonstrategic that simple This episode is significant in interpreting the context of Havel’s of context the interpreting in is significant episode This Thus, in Thus, absence of Havel,still histhe only not text served the a of purpose and shows its place as “perhaps the most influential contribution to the East- the to contribution influential most the “perhaps as place its shows and (Snow&Benford 2000:626) at a moment of a heated debate within the within a heateddebate of a moment at (Snow&Benford 2000:626) diagnostic for theparticipationin of East-Westthe dialogue.END Such level of frame formation of the END convention. Itaimed actors (van Dijk 1993:272) who were (vanDijk1993:272) very the central setting 41 for which the text was designed,the text for whichthe access Anatomy of (van Dijk (van socio- CEU eTD Collection knocking (295-296). on their door carriers Western petition meet to formeans the common Czech people it and peace, what world of the representations in media hegemonic the states socialist of stance imperialist” Havel speaksIn thethird“the“socialism”,“homeland”,like people”(294). part lies” words, other about the about peace (293)” […] otherarrested within the state socialist context in the same “pyramid of two levels “weary devaluation clichés the about of hespeaks tone: in sardonic outright arather of perceptionbut“peace”- - discussion in the the term central really introduces text of second part the ofintention hisof speech his own contribution betterto the mutual understanding (292).The peace struggle: asan states and sides, both on arguments briefly the sketches Havel peace activists. the “anti- andoutright uneasiness”,distrust between East European 292) anddissidents Western if not (“caution, reticence themutual of subject conversation: Thus hethe specifies – reticence. the term title introduces one Part interest. of main and points the outline text isarguable –classification possible. but artificial an essay, of the structure in the place hasaparticular them of every one into10 parts. The parts do not have titles, but only separated by roman ciphers; still, since Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy 4.2 SchematicandArgumentative Structureofthe Text ‘civilsociety’frame? the the alternative of message through common vision of reality and its priorities. How does the text manage to convey this activists (i.e. activists Western and between Eastern mobilization and collaboration for potential alternatives The first three chapters form an introduction to the conceptual repertoire of the prognostic (Havel 1990:291-322) and resonance level level of framing), they on should negotiated a 42 is a polemic pamphlet. The text is divided text The pamphlet. polemic is a CEU eTD Collection with million of victims and three million refugees. thirties with situation in currentthe which Sovietthe Union initiated ainwar Afghanistan in parallel events in the between Worldthe War In this resulted II. hedrawsaconcrete which state, toHitler andhistotalitarian Munich-“bow” Western the about European audience his peace-making TheCzech reminds contexts. European and conditions East end of seven,inpart eightpart Havel strikes back against misunderstanding Western of “dada”. After this rather symptomatic episode anda seeming reconciliation attemptin the country ideaagainst the of signing apetition as women: an act whichHavel describes as in the dissident female a many of response indignant the through dissidents Eastern of scepticism life-saving and reticence the sevenillustrates Part more examples. with mentality” (305). ideological inmany battles with the scepticism trained European and Central the specific human conscience, (301),Havelemploys good” of common and “arithmetic the power halothe oppose of utopianism.abstract To against polemics historico-philosophical forany struggleplace.needed strategies context-sensitive were to take cooperation atmosphere and social the formass,of abasic,empathic reappraisal but of great the questions of theirforlives. respect and their Heappealsnot children’s of conformity the vital agentsto impersonal power of decisions of arbitrariness the powerlessness, of the reasons their for struggle peace.Hesketches the to intheirare exposed adherence intellectualswhich perils differentthe both Eastern and– European common citizens to – In the fourth and fifth parts the Czech dissident draws a pictorial description of This mediation isfollowed paragraphs by elucidate two try that the to conclusions The sixth part – decisively longer than all others – represents a more abstract, 43 CEU eTD Collection towards possibletowards for the ways resolving impediments. existingThe wide range of topics, problem, an foritsantithetical suggestion andreasons, asynthetic ending, aiming community (317-319). dissidents in the moods anti-American and pro- the outlines also Havel initiatives. melting theblocs finallytheideawar; and of mass of a critical of small scale and actions American armies from potential war; dissolutionthe andmilitary of blocs withdraw both Europe; of Soviet and the reunificationCentral European “neutral states”, which, howevermight rather make it abuffer ofzone in a Germany as the beltidea themselves: of of discerned defendingthe theonce a dissidents amongst the first viable step programmes of action of– and thepossible objections againstcould them – that be individuals on peaceful independentand nations (313-315). autonomous of dependence andthe societies; peaceful internally on peace external of prevent warand peace’; dependence ‘eternal the nations install to in independentorder theirstruggle with them; collaboration need of to foraEurope the democratic, with regimes repressive legitimizing in negotiations disarmament of role the systems; bea warcannot weapon preventedbymeansattacking of that general conviction sympathy towards people (313). Inthis,the points: 5basic peacemovement heoutlines the in to reference exposed on the challenges perspectives and experiences analogous oftheir denominator” “a common calls what he of modern capitalistsynthesise to tries opinions, Havel quite divergentrepresent Europe in dissidents Eastern societies; the The text is and argumentative plea: it comprises a broader introduction to the The ninth part of the text is reconciling: in full recognition of the fact that the The last tenth part of Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy 44 isdedicated an outline to four of CEU eTD Collection the text will show how these weak points are turned into a will into areturned discursive weakpoints the showhow these strength. text part of next The perspective. theoretical critiquefrom both and pragmatic vulnerable to makeshistext Havel in his core of the motives society argumentation, ofcivil two these Investing politics”. beyond “politics of practice non-hierarchical of form associational its upon voluntary the individual choice and understanding of “life in and then,truth”, upon Curtain. It hinged heavily upon their recognition of the principles of a civil society basedbehind audiencenot onlysituation the and the Iron sympathyof of the understanding the 25 sequence offour arguments: core examples and profuse storytellingnotwithstanding, the textis around structured the In this schematic frame one could easily see that Havel’s core arguments depend arguments see Havel’score that frame couldone easily In this schematic strategies tohelp change the cause, and not only the ofchange this situation. Western peace activists should understand their mistakes and try to reappraise their structures] principles of anti-political politics, rejecting the life in lie, implied in abstract power should be scepticalembodied in the status quo of regimes of impersonal abstract rational power[instead they to any utopianism – as the Central Europeans – and live up to the In their obsession introduce to order (“peace”), western In square In brackets I introduce the implicit theses in the text, assuggested by DijkVan 1993:274. grassroots are more and genuine deeper are of truth roots existential the thus and incommensurable are and population of latterhavethe good a reason to reticentbe [becausethese conditionsof life Given the objective socio-political circumstances oflife in the Soviet bloc countries, the Eastern European dissidents and the Western peace activists; The newly initiated attempts for dialogue mutualshow reticence mistrustand of the 25 ]; 45 peaceniks perpetuate utopianism CEU eTD Collection is tangibly much smaller. This change is hardly only due to significantly altered political altered significantly to due only is hardly change This smaller. much is tangibly Powerless Whilein The “a (AR292). of handful society,”them” “monolithic enclave,” singular rather and minuscule “a as text the of part first in the already dissidents of group the comas heindicates in –which older asarule he didin converted essay. the Instead, notusedissident Havel does firstfor mentioning, except the Here, East-Central Europe. in “dissidents” to peacevisits ones whohave coinedthe the Western term their groups; audience Herethe the “dissident”. inwhichonecomprises situations become a could the recognize and conditions similar or same the under live who dissidents KOR Polish of any longeris agroup audience not The primary (Van Dijk1993:271-272). of text the in truth. live to chosen have that – unknown “dissidents” as a much section broader of populationthe – the people, known and in mentioned, already have As I dissidents. in the country. This attitude can orindependent behalf peaceactivistswhen of of speakingon dissidents enclave small the mark a small change of Havel’sinto an apologyuse of theof common the people andcategory Czechs, he still takes the stanceof of “we” only Dijk 1993:272) structured text was written to present the author as speaking from the pedantically Havel’s milieu, Western activist the interaction with In theanticipated 4.3 The Text as aDiscursive Act What in changes the dissidents“could befound onevery corner”street –the group defined here of an East Central Europeans dissident. Even if his speech often turns Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy 46 The Power of the Powerless the of Power The are several aspects in the aspects areseveral perspective Havel speaks of social meaning Power ofthe (Van CEU eTD Collection within the East-Central European dissidents’ scene dissidents’ European East-Central the within core of their principles. the strikesagainst text the activists, least of a faction peace at butissue,tries identifyofsimply interest adeeper Instead to of welcoming problem. the concrete address this not Haveldoes Yet, truth.”(292) the to closer appears opposite The movement. Western peace within the attitude anduniversal isspontaneous this a that movement arementioned briefly justin one sentence: “All this, to be sure, does not mean withdrawinitiative, eventsfrom also butand to it. current schism thewithin The engage powerandresources to inthis moremuch structural whohad Dialogue: ones the attack against both opponents and proponents of the fragile new initiative for East-West even risk. These are put into this text and context: it is a subtle, polite but categorical the text(vanthe itsDijk main 1993:276): Western peace activism withthe Soviet totalitarianism through MilanSmie Charter77 diverged significantly: betweenanonymous Vaclav Racek protesting against the conformity of 26 in truth”. “life talk, dissident of principle very the of embodiment the visions of a he represent only not does conference: Peace broader Amsterdam the of setting social role inthe number of they speak theirmindheedless openly, of consequences”.the his In constructs Havel this, dissidents: above from in respect: majority “They one inthe are factdifferent fighters. independent peace all he speaksmerely as onefor of repressed members of oppositionhimself, formation or, for that matter, of as defined is not here dissident the role of The dissidents. of the trait characteristic another an realities between 1978-1985. What definition further Havel’s of shows group the is yet In his argumentation, Havel stipulates, he represents a wide variety of voices awidevariety of he represents stipulates, Havel In his argumentation, As Hauner shows, even the opinions amongst the Czech dissidents’ scene and the members of members the and scene dissidents’ Czech the amongst opinions the even shows, Hauner As The position of “life in truth” is the core of presupposition 47 implicitness 26 is a high level of responsibility of level high isa . Yet, distinguishing. between the þ ka, who was skeptical towards on the semantic level of and CEU eTD Collection Dienstbier who embraced the 1980 END AppealJiri (Hauner and 1990:101-104) Sabata Jaroslav to circles, elite of conferences by luxury consumed is fund” “peace way the the sofar has asthe animportance implication The andphilosophical West. East philosophical and its socio-political longer spectacle bearthe chaosandlife’s mysterious outrageous of fecundity (300).” “peopleno who detached position to the of asopposed situation, life-determining and philosophical implications. Itspeaks of the proximity of truth when forced toareal social “beingclaiming has only not dissidents’ the inquestion”(301) butalso rhetorical folly” –showsthem in a position couldthat bedescribed as “existential situation” “natural nopathetic and dignified – acalm – implied arbitrariness reason edgesof on the tothe thedebased exposed existence, of detailedthe descriptions paragraphs show, next of the dissidents’ “life in truth” and theirandappear asrathermovement discrepant ambiguous. practice peace Western the of ofclaims and stances “politicsbasic the that truth; to way the on condition beyond sufficient politics”. a not still but necessary, absolutely is an dissidents the with collaboration As the show thatmentioned the hiseven aproblem;instead isaimed to asaquestion critique or not is dissidents European Eastern and officials European Eastern both with collaboration inthe of peaceactivists the to“common denominator”) opposed standard (as saltinto puts the wound:thedouble Sovietbloc. Havel perspective, Presentingthis the from countries in the life of experience very the from drawn and dissidents the by shared principles and standards moral high the opinions: intheir denominator” “common existing still the on draws subtly speech Havel’s positions, their of variety broad This central This ofthecentral textcouldopposition beseenin perspectives: inits two The “common suggested by ground” Havel, the languageis thathe speaks one the implications 48 for the basic understanding between understanding for thebasic resonance CEU eTD Collection opposition in Czechoslovakia were arguably under the influence of Jan Pato influence the of werearguably under inCzechoslovakia opposition society. self-regulating a establish to aiming Europe, inEastern society civil existing the within activity revolutionary of nuclei parallel organic in the tilt Gramscian a with sympathise could They society. civil non-hierarchical in a principles communist genuine some and intellectuals could theWestern activists recognize this study showed, peace already of elaboration conceptional the and review literature the hand, as one the On dialogue. East-West inthe credibility the improve did seemingly and doctrines philosophical with western issues hadacertain resonance which two frame civil articulated the society (Baehr fn27). from below, but no significant alternative politicalto realities is tobe expected or desired be should on caused governments in which pressure development” democratization, and prognostic 1992);itits Westernas “Protest activismlanguage inmottos and set of Survive”(Carter self-regulatory society/self-limiting revolution/rectifying revolution? the realm of real politics – a change of roles, which situations might call for. … maybe commenthierarchies, distinction tactics, strategies. Yet, ina final remark, he stipulates the possibility of entry of dissidents into is the realm of hypothetical powerwhich dissidents do not wish to enter, having no wishto speculate about 27 axes of Coldthe 1982); War(Thompson this between the of Europe of Europe exposure” “double “exterminism” andthe of division in thepolar be shaped to was reality own Their fighters. peace thewestern of frame and(civil)“beyond enter “life-in-truth,” not anindependentof society politics” the did The principles 2000:620-622). frameof concernedthe civil society (Snow&Benford was The concept of The conceptof ‘life-in-truth’ visionsthe also hasdeepphilosophical roots: the of of principles philosophical the incommensurability, experiential this despite Yet, Despite the disclaimers of political power,at the very end of the essay Havel goes onto say that it 27 strategy on “denuclearization, demilitarization, depolarization, demilitarization, “denuclearization, on strategy 49 diagnostic vision resonated with the do-it the with þ ka. To CEU eTD Collection protesting for nuclear disarmament: paragraphs.metaphorical Every commonPowerless citizen of the Soviet bloc knew that if he takes part in decisions of an impersonal an of decisions is of arbitrary the of out exposure created in dissent which paradoxical communication, common people in the Soviet bloc: a thick descriptionand (Tucker2000:36). “life-in-lie” of the borderline “life-in-truth” between choice clear the make painfully that terms) Jasper’s (in situations situations existential borderline the evokes which constantly and conditions, repressive extreme world” (Tucker2000:35).In this itsense is life not in worldthe life assuch, but under “them”[ social talk the Being of in ceaselessinauthentic linkto inthe loses world its oftruth the exposure philosophy Heidegger’s in whereas conditions: social bears “truth” how from and Pato Haidegger’s between difference the Tucker, According to Heidegger’s “being-in-truth”, the subjective core of [ of “being-in-the-world” subjective the core “being-in-truth”, Heidegger’s and life-in-truth between distinctions subtle the about argued have 2000) (Tucker Pato of interpretations Recent of Being. origins with the anencounter seen as philosophy ofMartin Heidegger andKarl Jaspers: therethe encounter with extremes is 28 position Pato lifeina conceptualize dissidents available to a citizen in our country.one of life's natural It possibilities. means It means givingfinding up at astroke many of the few openingsoneself, day it means afterthe complete transformation day,of one's in life. Itmeansa acceptingneurotic a prisonterm as In this same line, it is Havel dedicates a significant part of the text to show life of life show to text the of part a significant dedicates is Havel it line, same this In the grosser's metaphor…. grosser's the das Man the invocation of fear and maltreatment is much less intense, and much more 28 , in , ]; in]; Pato Anatomy ofReticence Anatomy þ ka’s terms, being-in-truth is bynecessity “being-in-a-true- apparat of power. And whereas in itis presentedin form ina condensed several 50 þ ka draws back on the German ka drawsback existential on German the þ ka’s notions comes The Power ofthe þ ka’s work Dasein ]. CEU eTD Collection movement. Instead of simply suggesting changes in strategic action as the ones embodied ones the as action strategic in changes suggesting simply of Instead movement. contests “civil society” (Snow&Benford He mobilization frameof collective 2000:625-626). of process a discursive initiates – Havel importantly – more implication this In before. indicated as in truth” “life of implication political a serious has socialism short representations, cause tocauseirritability forabrupt further meditation.and recur Unlike299). readinga consequent listening or to narrative can these single words only backbiting, compensatory anever nervousness,and contentiousness” smoldering (AR servility,“stifling atmosphere irritability, of defensiveness, universal perpetual himwith onthe perpetual borderline, of the thick descriptions existence sensual the bare participants conference the make to unspoken, truth unpleasant no leave to want in ideology, aboutInstead of 292). powerof the extensive ashedoes providing arguments (AR socialism of realities the against prejudices suspicious their concerns,” “provincial dissidents’ the sideaddressed thewestern on reticence forthe reason the that text the majority of the END forconference anovelty necessarily werenot hardships socialism. These state life under of hardships participants. 2003:278): briefjust exhaustive, notand themeaning, they convey rhythm the butalso of Havel suggests in the first part of the lifehas adoublefunction Firstly the within text. have a they The Power of the Powerless the of Power The Secondly – and Havel is explicit about that – the depiction of lifestate- under of –the depiction that isabout Havel explicit – and Secondly The stylistic bechanged. cannot what change to seeking as hopeless as something for but at the same time by "suicide-pact" enclave microscopic unspokensurrounded, to by be sure, unspokengoodthe wishesof that of public the amember becoming means It amazement doorbell. of the fear of constant thatworld anyone would choose to risk so much the verylevel frameof disputes within European the Nuclear Disarmament amplification , in this essay, it seems, Havel had another aim. He did of this condition of powerlessness and arbitrariness of arbitrariness and of powerlessness condition this of 51 rhetoric function (van Dijk (van function articulating the CEU eTD Collection be found level: ondeclarative of…hard truths, with nopunches pulled”(296). initiate commonthe for “European ground rapprochement,” for “a mutual exchange position in hiscivic and in hisactivism, human truth. On finally, this he ground, can ideology he claim can a non-coercive non-complacent, butaprivileged and and dominant and indoctrination beyond stance claims. from that Only true articulate and to are, pact" enclave”, that lives and works is beyond official reason, beyond politics. the highest price. In this, dissidents could highestprice.the beseen In dissidents this, at even and situation in every odds all against act to chosen having means It claims. essay speak against rockets.”(ARthe 297)This is position but everythingpassivity, Havel’s “to speech, of true act simple and of a single matter becan a truth of world devoid that in become adissident To clichés. worn-off havebecome and“socialism” “fatherland” like lies”, “peace”, wherewords of of “pyramid center the ideological the attacking part of the truth governments sustain critique“customs” west claimonly Whereasinthe and and realities. andwestern eastern between differences the namely, precision anatomic, with concisely, plea for help against prevailing the conditionssuperpowers (AR or 297).It shows 29 Curtain. Iron the behind realities political and life everyday both of representation of level diagnostic the to attention draws Havel debate, for East-West Network European the of creation in the Timothy Garton Ash, quoted in Isaak 1999 By that momentin the text, the exchange of hard truths has already started. It can Only as a dissidentcan Havel claim genuineopportunitythe see to as things they Thus, Anatomy of Reticence of Anatomy 29 , in the East living in truth is firstly and primarily speaking the truth, the speaking primarily and firstly is truth in living East in the , is not an attempt to present a complaint or to simply 52 as members of a “microscopic "suicide- a “microscopic CEU eTD Collection the text, the “they” in the first and the second quoted paragraphs might be the same be the might paragraphs quoted second the and first in the “they” the text, the comas): install tryingcomas) aretheutopianmisanthropes, “peace” (inverted to citizens: common on impose coercion is them, who bigtext. Two in paragraphsarenarrated of text person third plural,“they”. fifthitpart In lexicalization in the atbest be traced could Their core discourse. of level subtle more ina deeperand picks hisway through lifein ofconstant fear "them," apartment may have,whom he may meet whom and he must avoid. The citizen what hemust demonstrate for, what he must sign, how many square feet his all down his humbleturn petitions without cause, prescribe whatmust reason, he any read before for all else, and time any arbitrarily, prices raise concert, rock chemicalsproducing mostly acid fumes right underhis windows, pollute his milkwith to a degreehim from highereducation, take hisdriver'saway license, build a factory beyondjob, order him to move, him send to collect signatures against the Pershings, bar belief, arrest him simply because he attended a a restless world, placing in a sense their their own being, whoneed gain to inner imposing peace by order ("peace") upon an opportunity workto for the good public is aprivilege "they" atmosphere in which it is our lot to live. problems, butrathercompletely a understandable consequenceof the social leastat in my country-thenot- of is result a genetically determined peace indifference and globalto war of questions in reserve general the that show to trying I am What is interesting to see however, is that a person hearing or barely orskimming ishearing a person see however, is that to What interesting they like. Their difficulties. A greatmany of their fellow humans would prefergo to on living as had misfortunethe to have given them they do sooner No history. of uncertainty stride onward toward a goal, finally putting an end to all the infuriating that, atlong last, things will be clear and comprehensible, that the world will directed toward a rationallyprojects ordered commongood; their various impose and construct to compulsively them drives people such ridding themselves of their furies once and for all. The desperate impatience of They inverted (no They changed. is slightly situation the part, sixth the In upon him, conditionally. (298) "they" be could seen again once these but devoidis not accusations, of narrative Yet, the are the people tragically oppressed by the terror of nothingness and fear of fear and nothingness of terror the by oppressed tragically people the are can can do anything want-takethey hisaway have passport, him fired from his (van Dijk 1993:277) of the beginning of the fifth and the sixth part of of fifth the sixth the and beginningof the part (van Dijkthe 1993:277)of proposal, for all its perfection, does notattract those people.(301) 53 (300) whole unstable existence into that order, that into existence unstable whole set out to achieve this-if the world has the opportunity-than the they knowing full well eventhat purpose makeis to sure have bestowed encounter CEU eTD Collection against utopianism and manifestations of ideological mentality is(305). It a manifestation Unlike “Central the natural European folly” itnotdoes investin healthy skepticism adoctrine”. or anideology form of in the atonce, readily, all “truth, of acquisition to the Pot. Itisdedicated not tothe “ceaseless inhopelessand fact for search but truth (302).” but rather its opposite,a "mental utopianism short circuit". that The might“mentalmillion for the contentment of billions”(301). It is the tragic short story reachof what might be called circuit” the examples is notfew sacrifice a to perhaps or millions, of contentment the for the recalcitrants few thousand dissidents’ of Marat,a sacrifice to “naturalis proper it that Lenin, demonstrating exists,… that all of folly”,integrity the “perceive Pol to their own center of gravity to a “mental short circuit”. For lose Havel,they they areimpressions, nolonger erroneous able constant to exposed and nothingness of terror the by of them, the “fanatic of the abstract project, that practicing utopian… practicing that project, abstract of the “fanatic of them, the one of every single argument, the purpose the For peaceactivists. the audience, Havel’s common citizens to absurditiesthe of repressive societies(299). citizens dependent on some other "they"- the logical "they"- the someon other dependent citizens aresubordinate "they" for actions; their bear that canhardly responsibility apparatus, state-socialist of automatic the apart are "they" impersonal case the first the people. In reading showsthatthis isasuggestive lexical differentequation categoriestwo of of (299).Yet, word the of closer andincessantincantation andpeace demonstrations further as ideology in imposing figureintroducing “peace” a core state and self-righteously the E.P.Thompson. (Baehr 2000) 30 the presumably people: The heading ofPeter The inBaehr’schapter text suggestsa thatthiscritique directlyas pointed towards In the second case however, the self-righteous “they” implies another subject: “they” implies another self-righteous the however, In thesecond case apparatchicks , still impersonal powerful people above them, above people powerful impersonal still , 54 reductio adabsurdum 30 ”(299). Oppressed ”(299). reducing CEU eTD Collection this part seems to be “a breath of fresh air” before the core arguments… core the before air” of fresh be“abreath to seems part this serves a rhetorical function - having numbed his sensitive audience with intricate but intense accusations, spokenabout Central the European skepticism andblack thishumor, chapter is demonstration.the It also 31 Havel as a means for a muchnuclear more disarmamentgenuine but the not intentions, are foremost its actual campaign, disarmament nuclear European farof NATOless andarticulated the Warsaw in of roots suggestivemost essay.the the the comment Heclaimsprobably that the Pact.end of Nuclearthe Western disarmament aremarkneedsbedeserve, tone–Havel to pronouncedneeds toor makes in that another is seen by in audience the note which –as margins, the a Inbrackets activists. peace Western to the a genuineindependent (civil) society people, of like-minded extends Havel hand an open communication can be restored. From the position of truth and integrity, of lifein truth in conditions totalitarian the of depictions war canbein “heartEurope”(309). of troubled the fearof marginal how of negligence their against for demonstrations; place yetanother bears that noresponsibility peoplethe of leave they behind with noprotection, rushing to campaigners of futility actual a nucleardisarmament (298); against the demonstrators” the that surrounded weapons only by arethose dangerous of encampments “themovement in gradualgrowth minds impression European erroneous of wholly the citizens, Havel claims the right to warn against theworld order. very strategy of Utopias political rational build of to is aim thehighest whose mentality, Westernideological an of peace Part VII of the text is a rather outstanding part of the text in both senses of the word: having of the descriptions dense the from adeepbreath take leftto is his audience After for their create utopias these that existence of conditions borderline the Aware of 31 , Havel presents the crucial point of his in which in his of point crucial the presents Havel , 55 CEU eTD Collection mutual mutual understanding(313-315). and ground common place, basedon dialoguea East-West take could – that definite act importance – and thisisnations. Itonly preventionshuman is rights of when asissuethe stipulated of primary is the main claim independentbringand aEurope of ofsuchcouldand theexistence peaceful about only of Havel’s text in the ColditsWar; that only autonomous appearancecitizens can build autonomous and free societies, as blocs of quoof two powerof the condensed with thestatus reaffirms simply authorities a direct, negotiationsprotesting through nuclear that against in political weapons realities; the debasement changepeace causesof not could the of that symptoms systems, atreatment simply from weapon against even an attack isstill below” things; differenta “détente that this, Havel claims thatdisarmamentissuescampaign independent to of Eastern the In European peacegroups. after that strategy nuclear structures; hebeyond adaptation astrategic of European the state suggests the of disarmament and a peace struggle are two above showed, he does it hedoes aboveby showed, Asframe with society in text civil Europe(Snow&Benford Eastern 2000:624). the of the and transformation itsinsist strategic frame: on to ofthe nuclear disarmament prognostic aspects genuine civil society as it in exists Europe: East-Central a create to theactivists of need unrealized and inthepainful is seen It movement. peace Only isaddresson groundthis Havel ready to discursively pragmatic,the those to stereotypes (310) resistance their expressing for and society consumer a of stereotypes the outside self-realization for community, richer humanly a in life for an opportunity structures, social uncorrupted nonconforming, erect to opportunity an probably more than a simpleinsufficiently matter of particular aware of There demandsis- something else here as well,that something which we are probably for for them disarmament, [the peace activists],it is the fight for peace is (Snow&Benord 2000:625) –for –for matter itsor that amplifying as their core value the creation of civil society 56 bridging extension it CEU eTD Collection social movement studies. movement social fields further of ideas, likesocial and political knowledge history andnew of theory, issues them to would meanopening further these forand research. Researching tools unexplored and problematic within field literature directions has the existing indicated its diffusion in the aftermath of 1989. Thus,Ibelieve mystudy has aboutan alarmed in 1980sand late the Europe in Eastern action collective impactstrategic its on 1980s; on significant instances and actors in the formation and use of civil society as a frame in the of civil society in 1989andits aftermath. needs Further research bedone to on the a much bigger enterprise bridge to asignificantgapin existingthe literature on the topic individuals. nonconformiststate structures allowsindependentthat free speech association of and official beyond activism civic of principle universal the on based cooperation, of network atrans-European for a create ground common was usedto itWest, and East between cooperation normative languagefor Indicating common the of andprotest. dialogue frame a common into melted motivestemporarily that of different a beas patchwork seen society’ would mean not to represent it as a coherent political convention. It should rather in Eastern reference tothe European in events 1980s‘notthe falling in trap of the civil theorizing” in“new of ways society ‘civil trap’”, the or society gap’ ‘civil “[a]ddressing the need of the of inhave stated 1989 events the engaged years activists western In recent former Conclusion Beyond the scope of this study I can see my research as an important first step in step first important asan my see research I can study of this scope the Beyond (Barbara Einhorn in In Einhorn (Barbara Roundtable LSE2000). this study that I demonstrated 57 CEU eTD Collection interests reproduced. People in the East saw the change of the regime as ‘light at end the ‘light regimesaw the as changeof in Peoplethe East the reproduced. interests saw their West and in values mirror political own because of sloped which the the melancholy about the Eastcease Manystill in1989. inthesuffer not with West didpeople peaceful the revolutions of Europe, be it because reticence and misunderstanding be overcome, between WestandEast the communication of the shattered socialist utopia, or words: of dissidents’ to changepower with worlds words. with of of West. quoted were often The innew power the 1989 events the audiences Antipolitics Konrád’s 1992; –ase.g. written other Burke 2004).Lastly,works together (Carter with but network keptcooperating independentandthe both official with fighters peace Europe; itEastern was from supervised byactivists the British END,whichneverjoined in peace groups independent activists and with liaised Amsterdam covenant, END of Network East-West Dialogue” wasone of them:itpersisted well beyond the individuals “European beyond and formations shadows of Iron Curtain. The the the circles dissident of wereextendedto spectre political of the segments from different In initiatives 1980smore1990). andmore late the trans-national and trans-continental dialogue (Hauner of newon the hadimpactwhich East-West the priorities arguably from document for1985, a Peace Appeal in Prague the so-called further were articulated ideas and prognostic instructions for collective campaigns for peace and human rights chartists’ andother Havel’s Yet, study. present the of resources and aims the beyond Reticence Other than that, measuring the actual mobilization resource of Havel’s resource mobilization measuring than actual Other the that, Yet, even ifYet, in adesire events 1980sexpressed the the disrupted the that and the impact of the frame ‘civil society’ as used in other dissidents’ works is works dissidents’ in other used as society’ ‘civil frame the of impact the and and Michnic’s and New New Evolutionism 58 – Havel’s essays reached and influenced –Havel’s and reached essays Anatomy of CEU eTD Collection substance of in substance of late however political societies(seeTamás2007:4-5). the capitalistprocess, the symbolicvery insubversively:against the from and revolt theirpolitics withdraw only neo-liberal) caseprevalently forms (in – this legitimacy of state not the the new social movementfollow the legacy of 1989 in one. They attack – intentionally or and“projectless,2007:3) in anti-utopian revolt”(Tamás ideology between their and truth, movements.anti-politics” In the lacksplit massinto “political the It beenpolarized. has politics” “anti-political conjunctures, of repressive face new political blurred. Inthe of wasformed are partly “life in of principle truth” of ‘voting the which against statehallmarks distinctive the democracies, in neo-liberal campaigns apparatus the less speechinmedia and new the true of devaluation situations, with borderline the which evil’ claimswhen facedIn new (Snow&Benford with realities endof the 2000). perpetual encounter and the thecoincidenceframes other into diffuse or aretransformed they addressareaccomplished; issues they “a-political existthe when to cease action of collective Frames pointless. arepartly accusations such politics”crystallize in 1989. of newhave social often been dissidents theEast-Central European literature reviewshowed, And the society.civil as blamed for resentmentnot having of the failurelivedmotive:the a recurrent onecanoften read realities of these levels. background the In of upthe tosocietal post-Communist and individual both on a turmoils new to moral way gave soon euphoria the yet, bad; and ideal period to thatgive rise of tunnel’,the compensatefor everything andsoughtto thatthe Westalready had –good the to a Westwell working saw If ‘civil society’ is to be interpreted as a discursive mobilization frame, however, frame, mobilization as a discursive beinterpreted isto society’ If ‘civil 59 CEU eTD Collection Burke, Patrick in2004 Kenney G.-R.ed. 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