Overview
The Velvet Revolution in November 1989 brought about the collapse of the authoritarian communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia, marking the beginning of the country's journey towards democracy. Though members of the elite have spoken about the transition to democracy, the experiences of ordinary people have largely gone untold. In Velvet Revolutions, Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mücke examine the values of everyday citizens who lived under so-called real socialism, as well as how their values changed after the 1989 collapse. Based on 300 interviews, Vanek and Mücke give voice to everyone from farmers to managers, service workers to marketing personnel, manual laborers to members of the armed forces. Compelling and diverse, the oral histories touch upon the experience - and absence - of freedom, the value of family and friends, the experience of free time, and perceptions of foreign nations. Data from opinion polls conducted between 1970 and 2013 factor into the book's analysis, creating a well-rounded view of the ways in which popular thoughts, trends, and attitudes changed as Czech society transitioned from communism to democracy. From this rich foundation, Velvet Revolutions builds a multi-layered view of Czech history before 1989 and during the subsequent period of democratic transformation.
Reviews
[P]ersistently thoughtful and subtly argued....This is a fascinating book precisely because it gives no simple answers. Instead, it shows the power of oral history in undermining a stereotyped historical past. Above all, through conveying a whole range of contrasting memories it undermines the stereotypes of grand history, and helps us to see the complexity of individual life experience in each successive generation. * Paul Thompson, Oral History Review * [S]hould be required reading for anyone studying the contemporary history of East Central Europe and of interest to anyone engaged in the theory and practice of social and political transformation generally....In form and content, Velvet Revolutions is a model of oral history scholarship and a fitting introduction to the remarkable body of work of the Czech Center for Oral History... * Michael Kilburn, Oral History Review * The voices and memories that Vanek and Mücke so carefully heard and preserved give this work a rare and special human multi-dimensionality, and enhance appreciation of oral history and non-tangible heritage. * Cathleen M. Giustino, Slavic Review * [A]mbitious....In sum, Vanek and Mücke's 'from below' perspective breaks much new ground (it scarcely mentions dissidents!), challenges preconceived notions of the communist polity, and brings to life, not least in the evocative brooding photographs of Jindrich treit, the subtle compromises, contradictions, colors, and 'messiness' of everyday life in 'normalized' Czechoslovakia. As such it will, I'm sure, prove very useful for teachers of history modules on communist Eastern Europe and political science courses on states and societies. * Kevin McDermott, Journal of Modern History * Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mücke...have done something remarkable...Velvet Revolutions: An Oral History of Czech Society is seminal. It is the first work of its kind, and hopefully Vanek and Mücke have begun a tradition of recording Czech oral history so that other works will reach an English-speaking audience. For any researcher of Czech culture, Slovak culture, or communism, this book must find its way into his or her collection. The narratives and insights are indispensable, and the book will become foundational literature for students of Czechoslovak communism from the Prague Spring to the Velvet Revolution. * Benjamin Sorensen, International Social Science Review * An addictive read, and an insightful study, about everyday life before and after the Velvet Revolution. Through the use of oral history, Vanek and Mücke have taken us into the lives, memories, and mindsets of ordinary people in the former Czechoslovakia. * Paulina Bren, author of The Greengrocer and His TV: The Culture of Communism after the 1968 Prague Spring and co-author of Communism Unwrapped * Velvet Revolutions offers a valuable model for how oral history studies of former Soviet-bloc countries can add to and enrich studies derived from mass surveys. The authors' presentation is sophisticated and illuminating, making an essential contribution to our understanding of the history of the Czech lands from 1989 to the present. * Mark Kramer, Director of Cold War Studies, Harvard University * In Velvet Revolutions, Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mücke posit a worthwhile question: why do so many people today favorably contrast the Communist past to today? We do not have an oral history of communism in any country in Eastern Europe. But this book does more than filling a niche: it offers a new perspective on that era. Today, readers who want to know 'What was Communism like?' do not have many options. This book provides us with an innovative study of the way Communism and postcommunism have been experienced and remembered as value systems. * Padraic Kenney, Professor of History and International Studies, Indiana University *
[P]ersistently thoughtful and subtly argued....This is a fascinating book precisely because it gives no simple answers. Instead, it shows the power of oral history in undermining a stereotyped historical past. Above all, through conveying a whole range of contrasting memories it undermines the stereotypes of grand history, and helps us to see the complexity of individual life experience in each successive generation. --Paul Thompson, Oral History Review [S]hould be required reading for anyone studying the contemporary history of East Central Europe and of interest to anyone engaged in the theory and practice of social and political transformation generally....In form and content, Velvet Revolutions is a model of oral history scholarship and a fitting introduction to the remarkable body of work of the Czech Center for Oral History... --Michael Kilburn, Oral History Review The voices and memories that Vanek and M cke so carefully heard and preserved give this work a rare and special human multi-dimensionality, and enhance appreciation of oral history and non-tangible heritage. --Cathleen M. Giustino, Slavic Review [A]mbitious....In sum, Vanek and M cke's 'from below' perspective breaks much new ground (it scarcely mentions dissidents!), challenges preconceived notions of the communist polity, and brings to life, not least in the evocative brooding photographs of Jindrich treit, the subtle compromises, contradictions, colors, and 'messiness' of everyday life in 'normalized' Czechoslovakia. As such it will, I'm sure, prove very useful for teachers of history modules on communist Eastern Europe and political science courses on states and societies. --Kevin McDermott, Journal of Modern History Miroslav Vanek and Pavel M cke...have done something remarkable...Velvet Revolutions: An Oral History of Czech Society is seminal. It is the first work of its kind, and hopefully Vanek and M cke have begun a tradition of recording Czech oral history so that other works will reach an English-speaking audience. For any researcher of Czech culture, Slovak culture, or communism, this book must find its way into his or her collection. The narratives and insights are indispensable, and the book will become foundational literature for students of Czechoslovak communism from the Prague Spring to the Velvet Revolution. --Benjamin Sorensen, International Social Science Review An addictive read, and an insightful study, about everyday life before and after the Velvet Revolution. Through the use of oral history, Vanek and M cke have taken us into the lives, memories, and mindsets of ordinary people in the former Czechoslovakia. --Paulina Bren, author of The Greengrocer and His TV: The Culture of Communism after the 1968 Prague Spring and co-author of Communism Unwrapped Velvet Revolutions offers a valuable model for how oral history studies of former Soviet-bloc countries can add to and enrich studies derived from mass surveys. The authors' presentation is sophisticated and illuminating, making an essential contribution to our understanding of the history of the Czech lands from 1989 to the present. --Mark Kramer, Director of Cold War Studies, Harvard University In Velvet Revolutions, Miroslav Vanek and Pavel M cke posit a worthwhile question: why do so many people today favorably contrast the Communist past to today? We do not have an oral history of communism in any country in Eastern Europe. But this book does more than filling a niche: it offers a new perspective on that era. Today, readers who want to know 'What was Communism like?' do not have many options. This book provides us with an innovative study of the way Communism and postcommunism have been experienced and remembered as value systems. --Padraic Kenney, Professor of History and International Studies, Indiana University
In Velvet Revolutions, Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mucke posit a worthwhile question: why do so many people today favorably contrast the Communist past to today? We do not have an oral history of communism in any country in Eastern Europe. But this book does more than filling a niche: it offers a new perspective on that era. Today, readers who want to know 'What was Communism like?' do not have many options. This book provides us with an innovative study of the way Communism and postcommunism have been experienced and remembered as value systems. * Padraic Kenney, Professor of History and International Studies, Indiana University * Velvet Revolutions offers a valuable model for how oral history studies of former Soviet-bloc countries can add to and enrich studies derived from mass surveys. The authors' presentation is sophisticated and illuminating, making an essential contribution to our understanding of the history of the Czech lands from 1989 to the present. * Mark Kramer, Director of Cold War Studies, Harvard University * An addictive read, and an insightful study, about everyday life before and after the Velvet Revolution. Through the use of oral history, Vanek and Mucke have taken us into the lives, memories, and mindsets of ordinary people in the former Czechoslovakia. * Paulina Bren, author of The Greengrocer and His TV: The Culture of Communism after the 1968 Prague Spring and co-author of Communism Unwrapped * Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mucke...have done something remarkable...Velvet Revolutions: An Oral History of Czech Society is seminal. It is the first work of its kind, and hopefully Vanek and Mucke have begun a tradition of recording Czech oral history so that other works will reach an English-speaking audience. For any researcher of Czech culture, Slovak culture, or communism, this book must find its way into his or her collection. The narratives and insights are indispensable, and the book will become foundational literature for students of Czechoslovak communism from the Prague Spring to the Velvet Revolution. * Benjamin Sorensen, International Social Science Review * [A]mbitious....In sum, Vanek and Mucke's 'from below' perspective breaks much new ground (it scarcely mentions dissidents!), challenges preconceived notions of the communist polity, and brings to life, not least in the evocative brooding photographs of Jindrich treit, the subtle compromises, contradictions, colors, and 'messiness' of everyday life in 'normalized' Czechoslovakia. As such it will, I'm sure, prove very useful for teachers of history modules on communist Eastern Europe and political science courses on states and societies. * Kevin McDermott, Journal of Modern History * The voices and memories that Vanek and Mucke so carefully heard and preserved give this work a rare and special human multi-dimensionality, and enhance appreciation of oral history and non-tangible heritage. * Cathleen M. Giustino, Slavic Review * [S]hould be required reading for anyone studying the contemporary history of East Central Europe and of interest to anyone engaged in the theory and practice of social and political transformation generally....In form and content, Velvet Revolutions is a model of oral history scholarship and a fitting introduction to the remarkable body of work of the Czech Center for Oral History... * Michael Kilburn, Oral History Review * [P]ersistently thoughtful and subtly argued....This is a fascinating book precisely because it gives no simple answers. Instead, it shows the power of oral history in undermining a stereotyped historical past. Above all, through conveying a whole range of contrasting memories it undermines the stereotypes of grand history, and helps us to see the complexity of individual life experience in each successive generation. * Paul Thompson, Oral History Review *
[P]ersistently thoughtful and subtly argued....This is a fascinating book precisely because it gives no simple answers. Instead, it shows the power of oral history in undermining a stereotyped historical past. Above all, through conveying a whole range of contrasting memories it undermines the stereotypes of grand history, and helps us to see the complexity of individual life experience in each successive generation. * Paul Thompson, Oral History Review * [S]hould be required reading for anyone studying the contemporary history of East Central Europe and of interest to anyone engaged in the theory and practice of social and political transformation generally....In form and content, Velvet Revolutions is a model of oral history scholarship and a fitting introduction to the remarkable body of work of the Czech Center for Oral History... * Michael Kilburn, Oral History Review * The voices and memories that Vanek and Mucke so carefully heard and preserved give this work a rare and special human multi-dimensionality, and enhance appreciation of oral history and non-tangible heritage. * Cathleen M. Giustino, Slavic Review * [A]mbitious....In sum, Vanek and Mucke's 'from below' perspective breaks much new ground (it scarcely mentions dissidents!), challenges preconceived notions of the communist polity, and brings to life, not least in the evocative brooding photographs of Jindrich treit, the subtle compromises, contradictions, colors, and 'messiness' of everyday life in 'normalized' Czechoslovakia. As such it will, I'm sure, prove very useful for teachers of history modules on communist Eastern Europe and political science courses on states and societies. * Kevin McDermott, Journal of Modern History * Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mucke...have done something remarkable...Velvet Revolutions: An Oral History of Czech Society is seminal. It is the first work of its kind, and hopefully Vanek and Mucke have begun a tradition of recording Czech oral history so that other works will reach an English-speaking audience. For any researcher of Czech culture, Slovak culture, or communism, this book must find its way into his or her collection. The narratives and insights are indispensable, and the book will become foundational literature for students of Czechoslovak communism from the Prague Spring to the Velvet Revolution. * Benjamin Sorensen, International Social Science Review * An addictive read, and an insightful study, about everyday life before and after the Velvet Revolution. Through the use of oral history, Vanek and Mucke have taken us into the lives, memories, and mindsets of ordinary people in the former Czechoslovakia. * Paulina Bren, author of The Greengrocer and His TV: The Culture of Communism after the 1968 Prague Spring and co-author of Communism Unwrapped * Velvet Revolutions offers a valuable model for how oral history studies of former Soviet-bloc countries can add to and enrich studies derived from mass surveys. The authors' presentation is sophisticated and illuminating, making an essential contribution to our understanding of the history of the Czech lands from 1989 to the present. * Mark Kramer, Director of Cold War Studies, Harvard University * In Velvet Revolutions, Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mucke posit a worthwhile question: why do so many people today favorably contrast the Communist past to today? We do not have an oral history of communism in any country in Eastern Europe. But this book does more than filling a niche: it offers a new perspective on that era. Today, readers who want to know 'What was Communism like?' do not have many options. This book provides us with an innovative study of the way Communism and postcommunism have been experienced and remembered as value systems. * Padraic Kenney, Professor of History and International Studies, Indiana University *
Author Information
Miroslav Vanek is Director of the Department of Oral History and Contemporary History at Charles University in Prague and President of the International Oral History Assocation. Pavel Mücke is Lecturer of Oral History and Contemporary History at Charles University in Prague.
