Central Europe’s Survival: From World Wars to Cold War to Ukraine

Discovering the Mysteries of Central Europe

Uncovering the Peculiarities of Central Europe

Central Europe has always been a place where seemingly circumscribed forces ignite larger events, good or bad. But what makes this region distinct from other parts of Europe? Martyn Rady, the Masaryk professor of Central European history at University College London, tackles this question in his sweeping new book, The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe.

A Tour de Force of Two Thousand Years

Beginning with the Roman Empire and ending with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Rady’s book is a 500-page stroll across much of European history. The reader is dazzled with stories of various wars and political changes, interspersed with colorful vignettes which never lack in these parts.

The Fuzzy Geographic Contours of Central Europe

Central Europe is often thought of as a land of mystery with incomprehensible languages and confusing local feuds, but Rady makes it clear that its history is European. One reason perhaps why Central Europe is puzzling is that its geographic contours are fuzzy. It is notoriously controversial to draw the boundaries of Central Europe because this region has a geopolitical rather than a purely geographic nature.

The Singularities of Central Europe

Rady suggests that there are deeper differences and briefly mentions at the end of the book some of the singularities of Central Europe. One, deserving perhaps greater attention as it permeates the history as well as the current geopolitical dynamics of the region, is that Central European nations have grown often in separation from the state.

Central Europe Deserves to be Studied

Central Europe deserves to be studied. It will not disappear from the chessboard of geopolitical competition. And this book offers a brisk and stimulating introduction to its history.

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