War, identity, irony: how Russian aggression put central Europe back on the map Jacques Rupnik

In a recent article by Jacques Rupnik for The Guardian, the spotlight is cast on the renewed relevance of a 1980s essay by Czech writer Milan Kundera, which delves into the identities of people caught between the East and West. Kundera, who passed away last month, had been questioned about his political stance during his exile in France in the mid-1970s. While he identified primarily as a writer, his essays, especially “A Kidnapped West: The Tragedy of Central Europe,” have been instrumental in shaping perceptions about Central Europe.

Kundera’s essay, republished in English this year, posits that Central Europe is culturally aligned with the West, politically with the East, and geographically in the center. He emphasized the unique challenges faced by the smaller nations situated between Russia and Germany, whose existence was intricately tied to their cultural vitality and historical connections with the West. Kundera’s perspective challenged the then-dominant view of Central Europe as merely a part of the East-West ideological divide.

The essay’s significance was further underscored during a 1988 debate in Lisbon, which saw Central European writers, including Czesław Miłosz and György Konrád, discuss the region’s identity in relation to Russia. The debate highlighted the complexities of cultural and political identities, with Kundera’s essay playing a pivotal role in the discussions.

Fast forward to the present, the essay’s relevance has been rekindled, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the resurgence of the “Russian question.” Kundera had argued that Russia represented a distinct civilization, characterized by an autocratic imperial state where religious and political powers merged, leaving little room for civil society. The current situation in Ukraine, with its shifting political borders and identities, echoes Kundera’s insights, emphasizing the nation’s alignment with Central Europe and its westward inclination. The article concludes by highlighting the historical ironies, where Central Europe, once perceived as Kundera’s “kidnapped west,” is now redefining itself by expanding eastwards.