Notre Dame is deeply embedded in the national and world culture and imaginary

Not a small part of a planet watched in horror how flames were consuming the Notre Dame Cathedral. Interestingly, we hear voices saying lets rebuild the Cathedral as European project. What does this loss mean for France and do you think a rebuilding could mean something for Europe? Read few comments.

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President George H. W. Bush and the end of the Cold War

How would you assess the ability of President George H. W. Bush to help to navigate the world (and my region) during uneasy times of change from communist regimes to democracy? Do we still feel his decisions? Read few comments.

Vicepresident George H. W. Bush with President Ronald Reagan. Credit: https://www.bush41.org/

RIP President George H. W. Bush. What is his legacy?

How would you assess political legacy of President Bush, what from what he had done still resonate (should resonate) in American politics? Read few comments.

President George H. W. Bush (1924 – 2018). Credit: https://www.bush41.org/

What does Czechoslovakia mean for the West?

Do you think there is some message of Czechoslovakia that was established in 1918 that still resonates in the West, means beyond Czech and Slovak Republic? Read few comments. (Of course, we just witnessed some high profile Western visits in the region, and every Embassy is celebrating 100 years of Czechoslovakia and 25 years of diplomatic relations with Czechia and Slovakia).

Credit: Andrej Matišák

Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia: The West was not tweaking the tail of the Russian Bear

While it was probably unrealistic to expect that the West will do something against the invasion of Czechoslovakia beyond rhetorical condemnation, is it possible to say if there was any concrete lesson the West later took from the occupation that had an effect on Western policies towards the USSR? Read few comments.

Catalonia, history and independence

Do you see from a historical perspective any plausible claim for independence of Catalonia or maybe it is more about myths, perceptions and political constructs? (Of course, for better or worse myths are usually politically important for the nations). Read few comments.

China like Nazis? RIP: Liu Xiaobo (1955 – 217)

As Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo died in the hospital under close guard of the regime many observers are bringing the example of another Nobel Prize winner Carl von Ossietzky who died in Nazi hospital. What do you think about this comparison, what does it tell us about Chinese regime?