Episode 7: East of Center
“There is a constant uphill battle for you to prove your worthiness as part of the European family. And very often I found it very unfair because we were walled off from our European family and European history…and that wasn't our choice. So you know, getting back and trying to constantly every day prove that you're European enough—it’s a quite degrading feeling.”
When the Czech Republic insists on being called “Central Europe,” the country is making a claim not only to what it is, but what it isn’t. So we want to know: What is Eastern Europe? And why doesn’t the Czech Republic want to be a part of it? Featuring Yaroslav Chepa and Maksym Eristavi.
Mentioned in this episode:
Milan Kundera’s essay “A Kidnapped West or Culture Bows Out”
Yaroslav’s video launching Cizinec není otrok
Maksym’s NowThis News video
Interpreting by Oxana Rishko. Additional Ukrainian support by Kaťa Gazukina. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.