Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Books of great political insight and novelty always outlive their time of birth and this reissued work, initially published in 1985, is no exception. Written shortly after the formation of Charter 77, the essays in this collection are among the most original and compelling pieces of political writing to have emerged from central and Eastern Europe during the whole of the post-war period. V clav Havel's essay provides the title for the book. It was read by all the contributors who in turn responded to the many questions which Havel raises about the potential power of the powerless.
The essays explain the anti-democratic features and limits of Soviet-type totalitarian systems of power. They discuss such concepts as ideology, democracy, civil liberty, law and the state from a perspective which is radically different from that of people living in liberal western democracies. The authors also discuss the prospects for democratic change under totalitarian conditions. Steven Lukes' introduction provides an invaluable political and historical context for these writings.
The authors represent a very broad spectrum of democratic opinion, including liberal, conservative and socialist.
Synopsis
Designed as an introduction to emergency management, this book includes pieces on: social, political, and fiscal aspects of risk management; land-use planning and building code enforcement regulations; insurance issues; emergency management systems; and managing natural and manmade disasters.
Table of Contents
The power of the powerless / Vâaclav Havel --Spiritual values, independent initiatives, and politics / Rudolf Battéek -- Catholicism and politics /Vâaclav Benda -- On the question of Chartism /Vâaclav Cernây -- The human rights movement and social progress / Jiérâi Hâajek -- Prospects for democracy and socialism in eastern Europe / Ladislav Hejdâanek --Chartism and "real socialism" / Miroslav Kusây -- Who really is isolated? / Jiérâi Ruml -- The alternative community as revolutionary avant-garde / Petr Uhl --Thoughts inside a tightly-corked bottle / Josef Vohryzek -- On not living in hatred / Josef Zvéeérina -- Appendix, Charter 77 Declaration.