Cities after the Fall of Communism. Reshaping Cultural Landscapes and European Identity

摘要: John Czaplicka, Nida Gelazis, and Blair Ruble, eds. Cities After the Fall of Communism. Reshaping Cultural Landscapes European Identity. Washington, D. C: Woodrow Wilson Center Press, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University 2009. 384 pp. Illustrations. Index. $65.00, cloth.It is commonplace by now to assert that histories identities are constructed, as it common knowledge post- communist world fertile ground for reinvention identity. Still, this new book a very valuable contribution literature on postsocialism. Czaplicka et al meticulously investigate ramifications nationbuilding, institution building market reform spatial organization heritage praxis in number Eastern cities with widely diverging mythologies. The overall consistency remarkable, all chapters revolving around question (derived from Kevin Lynch): What time place? various contributors grasp well intricate connections between nation-building, hi story- writing identity construction after communism; nations need identities, imply histories, be made visible physical space. Capital cities, historic monuments they contain, prime assets these efforts.From opening chapters, obvious ongoing rewriting history matter selection: local reveals forgotten cultural not entirely desirable regimes, layering necessitates selection narratives. In each chapter, principle selectivity illustrated differently, depending difference power- relation s. investigations contributors, importance scale confirmed over again: local, regional national can monopolize use city Sevastopol', Russian military bulwark, and, importantly, one pitted against "Europe," makes identification (prominent while Ukrainian narratives) difficult, propels towards Russia, Kharkiv, once capital Russian-imperial Ukraine, academic prominence inspires cosmopolitan attitude manoeuvres pragmatically Europe Asia, Russia Ukraine. Conversely, L'viv proudly adopted position "most city," based more than history; Polish, Jewish other factors past still marginalized current Odesa, particular brand cosmopolitanism, linked an aggressive liberal settlement policy, lingers selfidentifications Odesans, shifting loyalties. Vilnius largely claimed national-level narratives Lithuanian identity; despite long relationship Poland Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, 20th century trauma prevents appreciation Polish Vilnius, at fundamental level, hybrid nature elite identity.This understanding scale, I argue, important itself; most socialist dwells emergence negotiation narratives, their impact levels. …