An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless

In 1978, Vaclav Havel wrote “The Power of the Powerless” criticizing the cruelty of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. The regime pressured its citizens to betray themselves and their true beliefs through repressive measures. I explain three aspects of Havel’s speech and political theory: first...

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Autores: Ybarra, R. (R.)|||/items/db0e008a-8a9f-41b3-ae5d-dec332b19ffe, Langan, J. (J.)|||/items/3a797809-0df4-43ba-ab01-41ba24f5daa3
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2010
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Navarra
Repositorio:Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dadun.unav.edu:10171/16753
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10171/16753
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Comunismo
Checoslovaquia
Régimen político
Economía
Política
Democracia
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spelling An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerlessYbarra, R. (R.)|||/items/db0e008a-8a9f-41b3-ae5d-dec332b19ffeLangan, J. (J.)|||/items/3a797809-0df4-43ba-ab01-41ba24f5daa3ComunismoChecoslovaquiaRégimen políticoEconomíaPolíticaDemocraciaIn 1978, Vaclav Havel wrote “The Power of the Powerless” criticizing the cruelty of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. The regime pressured its citizens to betray themselves and their true beliefs through repressive measures. I explain three aspects of Havel’s speech and political theory: first, economic and political models can only be good if they give the greatest priority to the individual over theory, theoretical rights, etc. Two, such models should rely on a coherent understanding of the common good, which can be explained as a set of social conditions which enable citizens to flourish. Third, law by nature is limited and cannot be expected to fix society. Havel spends most of his work critiquing Communism but he also has incisive concerns for citizens in Western Democracies. Havel questions whether Western Democracies have truly given the individual greatest priority. Also, he thinks that the wide freedom Western Democracies provide may ironically be problematic for citizens. Last, Havel offers a solution that calls for a greater sense of responsibility that goes beyond oneself for others and the worldDadun. Depósito Académico Digital Universidad de Navarra20112011-02-2820102010-01-0120102010-01-01journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/10171/16753reponame:Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarrainstname:Universidad de NavarraInglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dadun.unav.edu:10171/167532026-06-21T12:47:57Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless
title An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless
spellingShingle An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless
Ybarra, R. (R.)|||/items/db0e008a-8a9f-41b3-ae5d-dec332b19ffe
Comunismo
Checoslovaquia
Régimen político
Economía
Política
Democracia
title_short An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless
title_full An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless
title_fullStr An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless
title_full_unstemmed An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless
title_sort An exploration and critique of Vaclav Havel's The power of the powerless
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Ybarra, R. (R.)|||/items/db0e008a-8a9f-41b3-ae5d-dec332b19ffe
Langan, J. (J.)|||/items/3a797809-0df4-43ba-ab01-41ba24f5daa3
author Ybarra, R. (R.)|||/items/db0e008a-8a9f-41b3-ae5d-dec332b19ffe
author_facet Ybarra, R. (R.)|||/items/db0e008a-8a9f-41b3-ae5d-dec332b19ffe
Langan, J. (J.)|||/items/3a797809-0df4-43ba-ab01-41ba24f5daa3
author_role author
author2 Langan, J. (J.)|||/items/3a797809-0df4-43ba-ab01-41ba24f5daa3
author2_role author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital Universidad de Navarra
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Comunismo
Checoslovaquia
Régimen político
Economía
Política
Democracia
topic Comunismo
Checoslovaquia
Régimen político
Economía
Política
Democracia
description In 1978, Vaclav Havel wrote “The Power of the Powerless” criticizing the cruelty of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. The regime pressured its citizens to betray themselves and their true beliefs through repressive measures. I explain three aspects of Havel’s speech and political theory: first, economic and political models can only be good if they give the greatest priority to the individual over theory, theoretical rights, etc. Two, such models should rely on a coherent understanding of the common good, which can be explained as a set of social conditions which enable citizens to flourish. Third, law by nature is limited and cannot be expected to fix society. Havel spends most of his work critiquing Communism but he also has incisive concerns for citizens in Western Democracies. Havel questions whether Western Democracies have truly given the individual greatest priority. Also, he thinks that the wide freedom Western Democracies provide may ironically be problematic for citizens. Last, Havel offers a solution that calls for a greater sense of responsibility that goes beyond oneself for others and the world
publishDate 2010
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2010
2010-01-01
2010
2010-01-01
2011
2011-02-28
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/10171/16753
url https://hdl.handle.net/10171/16753
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
instname:Universidad de Navarra
instname_str Universidad de Navarra
reponame_str Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
collection Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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