A Moveable Place With A Moveable Past: Perspectives on Central Europe

This paper discusses whether the region which in the 1990s has been called the Visegrád Four is a political and/or cultural whole and if so, in what respects. Using the concepts centre and periphery the paper argues that parts of contemporary Central Europe were political and cultural centres of the European civilisation in previous eras. The interpretation and use of this past in the Central European states' contemporary endeavour to join NATO and the EU is discussed. That historical chronology is superseded by what may be labelled the mythological presence of things past is especially noted.