The quest for central Europe: Symbolic geographies and historical regions

Abstract

‘Does Central Europe Exist?’ Or, is that concept not more than a geopolitical derivate of the Realpolitik vision of the balance of power in Europe? If Central Europe does exist, what are its borders and main features? For several decades - ever since the publication of Milan Kundera’s provocative essay ‘The Tragedy of Central Europe’ (1984)1 - leading historians, political scientists, sociologists, journalists, and politicians have - once again - intensively debated these questions, advancing a plethora of scientific, political, or biographical perspectives on the region.2.