The Anthems of East-Central Europe : Reflections on the History of a National Symbol

This book juxtaposes national anthems of thirteen countries from central Europe, with the aim of initiating a dialogue among the peoples of East-Central Europe. We tend to perceive a national anthem as a particular mirror, involuntarily reflecting an image of nation and homeland; but how does it represent the community for whom it sounds? To answer this question, the book deploys a comparative approach – anthems are presented in the light of those of neighbouring countries, with the conviction that one of the key features of true Europeanness is good relations between neighbours. The development trajectory of the modern nation is the context in which the book examines the history of such national symbols, alongside the symbolic content of poetry, images of the homeland and nation depicted in the anthems, as well as the sometimes longer processes which led to the adoption and legal codification of current state symbols. __The Anthems of East-Central Europe__ will be a great resource for researchers, journalists, college and university students, politicians trying to impact emigrees from this region and emigrees themselves. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Introduction: The Dialogue of Anthems 1. Nationalism and Nation-Building in East-Central Europe 2. National Symbols and Myths 3. The National Anthem A literary genre and national symbol Types of modern national anthems The anthem’s role in national representation 4. Collective Symbols: Anthem Archetypes 5. The Poem-Symbols of National Representation Selected texts Texts in the context of their authors’ cultures Classification of texts by their themes Dynastic anthems Revolutionary marches, “folk anthems” Anthems glorifying the ideal landscape of the homeland Anthems of the memory and value community Between myth and history 6. The “Interaction” of Anthems 7. Images of Homeland and Nation in the Anthems In the context of understanding the nation in East-Central Europe Country, homeland, territory Imagined Homelands Religious and denominational identity in the anthems Homelands by language and origin The horizon of humanity Features of the national self-image The homeland as Eden, Arcadia and Canaan The homeland as a tragic space Adopted values, freedom vs. slavery Images of self and enemy Unity and dissension 8. National History and Its Heroes 9. Symbols of Space in the Anthems 10. Paths to the Rank of National Anthem 11. After the Second World War Appendix: Anthems and National Symbol-Poems Bibliography Index