EAST cEt.llBÁL EÜRoPBA'EURoPB DU cEN.IlE-EsTEine wissenschaftlich€ zeitschÍíftI5 .'l l' .rnr!|otd ioumrl oÍ th. $.id $l6(€s úd t!Ír.|!€s qü}1fofu on tIE t&ion'b€t@í ú. Bd . lnd ú. r.td' .'

E dlto r-t nch ie Í an d Pu bkshc r :cttÁrrBs sc .Aos, JR

EditoÍJÜIJA szA$I

RcpÍescnt.tives oÍ th.. su pporting institutioDsclBor KIÁMcz^Y _ Rcctor co[cgium Budap€st,JoSEFJ^Í^B _ Rcctor' ccntÍrl Eufolrcm UnivcrsEy,Sorul Áruon _ lcadcmtc Pro.RcctoÍ' ceÍrtfe'l EufoPeaÍr Ünivcrsity

ChaiÍ oÍthc EditoÍld BozÍdl'Í,tm KRYGtsR

Editorial Botd.JlNos M' BrÍ (Hu[8aÍy) . tr.!ÁRIT{ BúmM (slovatia) . M.rm N^ (Es1ontl) .EvA KIRÍD| (Hungary).JÁc!Í KoffrNovtcz colad). ANDIBI Korn'NoY(Russtl) . Iv'tI KxÁsTrv @ulBarta) . rÁms LuBo J^ (Álbxnt.) . J^zríIN^LUx|c cYugosl.via) . D^R

^ iíÁrovÍ (slol?kia) .Ivo MoiNÍ (c'cch

Rcpublic) . HBLG^ NovoTN.Y (ÁustÍte). At{cA oIo}TANU (Romania).ANDRBI Pt!$u (Romania) . KRyszTor Po I N (Frence) . ANDIIS SIJT(HuÍtg.ÍT) . KrnI so{,Tc[t (Germany) . IÍJÍ^ smovÍ (czcch Repubtic) .PrER VoDoPnrc Glovcnia)

EditoÍial office EcE/EcEc/o colcaium BÜdapcsvlnstitutc for Advanccd stÜdyBudapcst l014' szcntháromsá8 u' 2.' Hun8aryT.|. <1G|) 1577 óoo' Fzx <IGI> 4377 6|0E-mall: ccc@ColBud.hu

EAST CENTRAI EUROPB/L'EUROPE DU CENTRE EST:

Eine wíssenschaftlicheZeitschrift

Yol.z6,prntt9Ú9

Table oÍ conhnts

Artides

c.srba DüpcsikPOSTCOLONIAL STUDTES AND

TIlü INVENTING oF MSTERN EURoPE

M|t.lM KárpovDEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION AND MASS MOBIUZATION:

THE PROBLEM OF CONIROL

Ivaí K'astevTHE UBBML ESTATE

Henryt DonaískiMERIToCR^CY' INcoME HIERÁRCHY'

AND MoBILITY DYNÁMICS:PoIÁND IN CoMPÁflsoN wITtI

OTHER POSTCOMMUNIST SOCIETIES

Jownal Reviews

Pál ftd€ÍefSl IAIIN(; 1l ln P(llll.l(: DIS(:()UISI]r INTR()DIJCIORY NOTES

II c0NÍ!Ms

zoltjtl ÍoÍváthTIiE METROPOUTAN PRESS

sándoÍ R'dÍóüJOURNAL CULTURT

JouÍíal R€viet$ by couÍttÍy

Book RevÍews

^ttd.et

PippÍliTIiE PRÁCTICE op RBMoTBNBss

Sodn.{ntohlCOMMTJMST ROMANIA'S BODIBS POUTIC

P.{el sp1erí.kTHE REVOLUTION WHTCH DID NOT HAPPEN

JiÍina sildováVITT SO EASILY?

Ád.n B'ochZ$NSCIIEN WTSSENSCIIAFItsN UND IDBOLOGIBN

E|'bieta TáÍtovst.THE sodoLoGIcAI !rR!TINGS or TERrsA BoGUcKÁ

Ivana lJetsicCA}I WE DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS DONE?

COMBIBT]TORS

87

9l

r57

ró3

167

r7l

r75

t79

Csaba Dupaik

POSTCOTONIAT STTJDIES AND TTIEINVENTING OF EASTBRN EUROPE

||| r.fcr.ncés to th. Í.gton bctwcco Gcrmany.nd thc U.al! two t.fds htvcD.comc comloon in \rcstcm üt€rrtuÍc in thc l990s. continulr8 thc maiÍ.rlumcnt of thc so<.llcd 'CcntÍ.l Buiopc dcb.tc' of rhc 198oql soEc eudrors||r. üc tcrm'c€ntr.l EuroP€' oÍ .r.st ccntÍ.l BÜÍop€'to fcfcÍ to . gloup ofrol|nt.icFln most cff.s Poland' lhc czcch R€pub|ic, md Hun8.fy-whlch arc|t|Ík.d|y diffcÍcnt f'om thc .fc.l East€Ín EuÍoÉ (pÍtmaÍtly Rusi. and úeltthcÍ p.f!s of dic formcí soüct Unton)'2 othcrs uBc thc co'lccpt of.E.st.mlh|r('Í'c'lo dcnotc thc cntiÍc ÍormcÍ commrntst bloc.3 HowEvc.' this E.st€rnllu roPc ls Íot idcndc.l with th€ Elstcrn Europc of thc cold vtt, whtch vrrs 'thell|'pon|t|on'' thc .asymmctric coDn..Íroíccpt of'th€ vcat'Í .thc frcc woÍld.,|1|c 'll.stcÍn EuÍopc'of thc l990s h.5 ch'fact.rtstics simlaÍ to thosc whichÍ Ínc lntcl|cc.uals (KundcÍa' M os'a szűcs, Koffád) wan.cd to aBzin fof c€ntrell(| r('pc ln thc l980s: thll iJ to sey' thls ts not a r€gioí of .A.i.tic d€spottsm', but. rl|l| und.rdcvclopcdp.Jtof rgícatcÍEuÍop('

llcyond thc political chanacs of thc 1990s .d cpistcmolo8tcal and|nft|n,do|oglcal shlft h2s becomc visiblc in !€c€nt ltter.tu'€ eboüt thc Íc8loD'Ml'|t p:Ítlcip'.Í|ts ln the foÍmcÍ ccntÍal EuÍopc debat€ sou8ht thc .r.altyf x |it lna' .spccts of th€ socictics in qucEtlon which woüld cl€.dy e'd dtsdnctlyl|'nt|| out th€ diffcÍ€nc€s bctwccn ccntral BÜiopc rnd E8tcÍn EuÍop€.

| í . I n'triü''^'.uóp' r.slók f.líostd á 1 Kólp{ltóp}vlo. nyo'dM ékl.ba'lcon€pb orí'. furFm

l'r y lrd'' l9'ó): n, k' md t Pofr|n, nm/!|loa,d ch,B. b ccn..r, d &cm 'Jop.

(Loíd@: Pl@'fufu ú E4 .'nu4 BuW 6|eh6c' md Ng Yotk |úncb@

| íYnd|r lG' l'96} P b&' a.uz] rlw jne I91' <|fuú: |Nn.q 199.' J, blb!d|Ü.' xem @ld Ewp< dft \|odd *r, ct* yT.|. orfud Üedry hq rj43): P

ILloq d Bal ccnd RlhQ. Í.fu .h. ui.nc ^p

b |hc Pffir |bfut

ví L{' l9F).I' ll7.ó9] c siín rnd N s9h. fu...' en,FilE |9l'.(bnd..: Mxn|!Ú' '99]);M'

'' r'''[Bníí r vmhIn.n(.nÚoíú4r lzu hLhnrh.Fordkhrn .nmrn!!|(nÚdlEj JfiÚv.. trldó ty)7),

,l1 CS{M DUPCSIK

AlthoDgh Eome aná'lysts Pointcd out thlt c.ntfal EuÍopc was . dÍeam' a utoPiá,a pla'|5 they stil! tcndcd to think thet th€Í€ w€!€ structuÍal fe.tu.es in culturcs'sociclics' mcnta|itics' lifcstylcs, .nd so on, Úhich could bc uscd to undeÍpin thenotion of 'ccntral Eu!ope,. HowcveÍ' this rppfoach becas€ incÍeasinalyuÍIsatlsfrctoly foÍ a numb€! of vcst€Ín scholars. In th€ 19ó0s a gÍcat€pist€molo8lcal tum took pIacc ln thc soctal sct€ncca whtch put th€ cmphasison thc €onstructcd' im.8ined' or invcnted chaÍacter of th€ conccpts uscd inscholarly ína'Iysis. This new .ppÍoach.'oí, betté!' fis ncw tend€ncy-did notconstdcÍ r€altty as som€thing obiectiv€ and to be tat€n fof 8fant.4 but as asoclally constÍuctcd' actlvcly matntatncd, conün8€nt, and sitÜ.üond€pcndentstanc€' This cba'8c tn approach made thc tÍidittona'l dtstinction b€tw€€n Íealityend im.ac unccÍtaln. Áccordin8 to this ncx. constructivist ücw gÍoup A's imaa.of 8roup B tclls us mole about A o! the !€|atíonship bctw€en A md B than aboutB .í. tt r€zlly is'. In thc constructivist vicÍ.! if onc lnvcsti8atcs'weste.n imeges ofnon.líestcln pcoplc th. intcresíng lssuc ls íot wh€thc! these lEages ffe rlghlor wÍon8' bu! thc m.ryrcÍ in which this imasc sctvca ú€ idtÉÍcsts of the (Íulin8class€s tn th€) \g€sL Ií lt8ht of thc con.tÍuctivist cÍitiquc, Üadiüonal discouÍsc_even suppos€dly .neutÍal'' .scicntific' dilcouÍs.-about non.w'€stcrn socicticsh.s bccn domtnat.d by .lhc Tr€st

' moÍc P!<is€ly, by .colon|all6!' .Íactst

' .scxist,

w€stcm m2lc5. vhtl€ tt ts truc thrt tbc discouÍs. cha*cte'ized ií this fashionhas lotlg dodinatcd, today onc caÍ obscÍv€ a cl€a! coDntcÍ'tendencÍ by üslngthc thcolcdcel tools of Foucault of D€ÍÍtd'' a numbcr of postmodeÍn thiokers'f.dicrl f€minists, and thos€ cn8Á8€d in soc.!€d 'postcoloni'] stÜdics' haveatt€mptcd to'dcconstÍuct ú. naÍÍalvcs'of this tÍadttlonal discouÍse'6 tn hisinflucntta.l book oÍIc&talisú' EdlEd sai4 one of thc foundtna f.theÍs of.postcolonial studi€s'' d€scrib€s th€ pÍoccss in thc folowing waÍ

o.icnt.llsm{ way of comlng to rcrms vtth rhe o.t.nt that ls bÚ.d oí the oriclrssp.ci.l pltc |n wBt6n !u!oP.m cxpciieícc. ab. o.i.nt t3 not oÍüy adj.cent ro

EuÍop.: ir ts al$ th. Placc of !úÍoÍÉ's 8Íe.t.í and dch.st md oldcst colonies' th.souÍc.s of tt6 .ivil]'.tion dd lÚ8ü.gB, tts oltud .ontc5t'nt ánd oné of its most..Mlng lDag6 of th. o!h.i In addiüon' thc o.icnt hs h.lp.d to dcfinc BuÍope forth. v6t 6lts cotrtÍ6rtD8 |Eaaf

' ideá' pffiúllly'.xp.nenc'7

In this view, th€s€ .sp.cts explain west€rn tdc.s about üc E2st but not th€,intrinsic Droo€rtics' of thc orlcnL

l Tí t'ú' r pbj.d' ld u s.y' *n 1 ubPl1 bur É' l.&G br rdopÚíg jt t.ifu4.Gndl8urcpan&dídÉ'.

sóöpfon 1d N' vd (etod: ful|ry Pl6' |$9). p !2,ó M' FmD|t',ow^'or,'.dl. (BlbJjbn: Hféúi j9m)]s' Düdn&'fuboóoí]'a ó! PGt&lonldbTd1y''

codót|rn Tr Pofunlq <ÚíoÍil Ball Elr.**]L ]939} D' Hnq4' srnh4 cyhT|g\ 1rd woÚ.d fur./'v.'lbn o''zfoE(N.ÍYúh roud.d&'

'99'); c BoE' Í;r3nply a

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^*o*.E(bndon] B|.kE|L l'ó). pn ]{|.'Ú,] ! s.l'J. ortn''!'' (HÍmrneyol

I

PosTcoLoNtlL STUDIBS ÁND Ílt! t*,*no o, u** 'u*o,u

l3

k miaht w€ll havc bccn cxpcctcd !hat, following the publtcation of Larrywo|ffs tnflu.n.trl book Invcnttng ElsteÍ!' E'Íopcq applicattoís of thc(|.constÍuctiüst approach to thc cástcm paÍt of Europc would aPp€af inidrclaÍ|y dlscoÜÍsc on thc topic' slncc cven cxpcrts ftom thc rcglon hfie|)r scd úis volumcP I sbal look .t it5 m.in ar8um€nts, ft thc Íisk of som€l|vcracn€ralizadon' Filst' I giv. a bÍicf fevi€w of voufs matn thcs€s andp.lnclp|cs; thcn I .ttcDpt to dcmonstratc that dre t€aion its.|f hrs played an|nlpoÍBnt .ole in thc tnv.nting of EastcÍÍr Elropc; nnaÍy' I dfaw somc.('nchtslons conc€lDiíg th€ polittcal, intellectu.l, and psycholo8ic.l factofsbchlnd thc tendcncy in \Í'cstcm thotr8ht to int€ÍpÍ€t EastcÍtr Europ€ as peÍt of

\IIJLIF'S INWITNNG I*S'IM EUROPE

^ccordtns to worf, in etly modcÍn tiúcs thc mos! lmpoÍtan. iÁteÍ'al bord€Í in

ihc luíopc:n €ontlícnt ran b€twn Nolth and south. EuÍopc a..n cntityctlncd ttlc|f tn cbntrz:t to th€ Erst, thc oii€nt {'hich was seen .s th€

ctr|bodimcnt of Íadicrt .othcrncss'' B€foÍ€ the ei8ht€€nth ccírtury Russia( Moscovir) $Es rcgaÍdcd a3 r !€motc, ba.bToÜs northcm @untÍy' In tbe ffÍst h.rtÍ' thc ci8lrt.€ntb c€ntury Ru5siÚ €J.pansio[ to thc south and vv€st on th€ onc|uud' rnd it3'w€steÍíÍzina Ícforms on thc oth€r, chall€naed tbls cate8orizadon.

vo|Íf pÍoposcs thlt th€ Í€.ction of th€ philosophc's of the Enll8lÍcnm€nt to this.hAl|cn8c we! th. iÍvcntin8 of .E.st€Ín Eujope' as r coünterFÍt of

.wcst.rn

l1ttropc' a5 a |aíd wbiclt ls b&kwaÍd and b.Íb'Íoul, and tts sodctics and cultuÍes

lltl|c(cd wlth oÍicntal fetÜrcs, eltrcu8h not €ntilely prft of thc oít€nt In .E6tém

li!íopc'''civilization' (tr|at ls, vcst€rn BuÍoPean ctviliz.tion) hás somcli'l|nd.tions: .EasteÍn EuÍop€' is !e.dy to .cccpl w€st€Ín patt€ÍÍrs,

.vcstcm

l||llÚ.ncc' .nd v.stcm domioetion. In this way, thc socictics of .East€m Elropc'w.Íc rccepted as bcin8 paÍt of.EuÍope' in a v€ry.mblgüous manncc they w€Íetccn es bcin8 |nside and outsidc at th€ s..Ír€ ttmc, beloígin8 to Eufopc' but not.nti.cly paft of Bu|oÍr' worf aÍ8ucs that fis ima8c of Easlern EuÍop. h6r.m'incd in bcina until th€ pÍcs€nt d!y' In his book hc rtt€mpts to Í€constÍuclI h( b|Íth of'Eastcm Europc', the emcÍacncc of thc conccPt from thc accoÜnts ofwcs(cín t.av€l€Ís who hzE madc (rcal o! ima8lnafy) trips tnto th. cast€Ín p.Ít of

|ú úcsc accounts of EastcÍn Bulopc onc Í€p.atcdly mc.ts lh€ fo[owin8

. sPaÍsc population, baÍÍcn latrd' potential but un.xploitcd natuÍal

,íd. Ih','n..nft '.

(shlo.d. olf o b:

'' [ddr'. í&r.n. ú| rrhB lnÍkrF F r. ) MJpl íddr4 No { (|993)''p 9'm]M ÍfuÍ@ /''xl']ry ú.

1l ., *ou**

. pov€fty| mis€Íabl€ huts, bad !o:ds, alrd lod8€s; filthy inhabitants i!!sh€cpskiÍt c|othes;

. both thc dwclln86 and clothin8 of the upp€r classes eÍc ofrcí extr.va8anqfil.cry.nd a.trluclcc.Íc f.cqucntly contÍaslcd;

. div€ruc pcop|ca of ditrcÍeDt skin colols ottars aÍc often mcntjoícd, mdcYcn rnclctrt pcoplcs' mosdy !h€ scythlans);

. thc most tBpoÍtant ch.ractcdstlc of tlre poütlc.l s'stcm is dcspotism,whilc thc most lmpoÍtant clnrectc.tstic of thc lloci.l systlm is sllvery(thcsc two fcaturcs arc oft€'I dlfcctly coln€ctcd tn thc &counis).

onc of the most l''rpoÍt.nt tÍli.s of .EasteÍn Europ€' is an appÍoachcbuÍttc.ücd by .mbit9lcncc, unccrtaioty, .nd-.€losdy iclatcd to úrs_i kindof fent5y. In volffs vi€w this is n€tth€Í .n acc|dcnt no! r f.ilü.c| in thc ey€sof lts ,wcstcrn

lnvcntors 'Eastc.n EuÍopc' has bccn . t€Ííl.ory which offcrsits€r foÍ mapping' study' and (.e)inlcrp.Gtadon, one ov.Í which int€Íectu.lmAstcÍy mry bc .tt.incd ind rcal m.3tcry dcmonstlatcd'

^ll tbcsc thin8s atc

Th. study or Erst.m Eurcpq litc oíicntdlso. ws a stylc of intcll..tu.l !Í26t€ryintcgí.titt8 Llovlcd8. arrd Pow.Í' lEpét.atlng doDlútlon.'!d sultordin.tlofu Ás inth€ c$e of th. oÍtÉnr' 30 also wlth E.stÚ. EÚope' htell..tu'l dBcoEry .!d EótcÍy@uld not b€ €ntlÍ.ly sp.r.t€d f.oÍn th. poslbt|ity o! Í.d conqucat' lo

'volff ts not int€íest.d ln th€ .fczl' E6tem Bulopc, only ln th€ r]m'a€ of EastcmBuropc which 'wcstcrn Europc hr3 cÍcatcd. strang.lÍ tbis dfffcÍcnttatlon l5€xpl'cidy mctrtioncd only in thc corrclusion of th€ book:

Ealtcrn EuroF ls 'ot

th.subicct ol ttís boo|. ThG 8Í.mm.Í of th. tltl. opb.6i2.5that Eástdo EuÍopc |s .ofutddéd hd€ .bovc .ü { o obFcq th.t 15' th. obi.ct of .noáy of tnt.I€cnd op.ndoB pi.cüced upoo tt by th! E'űght€n'nc ln v4tem

This implics th.t for voltr thc d€scÍiption of a.D obicct i3 t.Írtamount to itsc.cadon-.n.bing it in.o b€ing,_md both obseÚin8 .nd tnvcnttng átc mc.ns ofconstrucdng tnowledgc .s thc kcy constttucdt of powcÍ |n thc Foucauldian

one of the most iítport.nt paÍts of wo|ffs theory is his pÍ€scntatton ofcvidence foÍ a stron8 contrcction bc.w€eD th€ intcllcctual and thc mi|ttarydoóina.ion of.Eastcm EÜrcp€'-óe €xlstcnce of a vivid fc|rtloísblp bctv'EcniM8i[ary .conqucst' and í€al' aÍmcd conqucsr Fo' €xample' thc mTping of

1'L\|o,ÍÍ'lhyadBful,afu,<.'n'3

t_PosTcoLoNt,{L slUDlBs ÁND lu! llWlNIlNG or sÍlRN EU!oPE | )

thc (c..irory of .E6t€Ín EuÍopc'_th€ subj€ct of a wholc chlpt€.-b€sid€s|u |v|dtng pot€nttrl ln dlnB aÍÍ)ies wlth tnr'rlurblc i'form.tion' could ttsclf b€h|l.ÍpÍctcd rs a form of a conqu€si by wry of iÍustrztion vorf rccalls rnll|(1dcut tn which som€onc saw r map of Mos.ovy on thc tabl€ of cha'lcs xl'thí swcdish kina who lateÍ (iq 1704) invaded Ukrain€' \roff rdds hef€' .The

t|ul| on thc teb|€ reprcs€ntcd . land to b€ conqucÍ.d; ln fact thc mrp its€|f|tfI||cd ln this way to .ct rs ! stimulus and iívitation to conqucst."l2

'I'hc book pÍ€sents anothcÍ cxample. ^ftcf

first lookin8 at sía$iw_not on a|||lp but in r€atity.ségur wÍote'',!í.isaw offcÍcd itsclf to my Bazc". worfrln mcnts, .one can'ot help bccomin8 suspicious of this 8ázc with whichlltuÍ sct ou| introc€ndy .to sc€ Poland'. lwársaq' had to off€r itsc|f up to the

lr'( |ls some soÍt of h€lpl€ss victlm, . sacrific€ . ' . on€ thtnks of Michel|l.[r:|u|t' who PfulosoPhizcd htstoricaly áboDt th€ gázc that medc vision iítol||owlcd8e and knowlcd8e into powet thc gazc of d,!si€.l anal'tis . . ' Y€t thcnt|CtltIvcncss of the obseN.r could ncv€r b€ polilically iínoc€nt' Russia and|t('|lnd both offcred thcms€lv.s to thc cycs of sé8Ür and thc .Ími.s ofNlpo|con Í'ould &kc up that off€r in the next 8€nctatron.'l3

||| wotífs vicv.r.thcÍc is a stÍoÍlg coírn€ctlon b€twcc. séguÍ's account of|tlu$il 2s h€ sav. tt .t th. tu'n oí th€ nlnete€nth ccntüÍy and N.polcon's.|rn|Pílaí in lal2' Th€ author deBonstfatcs th€ cxistence of such al oÍnccllon in th€ followtn8 way: (i) in his m€motís wÍtÚen in th€ ra2os (thatl|' y(4.s 2ftcf th€ €nd of Napolcon's conqu€st), sé8u. mcntions that maDy|lr.||ch tíavéleÍs of pÍewat timcs $'€rc impÍessed by Moscovg md thal th€y|| (| t*cn thÉlr impr$sions hom€ with themi (ii) sÉgüÍ's son was agtong|h.'i. who paÍriciPet€d ln Napo|con.s ctEPatgn.l{ In twolfPs inteípÍctatlon||l(sc concuÍr.nt .compon€nts' ar€ diÍectly conn€ctcd and

'ePrés€nt|r.P!.atory factors' in thc war its.lf' stmt|arly, he sc.s á conn.cüon bttveenll( s.hbcfÍ',,s .ccount of th. Bát*ans and N.poleon's Egptian c.mp 8n'h.(.lltsc publication coincided with the crmp.ign.t' H€ also a'8rres foÍ a( lln|ccüon b€twc€n accounts of'lvcstcÍn tÍáv€lcís in tbe cÍün€. in thc 17aositr(l lh. cÍim€an.waÍ in th€ l8'0s, siÍlp}y becaus€ both h.pp€ncd in the( ]rln|cr' |n 8ene.,l, one cin say that.wolff únost ncv€Í s€€kJ causal r€l.tions'

llrúé in 'a]2]

ft. h.l.rJ.y6,oln.d*l! dl. q4 o' |h. NrDojoÍl.vd.l

5 kellÉlÚd co4B! hb u''do| l,4'

s íoÍ víth8 9rr 'J

l1f (L vo|'l'ú||dnhu l^L. lUIoB, , |p Ia.|')

n.dn*fur..nchR.vo|uüon''lll'ün.ct oí|y lln ü. e[Ílx'ns (h. % ú.'.íoE ,l ocmy oí N.í'obÍ)' o.splc

'd ü!\'rí.(| wo|( l'yox],Í nrífrtr

I

6 | csrsroupcsr

but bas€s his reasotring on analogles, on th€ €xploÍation of thc p€rsonalfclatio$ of the partidp.tlt5,16 oí spatial oí tcmpoÍal coÍÍ€spondcnccs'u

In oldcÍ to tllustrrtc vo|ffs wry of constÍuctlng .n aÍaumcít onc can cit€ analmost surr€2ltstlc text fÍom bls book' Lady Elizabcth cÍavcn, travcli[g in l7aó!o thc ncw Russi2í plovince, tb€ crimca, jokcd that it {'oÜld be bcttcr totransf€r thc k$sl.n capit'l to this pcninsul. fÍom thc cold st. PctcÍsbury' In thcsam. ycaf' Goethc trry€lcd to ltalv. I will cit€ volÍf3 vfholc argumcflt about th€.cl.tion bciwccn thés. two evcnts'

.lha! I:dy cravcn'6 ln.gla.doí' ellcd hcr to tbc aou.h' fandÁ'üy tfufÉÚin8 theoPtt.l of thc dpkc zE wcll rc tEf.cdy in ké.Ptng wilh th. lnt.ü...tu.l hl3toly ofthc dcc.dc' Th€ yÚ uEó w.s also wbcn Goéth€ s.t out tio.m weiÍí.Í for ltaly,nouÍishltu bls ddsd. ima8tMttoD on th. dt.orc.y of th. $uth of v.itc.í EurcPc'H. dBcdbcd fum.r s .d.awn t'y ú i..6i3!ibl. íed', tnpcllcd upon .tbB long'solitaÍ' iouÍn.y to rhe hub of thc wotld,' to Rome' !i'he!e 'dl dr€aB of my youtb h'vccomc to lif.'. rdy cfrv€n foüo*.d m an.lo8ou! impüls. to diNY.! th. $uth ofE*tcm Eurcp.' alona ú ais p.idlcl to Gocthcb ltallm joun.y' Thc lnt.letuálcoÍEolidrtion of Eu'op. lnto two h.lv.s' v.stc.n lüropc ald Eót.m EuroPc'dcpcndcd on th. d.'lty oíthe 4|'l comccüoÍ'' bctw..n Gmany and ltaly on th.onÉ hdd' b.twécn thc B.lüc fid thc E|a.t sa o! th. oth.i lldy craEí's {a . *ryd|ffÚ.nr .dimtrlrc' tho!8h' t.llnB her not to thc hub rrth€Í to tb. .nd of th. wo.ld'to th. unrnovn r.nd ofcrimca Tbcsc Í.I.tcd impu&cs l/!Í. sg3!st.d by th. ltct thatc@th. in lraly in u86 vá5 6í.ly.Nc to finish hrs dfi@ IPhlec!úc ]n Tau,is, A!|Áwh.t fu T.uds but the Ú.i. cÍiúa? Réméd by

^ícbts .t th€ moE.nt of

^EaE.Enon s $c.mc.' Iphl8.Íúc |rn8ubh.d tn rhc c.im..' "in sol€mn srcÍcd bondB

of shrcÍr., Prc.l.lml'!8 h.r ajl.Mt|on: .E... my spiÍii onnot feel .t home'.r3

It somctimca .PP€afs that for V,olff th€ strong€st 8Íounds for asseÍttn8 thecommon .sptÍttu.|ity' of two d€scrlb€d €v€nts ís his oM m.ntionin8 of thcm inthc s.mc pafa8Í'ph'

As soon as thc .bstÍactton .É.stcÍn EuÍope' is est.bltshcd !í'oms thcsisb.comcs almost innr|neÍ.blc in pÍactic€' cvcry lr.stcÍn maíifcstatioD of thisconc€pt crn bc cxpldn.d in terbs of it. onc of thc most cntcrt'nina ex.mplcs

" roid,f,'|.,n .rB sunrn.w LsqÉordEBd'3nbrnt.ó!t{d'.

fd th. FHch oío.ph.( *fu boó $uúr b mati.ae'I luóp4 (L w.|í hffidqM 'ÚTpc;,'p'

9')'tr lldycft' hrd oftbs*&pd he l7mrftEs.'mdü1l.'l|üt. !6In lloF *oul(l D. &'c rótsBbiB oi .mblé b .h4 cEl6 or fub.B' (L vo|6' r'End'l 6stn .!o'.. p.

'2')' It. @m.'. Th&

FNlh, úd dbd]*rl' Ióp.úlb{ ana' bdfu k* hDblnu. glth !h. ruÉ of h!@ly, foi b ü. íl!.Gnth.dfo'r luópan.hlpr nd mDs dly ttld mr. b ih. cjh.l of zll plrcq md th. yarrong.l.*. oí sMbpo|

.khE h{mly lel.6 h 3e ay b. EJL.d lÚ ú ú*ío( T' 'fu'

(l.\9o|t' kwh. fun fufupc, '' pp' ! 2'-26). on F..

'.2 ih! oínd

|' L '|o|Íí

fu.adú fukn ÁUn{l.'''ro, |21

tMSTCOLONI,{L STUDIIS '{ND

THI INVEMING OI E{SMNN N]NOPI

ol. thls is PÍovid€d by thc .uthoÍ,s commc[taÍy on thc word! of lvi|liam coxewho' whcn s€eing bisons iÍ LithuÜia in lhe u70s' dcsc'ib.d his cxpcÍicncc inl||( fol|owing way: "tbis specics of thc wild.o! whicb w"s fomcíly vcrycommon in Europ.' cxists nowh€!€ in that contin€

' but in thcsc Lithuanian

li'rcsts, in some paÍts of thc c.Ípilhiú mount2ins' md pelhrps in the(; uc st|s".

.wo|ff lnt€ÍpÍ€ts this is follo*'s: "tn othe.vords, thc bison suaa.stedt ||. possibiliry of a natural htstory of East€Ín Europ.' *tth Íafc spcclcs süÍvivin8lt rtrc cxtr€mitl€s of th€ contiíeít'"r9 'wo|ff abo m.ísh.ls eüdcncc of coxe's'.xc|u!ion' of Éast€Ín Europeáí sci€nce coxe based his 6s€rtion on a FÍench.xP.Ít' Pr.sumably th€ local bison ltt€ÍatuÍe vould have potnt€d oÜt thatbl$on$ live cvcrywhcÍ€ in Europc'

WI I0 ARE THE AGINTS lN I,rlE PROCBSS OF II{VDNTION?

s|)crkina as a socioloaist (and of cot!Ís€ Politica'lly pÍobibly not an tnnoc€nt(n.) to me one of tlte most distÜíbtng d€fici€nci€s of !ío[fs book is its f.ilufcn I lp.cify adequately the social aa€nts' In his descfiption th€sc agents ar€ €itherPl(lcular p€lsons (tÍavclcrs, voltaiÍc, Didcrot, and so on)' o. .th€ wesf'.wcstc.n EuÍop.', .the EÍli8htenDenf' or .philosophcÍs'' Evcn if{,c acccpt th.tw.stc.n EuÍop€'s 'EastcÍn EüÍopé' is d€tcrmlncd by vcstcrn EulopcanltrtcÍcsts', it s€ems stÍange to su8gcst that thcsc intclests ale always tbe simc'()|| wo|ffs analysts a p€Íson's vi€ws on.Eastcm Europ€'crn be infeÍfcd in.lvrncc mcíely f.om his b€tng v€stem Eufopcan|2o otbcr rspects (class,

N(trdc.' nationa|ity, Ícliaion, institütional aífili.tion' end so on) arc irrcl€Yant'|'|||lhcrmoÍ€' th€se int€r€sts have Íemained unchunged ov€r time accoÍdin8 tow('Ill thc basic f€aturcs of.Easlcrn EuÍop€'hevc becn constant in thc lr€st||.Ítr úc Romintic a8€, through thc YictoÍtan cÍa rnd thc Ílrst har of úcI w.nltcth ceítury, liaht up until ou. ow[ day. wolff oft€n castigat€s t*€ntieth.

' ( t I ru ry authoÍs foÍ th€i. ahistoÍi.al vi€ws on Russl.' only to mr&c a' ahistoÍical

í||.m.nt of his own in th€ same scntencd fo. damPlc' h€ cit€s zbt8nicw|| | z.Zlnski on the timelessness of de cÜstine, conltnutn8: .such comments' e\tnil th(y ahistoÍically asseÍt the un.hinging chrÍact€r of Russia, cstablish ei'en{x'.. cmPh.tically the uncha'gina chaiact€tization of Ru$ia by fofcian

'|hl.Ncrs in fixcd formulas' Thc nin€teenthtentury inst8hts of [de] custiDe'wllk1l fo|low€d so clos€|y th€ foÍmulas of the Enlightenm€nt' w€Íe Íccyclcd', .lcblrtcd, and dcploycd in thc aa. of the cold vai'21

wcstcrn ED.op., mapped .East€m Burope'; westcÍn Europea's tfavel€d to|rst(rn ljuropc' as cxp.Íts; rvest€rn [uÍopcans constfuctcd buildin8s' cities'i| s(!Íu.s' w.otc .ccounts and dÍcw píc$fes_and these P.oducts aÍc' of

I

8 csmllupcsrx

cou'sc''westcm' even if th€ir sponsoÍs, customeÍs' and uscÍs weÍc vefy oflcnEistern EDrop.ans.

)íith onc cxccption (which I shall discuss in the no.t seétlon)' wolff citcsneitheÍ tussian' noÍ Po|ísh' Cz€ch' oÍ Hun8aÍian int€Ilcctuals as conribütofs tothc shap'ng of tbc idea of 'East€m BuÍop€'' supPoÍting his mdn af8umentabout the €xdrrsiv€ly .lrcsi€Ín inv€ ton of th€ Ícgion, .wolff writes oíly on€senteffe óoDt.n.tive, contÍibutions, {'hich rppeafs on th€ pÉnultimate paacof hls book "The intell€ctÜal history of thit Ícsponse would bc mothcÍ book,aJ| account of the compl€x cultuÍal stÍat€8l€s of f.sistanc€, appfoptialion'd€f.r€nce, complictty' and countcÍattack puÍsucd in the diffc'ent |ands ofEast€Ín EuÍopc.'22 In .!ío|ffs vicw, s€eÍringv' when Easte.n EuÍoP€ms doattempt to int€ÍpÍet th€iÍ own Í€gion th€y always oDly Ícrcq thctr tntc|l€ctÜ'lpcdoÍmancc is m€rcly a Ícspons€ to a pr€c€ding .w€stcrn

one. In contÍast, Isug8est that the iíhabitmts of centÍal and Eastcrn Europc havc played anactiv€' som€timcs an init|adng Íote tn iN.cnttng' crelt|ng' m.nipulatií8' andmiintaining the iÍlage of their Íe8ion' In the nexi two scctions l will att€mp! topÍes€nt this alt€native sto.y of üc inv.ntiÍrg of East€Íl BuÍop.'

AN ÁrTlRNÁTIvD SToRY: DÁSTERN EUnoPnÁNs Ii,I\TMING .EÁsT[l]t EURoPD'

^ thoÍou8h Í€adin8 of lvolffs book also pÍovidcs aÍounds fo! th€

Íeconstluction of a diffe.€nt pictuÍc' onc which suppofts th€ vicw that thcnotion of.Bzstc.n Europe'was dso iívented by th€ RussieÍ's' who v'ere drivenby ü€lÍ own int€r€sts. Th€ abstraction of'Eajtcrn Eufol'€' scived thc int.Íestsof th€ Ts.iist (lit€r thc Bolshcvik) au.ocr.cy ln both domestlc and forelBnPolicy' Th€ Russian inventioÍr of .ErsteÍn EuÍope' ha' deep íoots: sinc€ tbeMiddle

^ges the Russiins havc consideÍed themsclv€s as 1sepalate woÍld.

Th. .b.ckqrdness' of Mosory q6 suppoÍted by tbe tnvd..s' dlplom.ts, c.eftsmcn'and mcrcnaÍi6 who almost ío.k€d to the MÚ@úr. PÍlf,clPaltty tn th. fift..nth.cntüry ,lllls fe€lin8 was dpte$éd by thc tíl'.bir&B of th. r|sina stat.' Íhéyund.Ísrood .b.c|o.rdn.$' s dttre.énce' s dive.genc.- T'ts f€éling h6 íevcr béenerséd frcm ihc Bussi.í consdousnes' Thc natton bclon8€d to cbii$ianity' but thcortho<toÍ chuÍ.h has considÚed itBér as b.|ns both ifuide md oursldc'23

LateÍ on' indep€nd€nce fÍom thc TaÍtiÍs and exPansion wcstward dr€w RussiatowaÍds Eulope' ma}ln8 lt n€cessary to cmpcratc q'lth dcspised for€tgntÍ.deÍs and €xp€lts. certainly, this ambivalent attitud€ fequired some soÍt oflcgitimation, and €v€n tn t}'€ caÍIy period the Russian dit€ was slfpÍistnglyÍtcxiblc tn maktn8 use of thc lvcstcrn malketp|ace of ld€rs. For examplc, tn

É lÍn. hbbry oi 'h.

RusLn Empirc] (!ud1Íd.: onú' |'ó). P l l(

POSICOI,oNIAL STUDIES ll'lD T1lI INIINNNO OI IASTIIJ{ IIJROPD L2

líÓ()' when th€ GcÍman Emp€íoÍ wfotc 2lettcÍ to lvan the TeÍÍib|€ ca'Ilingupon him to givc up tbc v{aÍ agalnst tÍs lrssals, the knights of th. T€utonlc( )rdc.' |En Í€sPonded shaÍply úat th€ Livonims had .viol.tcd thc law of God"l''d that ''they lwere] infect€d by the doctÍin€s of Luth.Í".24 I! is .stonishin8|llllt dlc orthodox TsaÍ should att€mpt to pÍ€sent btmsclf as a defeíder of

llc could not h.v€ bcen too conviocina in this Íolc' but tbc Enlt8btcnm€nt('|,cncd up n.w possibiliti€s foÍ his succ€ssoÍs: on the on€ hand, it Íeduced thei|8ntflcance of religious cat€8oÍizaúon in w€sl€Ín EüÍope; on the otheÍ hand,ll (Íca(éd i ncv/ notion of 'civílization' which was suitable foÍ tb€ l€gitimatton

''| lhc Russtan autocÍacy, which PoltÍay€d its€|f a! the only .8cnt capabl. ofipÍc.ding civilization in a bafbaÍous land. Next th. Russian p'opagandrI|l|chiíe sou8ht to spÍead t}tis vi€w amön8 vcstcm philosophcrs' Ás lworf||l'|lsclf w.ites' it wa! not coincid€ntal that' immediately aflcÍ hc! acccssion to| ||c thÍone' cáthcrine the GÍcat *.s kecn to 8€t in touch with vo|laiÍ€.

'|'hc Russiú invention of,EasteÍn Europ€' conttnues €vcn today. Th€r€ hisb(cn a |ona-lastin8 cons€nsÜs on this toplc lnvolvlng both the Tsarist and the||(!|thcvik í€gimes;.th€ slavophtlcs.nd ih€.wcstcmiz€Ís'

lvolr w.it€s dis.cspcctfuly that th€ villa8€s of Potemkln could not dec€ivcw.stcrn tÍav€lcÍs; that th.y all kncw that thcy weÍ€ iust 2 show. Perhaps this isI n'(

' but rh€ mcthodolo$| of imaglng contlnu€d to d€r'Élop. For cxampl€' when

vlJltln8 Russia thÍcc ycars afteÍ de custine tlr€ G€Íman €conomist ÁugÜst

w$ 'riv.n

a kind.h€et€d wel@m.' B.}ond thc 6000 rublcs .amÍt.d fo. wtling his|Dok about tbc country, Nicho|ó I offq.d him an qtri 1,'o0 rubl€s .ssist2!c.'' Tterov.nDr of the Íe8ion *bcrc Hax.hausscí pü6ued Ns j'v.5d8.tjon6 *?s instÍu.tedl ('m abov. in the follovin8 way. "You must Íemove .veÍ'tlún8 which @uld tnat(c himrrr|v. 2l ccrtzin f.u|ty dd un.ccepBblc cotrclBioE; stnc. hc is unawré of th.l Ísloms and !ícsryl. of ou. ou't.y' su.b a tbin8 fu cas y hápp.n othÉMi$.'2'

l |k' opc.ation w.s succcssful the .GeÍmen economisf (Í'hosc n.me does not.

' ' !|c uP in wolffs book) w.ote a very favofablc book rbout RDssia' By tb€ way,

ll Nls Híxthiuss€n who discove.€d th. ph€íom€íoí of oóslcálna' a con€ept|||x| .Nmc to b€ wid€ly us€d. Th€ gold€n.g€ of Potemktn.likc propaganda wlst)nfirbly dle 19305' vhen num€Íous leedinB w€steÍn intcl|cctuals visited tlt€|lss|{' lncludinB Hcinricb and Thomas Mann' Johancs BecheÍ' E8on En'inK|s.h' Gcrhart Hauptmann, Ánatol€ FÍance, H€nÍi Barbussc' Romain Rolland,

^n(tr. Maurois' G' B' shaw, H. G' wclls' Theodoíc DÍciscÍ' álbcÍt Rhys !íilliams,

| ]lÍUn sinc|aií' Maíin Ánd€Ísen Nexö' GyöÍ8y Lukícs' Uon Fcuchtwangcí' Iíaldol |xnk' |}cxt.icc and sidn.y wcbb' Pablo Nerude'J' D' Befnal' and Hárold kski.

,0,] *ou,,o*

A'lthou8h the Russian driv€ to invent .Bast€rn Eu.op€\zs a long andpersistent píocess thit spread out ov€r many yeaÍs' in his analysis voltr stiuássociates lt wlth a sitiglc peÍson' catheÍinc thc Great' who' bccause of hcroÍigiíls' is considered i vest€Íne.: "catheÍine wás G€fmaír by oÍigin' of couÍse'ánd she too was susc€ptible to thc idca of Russia's oÍientat baÍbaÍism' whichiusrifi€d h€r enlight€ned d€spotism'"26

!íhat makes cath€line *ceptionally inte.€sting ís thÉ fact thit shc was oneof the best PR manag€fs of h€r lgc. sh€ iniúat€d r€lationships v.ith famousFfcnch philosophcÍs' and she pÍov€d moÍc than capablc of manÍpulaüíg them.Howcvcr thc 8üt of maniPulation ha5 becn fairly common ámong Russianl€ade.s, f.om P€t.! the G.eát to Mikhail Gorbrchev (the only RussianpcÍsonaliry, disÍegarding the 'Gcfman' catherine' who is cit€d by vorD' Hisnam€ apPc.Ís on the last Páge of th€ IntrodÜcüon clttng hls stat€mcnt that 'wcde EuÍop€.ns', ind once aa.in tow.Íds th€ end of the conclusion.27 It is alsoÍ.orth m€ntionin8 that Gorbache/s opinion is only on€ of a wide Íang€ ofRusslan opinions about theiÍ .EuÍop€mn€ss'. Ánd a "common Eufopean homcfÍom the Atlantic to tbe tlÍals' was onlv one of the ''common homes" hemcntioncd' A5 Milú Hauncr rccálls it:

To bcstain h@ lrfuy comon homes' apÚt frcm EuÍoPe' the soviet Union ré.[yh6' it Di8bt b. üséÁtl to |isten cÚcfr'lly to vhát the PqiP'teüc sovi€t lédeí says

about qe.y outpost of th. Empirct f.ond€i In JDry 1986 Gorbachcv was waxinglY.iol io vladivostol about the P.ctÍt. f.onder{ü @tMon hoeq á f* hoíths lAts'h. w6 tn Indla sladng som€thin8 3iEil.l abour tndo.sovi€t f.i.ndship *irh icllrd totb. Indtan oc.Ú .cgtoq a|mdt a yár |at.í. ln octobcÍ 19E7' Go.b.úcv w.fu ro

Muloaísk, wh€Íé he ipp.al.d to th. sondtn.ü s a.d ca..di.ns by mcnúontíg th.rtctlc'.ouÍ common home' lTh. p.ob|.m ls rhat] the sovict Union is so dmed bigrha! tr b6 too many conmon hom6 foí th. @íúoí of its fimy neighbo6'23

ANoTIIER ÁtTERNÁTtvE stoRÍ c[mn]{l IURoPEANS lNvEMlNG .EASTERN [UnoPB

Thc créatoÍs of th€ notion that East€Ín EuÍopc ls a |and of despotism and slavcrywhich diffeÍs Íadically fÍom .wcst€rn ÉuroPé vc.€ ve.y ofteí not FÍ€nch oÍGeÍmin, bDt Polish, czcch, oí Hunadu-that is' citizcns of nations whichlwolff r€gifds a5 EastcÍn EuÍopcan too. Fof thcs. nations thcmsclrrs' howcv€!'th€iÍ clear separrtion fÍom .EastcÍn EuÍoPe' se€ms to b€ of fund.mental|mpoítancq they hav€ foughl fof tt, often 8Í€ady confusing

.westcÍners ln th€pÍocess: th€ latteÍ someliÍles dlsp|ay avcfsion' som.times undeÍstandins, andsom€tiÍb€s Íeiectlon of thesc effo.ts_on oth€r occisions' howcv€r' thcy aPpea!willing to collude in their dcstruction-

| - Lwo|ÍÍ'bEúk'íBI"t,.,* 'r |,9'

I

PosTcoLoNl^LsíUDIEsÁNDTll'It.luwncorr,lsmnmnorr I ll

tn th. tw€nti€tlr centu.y, thc s€lf.appoint€d sDcc.ssoÍ of TsaÍis! Russlr' thcs('vic. Union. conquéÍ€d the countlies of centÍal EuÍop€. Ín thc l98os someltllc|lcctuals-in the ftrst rouíd of tt€ dcbate' Jenó szűcs, Milan KundeÍa'(;yör8y Konrád, and cz.staw Milosz-iniriakd an €)(tcnslv. inrcÍnatioítl{tls.Ussion concernina the tnt€rnal diff.!€nüation of th€ .coDquc'cd .esion..|'tt( key qu€stion of th€ dcbatc {,as e'tteth€r centÍal Europc was a dislinct.ltity or noi' In his much citcd PaP€Í "rhe Thr€€ Bistorical Rc8ions of EuÍop.'|Cnö szűcs id€ntifi€d the most lmpoÍtant charact€iistic ofv€stcÍn socleti€s .slhc livcly frlnctionin8 of.sEall ciÍclcs of lib€rty'' Á5 one moves €asl of tb€ f,lbcnüd Lcitha" thls st'uctüÍal fcatuÍ. of .w€stcÍnn.ss' bccom€s moÍ€ scaÍce.

N.vc.theless, it his continü€d to exist ovef thc ccntuÍies, chff.cteflzing lbc.t|t|rc Ícaion up to th€ eastetn boÍdc. of w€stcrn (cathollc and PÍot€stant)( ]h.|stianity' EastwaÍd of tbis linc, in Eastcm Eu.opc, rh.sc !ícstcrn Bt.uctuíal|(:lturcs have név€r emcÍged' KundeÍa ,lso drew tbc bord€r b€tween ccntÍal|lt| rcPe ánd EasleÍÍr Europc along th€ llnc of Ícligion ideítiffcd by szúcs' In thi's

wry, h€ v/3's contlnutn8 a long tradit|on, but also antidpating Huntin8toí's.u..cnt theory about th. bordefs of civilizattons

'l.h. tÍidilions of this .third wáy' cmerged from eaÍli€Í oÍientalism: the

i'}Clctics of ccnt.al Europe !€aaÍdcd theÍnsclv.s as .thc lást bastions of( ]hÍlstlanity'. Th€Í€ has b.en only onc impoÍtant chán8c in this sclf'imege sincc

t llc clght€enth c€ntury the .Muslim menac€' has 8rdua'lly been r€placed by thc'Russtan menicé'' As Lajo$ KossÜth' th€ leadeÍ of th€ liun8arian revolutioí and

wxr ofindepcndcnc€ oí 1848-49,wrote tn sprin8 r848|

1lrc pcopl. of luropé *e.c ó@ciated by ltbc.ty' FÍ.. nations do not Iight agaiBt €a.h

othcÍ'bccáus....@.qücstis€xctu9i\ElyátraltoÍdePotisú...'4ndwe'thc.eli.rpRxccrio8 wal of ctÍistianlty a8'illst thc b'l(.Doon of rh. East, w. úc now th. n€lr€3t

ncighbot of thc gtút oí thc North' ^s

v. bÍotc b.foÍ. tbc pffi.. of th. EÚt at oüÍ

bo.dé.s' it is Pdháps oÚ mjl6ion fof !@ ed th€ fuhE ro bÍcat tbé pow.! of thé No.th

Ánd the only wy thit we will not fall victim to it i5 if we áÍ. rct 'solar.d

l! ttts b.td€'29

('n. ycai lateÍ RussiaD troops intervened in the wir of independenc€'$lotcthina which made it mor€ uÍg€nt than ercr fo' th€ HungaÍtán clite to(|(vclop a PÍop€r notion of.Eaíe.n EÚÍopeaíisú''

wcstern int€l|€ctuals and poliliciins somedmes supportcd the czechs' Poles,

lnd llunga.iins in thei. attempts to b€ Íeaard€d as.rnof€ Eu.opein,theÍi üet(t'sslans' Howcve.' on othe. occasions they íc,cct€d all such att€mpts' But thc

ll.bltc itself is not n€w: its oÍtains d't€ back to befoÍ€ th€ EÍ ight€nment. To

l..rll jusr o'c €xamPle' it the beginnin8 of thc s.vcnt€enth c€ntury JacqucsMl.saÍcr c.iticizcd ''tIre.'ÍoÍ of many pcoplc who.egard Hun8ary as. bo|dcrlÍ lhc chÍistian woÍld' I da.c to say that Russie 2s d€scrlb.d by mc . ' - is a tÍue

|]i!s Í |i'óú|u DÍlorklntÍó| l|lu4lunícs rídtr|ottr{t'l(í'ld rUMl4 No |., p ,l

csÁlA DuPcsll(

pil|ar of chlistianity''3o How*€Í, it is 6j8nificant that vorf d€vot€s only half .page to the notion of ccntÍal Europe'31 ÁccoÍdlng to hiÍt, this idca emeÍgedonly in l91' a5 a ftonl fo. G€Íman lmperialism, and r.€meÍgcd asaln tD th€r980s as a dÍeam'32

THE QUISTION OI MFI,EXIVITY

The epistcmolo8icál tÜÍn d.scÍibcd abov€ fequi.es 2 foÍm of r€f€xivlty, bywbiih I Ílean a quesdonin8 of why w€ accept-som€times ÍatherpeÍfunctofily-som€ thlngs and *'hy *te lcjcct oth€rs. In othc. wordq wheí w€think rcfl€xively w. s€ck to lnv.6ügit€ the stÍuctuÍcs, con5equcncc6' andcontcxt of ouf own coaniíon. The lnfluentirl constÍuctivist' postmodcÍn,feminist' o. postco|onlal appÍo.ches of th€ Íec€nt ptst have indtsputablypromor€d !€flcxivity in thts sens€' althou8h thcy hav. prciÚdiccs of thciÍ ownánd citcgories with chaÍact€Íistic blind spots.

It i5 iuuminating to €xamlne how \rollf consid€rs hls owÍr m€thodoloatcalprin.iples' Hc ra!€ly dcscÍibcs lhcm systcmaticaly' but in on€ iEpoftant pl.cch€ si}s sometfung very inleÍ€stina:

th. .gend. of inrc.lalio'.l ..latlons Bhaped tbc nrv.ntioí of Eastem Europcáco.ding to ftrzlics of innu.nc. and domlí.tion' one Eiaht v.ll af8u. that .]lknwl.d8c off.rs power' that €very dis@uM is impli.idy r discorEse of doDlnattoÍ'bu. in ú. cÚe of !6t.Ín Europe' .s in that of rh€ od.nt' one flnds. moÍe pt€cist

If this is the case why should .wolffs oí'n tcxt bc aí exception to his ownthcoryl why sholld w€ acccpt üat .Eastcrn EuÍop€' is i constÍuction, aninvcntion of w€st€Ín EuÍopeú intc|lcctua]s' and that wolffs Pictuí€ ofrwcst€Ín BuÍop€ invenling Eist€Ín EuÍop.' is a tru€ rcfléction of reality?

ln th€ couÍsc of th€ last úÍ€€ hündÍed y€als \rcstcrn thtnkcrs (pricttcillyall of lh€m, áccording to lroro havc b€€n unablc to ivoid fallina into sinwh€n looklng at .East.ín Europc'' vorf cmphasiz€s thts continuity aaain anda$in| 'coolidge at Harvard wás the Í'fofcssoÍ of Rob€ít K€meÍ; K€rnet átB€Ík€I€y was the professor of v.yne Vucinich; rnd Vuclnich a! stanfofd was

! otd j! cI sdá}' ,rrNró}'' é'2 d'aF iM*.vy .M ú. v.Í] (BÚdT6l Mz3E!ó' I93l)' E l,| l'\Lwofi'h,4üj,kffifubpa'.p.|'.nd Bubp. *. H. c' M.Fi

''n.].urp: k fu'r 71'o!dÍ 'd fu\

'3|'. |''' Gt. B4u.: MÍd'us N'hoí l9''}

', Ron.ja'.M'lyfrB& hdy.1 iéfur D.|lcl.lhóp.Tolldldb,n.

|9'9.19.í1' lb. pLe o' Huíl.Íy |n 6.mrn @||ry.o'enÚa sülhal.m Euóts' j919..írl jí './}i]!r

áffih, z Dlwd.nc.en lotr d:e fd hk in fu Dáub. Da|íl GldT6i odÍb l(d4

'99o' pp'

''-21.;F |^ ua4yzL KóúPi,.óF knepatl,Ienc.pB ofc.nrí Enmp.| (3ud,p6t ild. x|.dó' |997).

" <|''w.ÍÍ.lnv.ndry fu4 fua,F ' ' Í 1nJ

POO'TCOLONIII, SITJDIIS ÁND J1II IIWII{TING OP MSTENN II]ROPD

tr|y own academlc advtscr'".a onc milbt cxp€ct som. reflcctions on how lworfw .b|c to bíeak this chain_but the tcxt heÍe is int.lrupted, followed by a n€wi.ction with . n$ theme.

!ío|ff criticizés tvesteÍn inte|l€ctuals for thelr political incoÍrectn€ss|llw!.ds East€tn EuÍop€' But v.hat would bc th€ €oÍrcct attitudc towalds it?wl

'lfÍ contÍiv€s to find vtÍtually all !í€st€fn attlludcs to East.fn EuÍope coÍrupt:

ttl Í on|y wh€n .west€rn tÍ.v€l€rs d€scÍibe a desolat€, melrncholtc lánd, b|'t alsowhcn they d€scrib€ the richncss of.EastcÍn EuÍope''35 volff casts blame notlD|y on casaíoB, who bou8ht a slavc 8trl to seÍv€ him duÍí'a his sriy in st'|,ctcrsburg, bul also on sé8uÍ who declincd to accept th€ seívlccs of . slaveÍlÍ|']6 Thus, the author cÍtttcizcs not only those who, being fÍ€€ citizcns of all.. country' acccpted úe existcncc of.slrv€.y iÍI .E6t€Ín Europc' b€ceus€''h..c th.Íe iÍe otb€r condiüons tha! thos€ at hom€"' but a,Iso lhose who aÍ€lndlgnant at the €xisteíce oÍ s|^rcry.,1 In his €y€s, it is no midgatton forv.st.Ín b?oc.tt€s to tÍy to b€ selfűiiical'33 EEn the stmplc act of ,obs€rving'

li 8u||ry giv€n that thc observeÍ is a r'rcstéÍn tÍaveler (althoush thc .üthor is of(tNrsc an €xccption).39

tn thc cnd, th€rc .€mains only on€ possibilttr do not Pay any attcntionwhítso.ve. lo Erst€ín Eürope! Instc.d, cÍiücize 'w€steÍn attitDdcs towardstl ltcÍn EuÍoP.t v{hich is exactly v/hat

.wolff himse|f does.()n th€ inalogy of said,s .o'ient.|ism' a numb€Í of leseaÍcheÍs on th€

ú l tr' ÍE Jub&.( of udy cnEds ohPltmnB .Ths ú. cdfid bdn. r16uc'' jNt a w.llrd'u wÍ 1 )dd.'

'.dí pdZJ (L volí' ,'E'l.'

'al.r'dos'

'*mhl.d b! wÚq PTI.'üh oÍ..Í.d .o tfuy th. dí for s4ul'5 *ll. !

!trd.dhin.rh..if(onlh.d.|'c|íEurcFenfoft.mphzfuu'ó. Üftl i' E,fun lurcp<'

'nd ú. d

l l !.|t' |ry l'rd|r in úc h.Í. txsibi|iiy oÍs!.n poffiioí' k2d.B ml!}t í.nBe Árt 'n.y

{apkd ddl cfi2ío9

d ihfudcrt|' 'o*d

ü. crudd qÜ6uor'h doffirk !b.iy du..XBBP G vdfl

fu dnh|3 l[krn rüfu]z'''' p' aa)Úll.xrmp|.'sésu(5uslt6s:ah.

.pBéthlouln'nu*prud.ndyon

' 6:' ft.n üE Frtn.h mb,s,dol '. rn8urcp.úl8h!oÍÍd1sfuddo'

RB2 EdpÉrl' od...d . í'furd oIÍ. cN.lld Írp|d" (L wolíí

',f'ÚB t n E!fupz,'p' 61)'

dci|lffcd|yrcodl{b*h{}ougin. Up o ]3]' Í. .eilafuí oI wé'.rn

tri li l k y d r ntd c, wdÍí' ,'y.r/ls l!k.' ''rt'p..'.'

p &D ÉÚ'

[*d nr. ttrc I'h. r,Y. .kr bourht ItY

l s,n'] h rü$ú')Íh.r íol.|' h

I

14l CSABA DIJPCSIK

Íe8ion refeÍ to the notion of .occidcnt ism'.ao Th.y usc this abstÍaction in

(i) th€ imagc of thc'!ícst proailina among non'western pcoplc;(ii) th€ !€liüonship betwc€n wcst€'neÍs and oth€r p€ople'

These latteÍ types of accoÜnt concerning .Eastcrn EuÍope, arc thc products of(mostly t!ícstcín) P.ofcssionals (histoÍians, anthfopo|ogists' sociologists' and so

on)' The clumsin€ss of lhe pi.fuÍes they dfaw is somettmes suÍprtslnB. AsJam€sG. car.ieÍ puts it in his Int.oduction to a collcctioí of €ssa}s .ntitl€d

Thése w... con.ciotioÚ schoit who dcvotcd gr€at etroÍt to uncowrin8 thc

numas' @mpl.x]dé' td int..<oníéctioG of dre sod.dé that th.y studted' Yét

they would ctu2tly .nd sp.rfici.lly chdcte.ik w€st.Íí $d.ty in t€ms so

ímpüstic thar th.y would not be oleíeted of an úthropo|o8lst sP.aking .bout a

viuage soci.ty' !tl.c thc viÍag.s wbose siDp|ificátions of th€ ryr'.$ dlsturbed mc' th.l.simPlistic .núct.Íizttions Bualy ocdr.d when thcy w€re @ntÍ6ti!g thc w.s(vith th. so.i.w th.Y h.d studled' but u'lit. rho$ vi[.8.si úé* mthlopologi3B

should háve beeí icíghtfut át\d subtlé iú th.iÍ an.lies. llrc wcat was tt!.ií hoEc and

th.y wcrc st.iued sclal aná\s$ by trairina .nd pÍof.ssion'4r

one miy hypotbesize üat ir is the onto|n8 PoliÚcal slrug8l€ of ditrfÍ.nt (otd

ánd n€w) g;oups in vcstern soci€tics whi.h can €xplan th€ €mer8cnce of.occidcntalism'' HoweveÍ' ih€ vcfificatioír of such a hypoth€sis wou|d be

beyond th€ scope of this papcr. But x is not onty th€ imaa€ of a 'scml{iviliz€dtaitcrn turope;whlch can servc the inteÍ€sts of PiÍticulaÍ social groups in th€

vcstl trre tntcr."ts or oneÍ 8foups in that same regton can be setred €qualy

{'cll by thc notioí of.vcst€Ín BuÍop€ inv€ntln8 thc tmaac ofa scmi<iviliz€d

EasrcÍ; Europe'. Both approacbes ircat centÍal and East€Ín BuÍope rs an object'

"" u *."poíi" úeiÍ coílcst' althou8h thc IatteÍ vicw is moÍe sophisticat€d'

v|olff ts ri8ht that East.rn EutoPe is not thc aubj.ect of his bool, bÜttt do€s scrve.

as a preteit to emptoy trre ídcas of Edward said in an es yet un€xploited aÍca'.úestcrn rurope invcnted Eástern Euíope,-t€n of fift€en yeaÍs ago a

v€st€Ín scholaf such as \yolff could hav€ wÍttt€n a good and well documcnted

book on how the v€st invent€d the a88Íessi'.el dzng€Íous' €meÍgenl Easte.n

EuÍopc' Howcver, history bas apprr€ntly swcpt away the pos6ibility ofJucb

"oo.á".r'."' worr" 'r'i.."rtcal' sfudy' wÍitrcí oíly lhree yea's aÍter thc collips(

oÍ the soviet Union. falts ev<n ro coísidc.' let alone coÍnent ícÍitica]|y) uPon

this ide..