Russia in Czech Historiography

(Studies published by the Prague Group of Russian history specialists)

on the occasion of the birthdays of group members

Zdeněk Sládek (75), Vladislav Moulis (70) and Václav Veber (70)

Edited by Miluša Bubeníková and Václav Veber

published by The National Library of the Czech Republic – Slavonic Library, Prague 2002

Preface

Three members of our group are celebrating their birthdays this year and we are using this extraordinary occasion to publish a volume which will represent, of course in a limited way as it is only one volume, the character and contents of our present day discussions and the practical activities of the Prague Group of Russian history specialists. We do not conceal the fact that the volume mainly includes the studies of authors who cooperate with us and are of very similar opinions or points of view. This might be the reason why the volume contains, almost exclusively, works representing both the oldest and the youngest generations of scholars. The older authors, in most cases, left their studies twenty years ago because of political reasons, the younger ones started their professional careers after 1989 and have usually taken part in East European studies at the Philosophical Faculty of Charles University in Prague where the specialised “Seminar on East European Countries’ History” was led by Václav Veber up to 1997. However, the middle generation of historians is almost missing.

We decided to publish the whole volume exclusively in some international languages and in this way to create, with the support of the Slavonic Library as an exceptional Czech research centre of European importance, a lasting tradition which will allow us to present the results of our studies to the public concerned. As this is the first attempt, we ask you to be tolerant in relation to younger scholars in particular. Publishing their studies in one of the international languages should become something natural for them (however, we understand how difficult it is for them nowadays). The editors do not change anything in the texts. Consequently, the authors are responsible for their texts.

This volume will be followed by other publications in which we do not suppose to look for new ways or methods. Our basic ambition is to defend interpretive pluralism and responsibility when operating with facts. Each imagination should be accompanied by a certain measure of knowledge.

We wish our colleagues celebrating their birthdays enough energy and enthusiasm and our younger generation to be brave enough to enter the adventurous field of historical studies and not to fear hard work and obstacles. Tomáš G. Masaryk, our incomparable forerunner, used to say: “Heads up and keep on going!” or “The truth will win – but it is a hell of a job!”.