BRITAIN

EU

REKA

POLITICS & SOCIET Y|ARTS & CULTURE

ISSUE 1|DECEMBER 2009









Britain and the Union / Chris Hall / Too

Much Emotion / Quirin Maderspacher /

America and the NHS / Antoine de Saint

Phalle / Poland in the Year of Anniversaries

/ Marta Zieba / Manifesto / Perplex



THE OTHER EUROPE:

BRITAIN

EDItORIAL

“I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because

I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single

political argument left.”

Lady Margaret thatcher



Dear Reader, the country we all study and debate and inspire reflection.

live in. The reader will find a Any comments or thoughts

Debate is the essence of discussion on British identity, on what we have written are

our community; EUREKA alongside a criticism of this welcome and appreciated.

exists for this very purpose. It country’s mass media culture. After all, exchanging opinions

offers students a platform for Our Politics and Society section is what it is all about.

expressing their reflections, covers topics ranging from the

their emotions, their visions American health care debate to Your editors,

and their artistry. this year’s commemoration of Maria Holmblad and

the Fall of the Iron Curtain. In Quirin Maderspacher

In an attempt to make this Arts and Culture our authors eureka.ucl@gmail.com

edition, and hopefully each have not only reflected on

consecutive one, unique, we existing art, but also created

introduced a focus. In this their own: a German and a

edition our focus has been Polish poem, as well as a short

Britain, as ‘the other Europe’. story, have found their way

Since it came into being, into the magazine.

EUREKA, as UCL’s European What you will read is not

magazine, has traditionally necessarily meant to be

looked outwards, whereas in unbiased; most of the work

this term’s edition a couple of expresses a particular point of

lines have been dedicated to view. It is meant to encourage

2 ★

BRIT-

AIN

In Defence of European Federalism /

Michal Zdzbieborski / The Rise of the Far

Right / Frances Perraudin / A Small Guide

to EU Blogs / Emily Katzenstein









★ 3

CONTENTS

FOCUS: BRITAIN POlITICS & SOCIETY



6 BRITAIn AnD THE UnIOn: 22 AMERICA AnD THE nHS:

An OUTSIDER wITHIn OCEAnS APART?

Chris Hall Antoine de Saint Phalle

10 In DEfEnCE Of EUROPEAn 26 THILO SARRAZIn AnD

fEDERALISM InTEgRATIOn: A VIEwPOInT

Michal Zdzieborski Omar El-nahry

12 THE RISE Of THE fAR RIgHT 28 BOSnIA-HERZEgOVInA:

frances Perraudin A DISCOVERY

13 UCL 4TH BEST Tobias Lingemann

Quirin Maderspacher 30 OUT Of BREATH

14 An AMERICAn In THE UK Denis Dobrovoda

Shiva Riahi

17 TOO MUCH EMOTIOn

Quirin Maderspacher

20 A SMALL gUIDE TO EU BLOgS

Emily Katzenstein

ARTS & CUlTURE



34 POLAnD In THE YEAR Of 40 wHY DOES THE PERCEPTIOn

AnnIVERSARIES Of ART DIffER AROUnD

Marta Zieba THE wORLD?

37 gEnDER InEQUALITY Aleksandra Zajac

... ET ALORS? 44 POEMS

Maria Holmblad 45 MAnIfESTO

Perplex

46 TOM

Matthew Bremner

48 REfLECTIOnS On POST-

MODERnISM

Denis Dobrovoda

Britain and the union: An outsider within

What does it mean to be European? Is there anything like a European identity which

could be compared to those of national states?

By Chris Hall



With the French in the midst of native workers and smothering the heart of our politics, a question

the ‘Grand Debate’ – a quest for the national identity? Generally, about what it means to be British.”

the soul of the Gallic nation; the there is a reserved rhetoric in But what does it mean to be

Germans celebrating the twenty- British politics when it comes to British?

year anniversary of their iconic immigration; it is a dirty word.

moment of freedom and inclusion; But just last month Prime Minister In a recent EUREKA survey, we

Britain has been keeping a more- Gordon Brown conceded a tougher asked British people what they felt

than-curious eye on the rise policy on immigration rules and to be the most significant part of

in popularity of its nationalist migrant workers, highlighting the their national identity; what made

groups, particularly the British 30,000 occupations that had been them British. Around half of all

Nationalist Party, who for the first removed from a list of in-demand that answered thought that it was

time won seats at the European skills that the UK needs, and culture. Culture? Ignoring some

elections earlier this year. A promising thousands of more to of your sceptical expressions, I

reaction to the mistrust of MPs be deleted in the coming months. suspect that the British public were

after the expenses scandal or a He asserted that: “Immigration is alluding to Shakespeare, Oscar

fear that the immigration system not an issue for fringe parties nor Wilde, tea, the BBC, real ale,

is stunting the opportunities of a taboo subject – it is a question at yorkshire puddings, toffs, chavs,

6 ★

Blackadder, the Beatles, fish and In contrast, almost 40% of their techno, the Mafia, strikes, Ikea,

chips, Damien Hirst, Russell parents’ generation would call windmills, nudist beaches, sport-

Brand... er, meat pie? themselves English and virtually obsessed hooligans, drunks, bull

none would describe their identity fighters, pasta, the fetish and

What’s stark is the contrast as European. Perhaps this can be burlesque. Europeans do not have

between the municipalities. attributed to a growing impression a collective identity; they do not

Britain to a Londoner may be the of inclusion. Some of those from have a shared history or a common

Tate, the boat race, double-decker the older generation who thought heritage. With the European Union

buses, the Proms or Fabric, but for they were English, contrastively now comprising 27 member states,

a Geordie it may be the toon, the from the younger generation now it is becoming increasingly difficult

Great North Run, the Angel of the believe themselves to be British. to reach unanimous decisions on

North, getting a bit pelatick on the Whilst some of those from the policy that affect all Europeans.

ol’ peev (I promise those weren’t older generation who considered The ex-German foreign minister,

vulgar). For the country folk: themselves British, the younger Joschka Fischer, described the

agriculture, markets, livestock, generation now believe they are European Union as a “faceless,

village fêtes. And so on. The point European. This swing of inclusion soulless Eurocracy”. Perhaps the

is that it’s hard to pin down a may reflect the political effort appointment of the EU President

Briton. The Scottish have their own to invoke citizenship in recent will go some way to rectifying this

parliament, the Northern Irish their years. Following other European and unifying its nations, but there

own assembly, the Welsh their own nations, Citizenship as an is a further distinction that should

assembly and their own language. obligatory academic subject was be recognised. An Englishman

The British identity is a clambake introduced to British schools in is English; he is British; he is

of its smaller constituents. I don’t 2002. Preceding that, the Labour European; and, he is a member of

mean to say that Britain is at all Party also introduced ‘Community the Union. This could be increased

remarkable in this trait; Nicholas Chests’ that helped fund local to the cliché of being a ‘citizen of the

Sarkozy’s creation of the Ministry communities to encourage active world’, but the European / Union

of Immigration and National membership of their community distinction is an important one.

Identity two years ago was and to stimulate a belonging to If we do accept the stereotypical

inaugurated to unite the country, their nation state. Gordon Brown, European: the drunk, pasta-

and perhaps to toughen border Chancellor at the time stated that eating, romantic Mafioso who

controls, but nevertheless it is an is was “the start of a new era of lives in a windmill that I outlined

indication of what many European active citizenship”. earlier, then this individual would

nations face in our multicultural not have a political character.

climate. The transformation from Briton to A Union identity is more solid;

European seems a more ambitious it reflects an individual’s rights,

We also asked Britons whether task. As trivial as my attempts at their capital, their freedom to

they felt their identities to be stereotyping British culture were, roam the European Community.

English, British or European. A most Britons will feel an affinity Despite the cries of Europeanists

notable difference is apparent in with a few or even several of those (those who believe that Europe is

generations. 68% of 18-35 year representations. Could we do the acquiring a cultural and political

olds would describe themselves as same with a European? Efficiency, identity that overcomes borders),

British, while a further 11% would romance, arrogance, sleazy men, European citizenship is not equal

say their identity was European. hairy women, frog’s legs, incessant to European identity.

★ 7

Entertaining the Europeanism response to globalisation, not his plans for Europe clear. He

utopia for a second, the attitude is another layer of government wishes to repatriate social and

certainly derivable from aspects trying to solve local problems”. employment laws to Britain; a

of Europe – traversing Europe’s For Britons, Milliband’s statement plan that would require rewriting

highways it becomes noticeable is a tentative effort to allay the the Union’s treaties. This has

that passing through a border fears of a centralised power in instantly been met with derision

from one country to the next is Europe. For the average Brit this by mainland Europe; the French

commensurate to going through automatically equates to reduced Europe Minister implicated the

a motorway toll. This has given power and influence at a national Conservatives in “castrating”

the impression that the European level. Milliband goes on to write Britain’s relationship with the EU,

Community is a world of fuzzy that “Europe is seen as being run while the Dutch Europe Minister

boundaries. “United in diversity” by other people, for their benefits”. claimed that the plan would have a

the European Union motto reads, However, is this fear an aversion “paralysing effect on Europe”.

and probably the most celebrated to European politics or simply a

principle of the EU is the right sceptical outlook on politics as a In the face of deep-set immigration

of freedom of movement, or as concept? The EUREKA survey concerns, the French attempt to

it is more affectionately known: found that very few British people restore national identity with a

‘Directive 2004/38/EC – the right deemed the politics of their nation public forum; a liberal attitude to

of citizens of the Union and their as being the most significant part an unprogressive subject. Britain,

family members to move and of their national identity, and this despite its baby steps towards

reside freely within the territory is unquestionably reflected in national and European integration,

of the Member States’. Poetic. voter turnout in the UK. According is stoically lifting its anchor

But before too much fondness to the International Institute and its drawbridges. Preferring

for Euro-optimism creeps into for Democracy and Electoral individualism over collectivism, it

your heart, the negatives are also Assistance, 61% of the population seems that the culture of a Briton

evident. The freedom of movement voted in 2005’s general election. is a cautious, resolute renegade,

can equally be seen as a weakening Comparatively, in each of their terrified of everyone else; Europe’s

of individual national sovereignty last general elections, in France political male skunk: hibernating

because the member states are the voter turnout was 84%; in alone, and letting off a highly

impotent in excluding foreigners Germany 78%; in Spain 74%; in offensive odour when frightened

from their nation. If we are to Italy 84%; in Sweden 82%. The or cornered. Fewer than 10%

accredit the Europeanism ideal, I levels of the public registering of skunks live longer than three

would stop short of saying that the to vote in the UK, amongst years, would an ostracised Britain

European citizen free of boundaries Europe’s most developed nations live much longer?

has a collective identity. It is far is unprecedented. Meanwhile, the

more plausible to posit that the European elections earlier this

traditional notion of citizenship year saw saw a voter turnout of

has evolved in Europe; it is no just 34%.

longer attached to nationality. As Britain prepares to usher in

The UK Foreign Secretary, David a Conservative government,

Milliband, wrote in a paper in Conservative leader David

2002 that “Europe is a political Cameron is already making



8 ★

SURvEY: ATTITUdES TOwARdS EUROPE

BRITISh 0-35 YEARS Old









would you like Britain to leave Do you speak any foreign languages?

the European Union?









How many member states are What do you think is the most signifi-

there in the European Union? cant part of your national identity?









would you consider Britain as If you could choose one, would you

part of Europe? consider yourself:









★ 9

In Defence of European Federalism

The idea of a Federation of Europe keeps on spinning in people’s heads. Does it have

any real value or is it an unattainable ideal?

By Michal Zdzieborski



I am very fond of our editors Federation, sometimes mistakenly in the 19th century that led to the

for having come up with the topic called The United States of Europe. suppression of regional cultures and

‘Britain – the other Europe’. It is It is in fact a controversial topic in local traditions, as well as ethnic

an issue which should receive far all of the EU member states. In what and religious minorities. Let us not

more attention than it currently follows I would like to argue that it forget, that nation-states, so fiercely

does. I don’t need to persuade might not be such a bad idea. defended by the conservative

anyone to acknowledge that the Let us consider the guardians of order and tradition,

British approach towards European arguments the opponents of are a relatively new invention. The

integration is, let’s put it gently, European Federalism present. The symbolic date for their birth can be

cool-minded. Because of their most popular one is that of the the same as for modernity in general

interests in the Commonwealth, the suppression of national cultures – 1789: the beginning of the French

‘special relationship’ with the US by ‘the European Superstate’. This Revolution. Most of the ‘national’

and the general ‘island mentality’, claim always makes me smile in cultures some people claim to defend

the British governments were always a nasty, sarcastic way. Those who were all created during the spring of

ambivalent towards the European talk of ‘national’ cultures often nations and are in fact ambiguous

Community. British Euroscepticism forget that they have not been concepts. ‘National cultures’ are

peaks at its finest level when one around for too long. Ironically, it regional cultures mixed together and

starts to talk about the European was the creation of nation-states topped with an official flag, anthem

10 ★

and national mythology. be inefficient. However, in such an Well, we have been in the EU for

I’m not claiming that entity the policy focus would shift five years now and I’ve never seen

nation-states were a negative from ambiguous ‘national interests’, any Germans running around with

development in human history. which reflect the needs of politicians shovels and buckets full of soil.

They played a role of paramount and military strategists, rather than Such absurd apprehensions are

importance in e.g. the development those of the population, to regional nonetheless pretty popular in many

of infrastructure, civil society, public and local needs. Wouldn’t it be European states. It is the direct

services etc. However, I think it’s more efficient if the West Midlands consequence of the fact that people

naïve to make the assumption, that and Wales had a chance to realize who are neighbours, and should live

they are the final organisational their interests independently next to each other in harmony, were

stage of human societies. They from Number 10? I’m pretty sure superficially divided along abstract

should rather be treated as just Catalonia, transylvania, Scotland national boundaries.

another period of the constant and Western Pomerania know One could criticize the above

search for the best way to organise much better what they need than opinion for being unrealistic and

the way people live together. How the central governments in Madrid, speculative. It does not, however,

can we decide the national identity Bucharest, London and Warsaw. attempt to be of academic value, nor

of regions such as Lorraine, tirol, Federalism allows the regional and to design a new European order –

Silesia, Crimea or Catalonia? It is local communities to have a say – it it is a defense of an idea, which has

clear that the national boundaries is the highest form of democracy. wandered around this continent for

along those regions are artificial and It is no wonder the EU is criticized centuries. The European Federation

harmful. I recommend an excellent so much when it makes most of is in my view the natural next step

book by Anne Applebaum called its policy, affecting 500 million of the historic process of societal

‘Between East and West’, where citizens, in a single city populated organisation. After the concept of

she explains the meaninglessness of by 1 million people. In the case of a strong state saw its apogee in the

‘national divisions’ in central and high politics, I cannot see a reason first half of the 20th century, we are

eastern Europe. In the 20th ‘century why the European Federation getting closer and closer to dividing

of borders’, boundaries were used to should be less efficient than the up again into more rational units.

divide people, who had lived together German Federation or the US. It’s It’s not that Brussels should have

for centuries. The consequences all a matter of adapting federalist decision power on all of the regions

include two world wars, mass governance procedures on a larger of Europe, it’s that all of the regions

deportations of civilian populations, scale. of Europe should have decision

the Cold War, and most recently the One could finally argue power in Brussels. It is of course a

massacre of Balkans and the Russian that the European Federation is matter of decades before we arrive

intervention in Georgia (2008!). something the people of Europe do at such a solution. I am nonetheless

The solution to ethnic, national and not want. I would reply by saying confident that one day the people

religious tensions which aroused by that they might not want it precisely of Europe will realise that they

dividing people among superficial for the same reason we need it so know best what’s good for them

boundaries lies in the opposite: much – that the Europeans have and request to have a greater say on

opening them up. That is precisely been indoctrinated with egocentric, how they should be governed. The

the aim of European Federalism. nationalist ideology for far too sooner it happens, the better.

It would not be a centralized long. When Poland was voting on

superstate. The whole point of a whether to join the EU in a national

federation is to create a union of referendum, the Eurosceptics put

semi-independent regional units. forward an argument that once the

The opponents of a European boarders are opened, the Germans

Federation also claim that it would will rush in to seize the Polish land.

★ 11

the Rise of the Far Right

Should we be concerned about the new rise of extreme

right-wing parties?

By Frances Perraudin









June’s European Parliament European Parliament. In Hungary, difficulties identifying themselves as

elections were always going to be a neo-fascist group with its own ‘European.’ Many of the successful

interesting, held, as they were, military wing, Jobbik, won three far right parties are sure to have

in the shadow of complicated out of 22 seats and Italy’s Northern benefited from their euro-sceptic

negotiations surrounding the League made gains, reaching 10% positions.

Lisbon treaty and the worst of the vote. In Austria, the Freedom

financial crisis since the Great Party, set up by the late Jörg Haider, Whatever the reasons for rising

Depression. Many commentators doubled its vote to 13%, and in Europe-wide support for fascist and

expected the economic downturn Holland, the Freedom Party, led far right parties, their influence must

to produce a surge in votes for the by Geert Wilders, won 17% of the not be underestimated. In Britain,

left as, for many, the recent financial vote, giving it four seats. increasing support for the BNP is

crisis was evidence that capitalism unlike that of any other party as

wasn’t working. In February, Oliver In Britain, the blame for this rise it invariably means an increase in

Besançenot formed the French New in votes for the fascist BNP was racist attacks. When people vote for

Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA) and in immediately dumped on the Labour the Green Party, for example, (who,

Germany Die Linke, the amalgam Party and their supposed failure to like the BNP, have two seats in

of the breakaway left-wingers of the curb immigration and manage the the European Parliament) nobody

SPD and the former East German economic crisis. Disillusionment gets hurt. It is very easy for people

communist party, were expected to with the mainstream parties after to be complacent about the rising

triumph. the MP’s expenses scandal was also popularity of the far right as they

cited as a major cause. However, the see no strong likelihood of them

In the end the left were very much the fact that the increased vote for the ever forming governments. But

losers. Here in Britain, the Labour far right was not confined to Britain every small gain for a fascist party

Party saw its worst election result means that domestic factors alone means more people getting beaten

since 1918. The French Socialists cannot explain the results. One up or killed because of the colour

lost half their seats and the NPA explanation would be the record of their skin or religious beliefs.

won just under 5% of the votes. low voter turnout, with only 43 % Political climates all over Europe are

In Germany, the Social Democrat of Europeans casting a vote. 34 % tense and unstable but we must stay

Party won only 20.8% of the vote, of people in Britain voted; a figure vigilant and refuse to allow political

an historic low, and Die Linke’s shamefully far below the Europe- parties founded on the hatred of

percentage only rose slightly, from wide average. Voter participation in others from gaining force.

6.1% to 7.5%. Instead the elections European elections has continuously Visit ‘Unite Against Fascism’ - www.

were marked by the success of far declined since the first was held in uaf.org.uk

right parties. The British National 1979, suggesting that many voters

Party (BNP) won two seats in the don’t feel it important and have

12 ★

commentators have brought forward

points out that universities focusing

on sciences and internationally

oriented universities have a far better

chance to score high. Quotes are only

counted if they appear in magazines

in English and the American and

British universities obviously profit

from a high popularity amongst

foreign students due to the

worldwide importance of the English

language and the resulting popularity

of English-speaking universities. The

continental European universities are

thus certainly disadvantaged.



UCL 4th Best However, criticism arises not only

from the Continent. Alan Gilbert,

President and Vice-Chancellor of the

University ranking all over the world are given increa- University of Manchester stated that

sing importance. But is their significance justified? “all current university rankings are

flawed to some extent”.

By Quirin Maderspacher

In an ever closer world, university

“No student should choose his The Shanghai Ranking, as well as the rankings can certainly be a good

or her university according to the times Higher Education Ranking, point of reference and can provide

rankings.” Thank you, Professor are probably the most well-known some basic orientation. They can

Malcolm Grant (Provost of UCL) university rankings in the world. also give universities incentives to

for this enlightening statement. It The European Union is dissatisfied improve. But the great importance

seems like this undeniable truth has with its universities’ scores in these they are given in media and amongst

not been taken in by everyone yet. rankings and has thus pushed, under students is definitely not justified.

UCL’s fourth place in the times the French presidency in 2008, some The above mentioned cooperation

Higher Education Ranking and the institutes to develop a European of several European institutes (The

successive euphoria seem to have ranking system which would be more Cherpa and the CHE) to develop a

blinded some people’s perception of fair and transparent. much more precise and differentiated

the reality. ranking system seems promising.

The rankings have been rightly On the CHE’s website there is not

I don’t want to deny that UCL is criticised for favouring American and one single ranking for all universities;

a good university and that it has British universities. The rankings are rather, the prospective student is

improved substantially in the last mainly based on reputation amongst required to state his or her preferences

years. But to pride oneself on beating scientists and companies, and on before a ranking-like score is given.

Oxford is not the right way to react. quotes in scientific magazines. They This approach highlights and gets

According to the Shanghai Ranking also take the number of foreign rid of the fundamental flaw of over-

which ranks UCL in 28th place we students into account. The core simplified rankings: each student is

haven’t beaten them anyway… critique which many academics and individual. The ultimately perfect

university doesn’t exist.



★ 13

An American in the UK

Is the UK the bridge between Europe and the United States?

By Shiva Riahi









It is often said that the that in many ways, some more and ‘bathroom’ instead of

United Kingdom is the ‘bridge’ subtle than others, the UK ‘toilet’. More substantially,

between the United States isn’t so different from the US in many ways the political

and Continental Europe, after all. system is much different.

the cultural halfway point At first glance it My American brain often

between these continents. would seem that the United has a hard time handling the

I came to the United Kingdom and the United parliamentary system with

Kingdom expecting there to States are completely different. the monarch as head of state

be similarities with the US, To the British, Americans and a second chamber that is

but I still hoped at its heart have funny accents and spell entirely unelected. And yet,

the UK was fundamentally words wrong. Americans my time thus far in London

a European country. So far, say ‘trunk’ instead of ‘boot’, has led me to believe they are

in my time here I have seen ‘sweater’ instead of ‘jumper’, not so different after all.

14 ★

I’ve gotten used to than the shops and fast food with Americans who didn’t

seeing McDonald’s and restaurants, there seems to see the point in learning

Starbucks in different parts be a deeper connection in another language.

of the world. What I was attitudes between British Even more disappoint-

surprised by was just how people and Americans. I ing for me was, while

many American companies helped with doing the surveys attending a debate hosted by

have found their way into the for EUREKA asking people the Law Society, watching

UK. Brands like Nine West their attitudes towards four lawyers argue for and

and Aldo can be found on Europe, among other things. against the abolishment of

the main shopping streets. A It seemed that most of the the 1998 Human Rights

Cinnabon managed to sneak British people interviewed Act. The Human Rights Act

its way into Piccadilly Circus could not speak any foreign was essentially created to

and there seems to be more languages, whereas most of incorporate the European

Subways here than in most the continental Europeans Convention on Human

American cities. The strangest did. When I’ve talked to Rights into UK law. What I

sighting I have seen so far was British people about their found most interesting was

on my walk in the Holborn lack of foreign language the line of arguments set

area when I stumbled upon skills, the response I’ve got forth by the side calling for

a Krispy Kreme shop. I has always been seemingly an the abolition of the Human

couldn’t believe I was seeing echo of American sentiments. Rights Act. Their arguments

such an American institution “Oh, we don’t speak any were based mainly on the

in the middle of London. foreign languages because we fact that something created

They don’t even have Krispy don’t have to. Everyone speaks by a “bloated European

Kreme stores in Boston! It English”. Now it can be said bureaucracy” shouldn’t have

wasn’t as if I wasn’t expecting that I could have this same a place in UK law. I seemed

to see American brands conversation in Canada or to get the sense that their

or companies in Europe, I Australia, yet in having this feelings were based on this

just was surprised by the conversation here, I couldn’t inherent dislike of something

prevalence of them here. help but think back to the that wasn’t created solely by

But going further countless conversations I had the British. As I was listening



★ 15

to them, their sentiments prevalent. system as well as a stronger

reminded me of American Part of the reason I welfare state, something that

attitudes toward international came to do my law degree in the United States cannot say.

organisations and treaties. London was because I didn’t In response I simply say what

Americans also seem to like the working attitude in I mentioned before; the UK

have an inherent dislike of the United States. Americans is a bridge. It is simply in my

international bodies imposing seemed to be so focused on view that the bridge seems to

any sorts of rules or regulations their jobs or making money, have stronger foundations on

on them. The unwillingness they didn’t seem to have the American side than on

of the US to become a true any time to enjoy it. Just the the European.

member of the ICC is only thought of working at a big Perhaps these are rather

one example of that. Also American law firm seemed narrow aspects to focus on.

while listening to them, I to crush my soul a little bit. It could be entirely possible

found myself asking, “What Well, sadly it seems that the that the UK and the US are

is so wrong with the ideas of big British law firms have completely different in most

Europe as a whole forming much of the same work ethic ways. However, for someone

the basis of something that and hours, though perhaps who has spent a good deal of

is UK law?” It would seem as slightly better. Where most time focusing on the American

though both the Americans European countries have over attitude towards the rest of

and British have a harder 30 days of paid vacations, the world, and disliking it, I

time accepting things that the UK is at 28…only three can’t help but find the UK to

come out of other countries days more than the US, at 25 be entirely too similar. That,

than their own. I’m not saying days. Unlike Europe, Britain coupled with the Subway on

Europeans are all completely doesn’t seem to place as high every corner and the British

willing to give their national a value on vacation times. work ethic, sometimes makes

sovereignty completely over Granted, one can me feel like I never left the

to bodies like the EU or the argue that the UK is still United States…if people in

ECHR, but the willingness closer to its social-democratic the United States spoke with

to be part and to recognise neighbours because it still British accents.

the benefits of it seem more has a nationalised health care



16 ★

even Princess Diana are subjects of

the same phenomenon.





But what is mass media democracy?

The media is surely one of the most

important features of a functioning

democratic society. As an institution

of civil society, the media provides

independent reports and analyses

which help people form opinions.

A wide range of tV channels, radio



too Much Emotion stations, newspapers and, more

recently, blogs, ensures the exercise

The British society leads the field once more in Western of the right to freedom of expression.

Europe: nowhere else in Europe is ‘mass media democra- The media’s diversity provides

cy‘ as established as in the UK. What is the right degree of different points of view and enables

emotion? citizens to choose the point of view

By Quirin Maderspacher which seems most reasonable to him

‘Pig’, that’s what people used to call have her partner Jack tweed, who or her.

her. Jade Goody is to me the most had been convicted for beating up an This diversity is essential to the proper

elaborated example of British mass adolescent with a golf club, released functioning of a media system. If

media culture. Starting off as a ‘Big from prison for their wedding. diversity is not ensured and is instead

Brother’ star in 2002, Jade went replaced by uniformity, the media

bravely through periods of public What led the public to such a loses its main task. In countries such

indignation over her vulgar language, reaction? How could it happen that as China where the media is mostly

which found its apogee in her racist a woman like Jade Goody, who most controlled by the state, it loses its

insults, and outrageous behaviour. of the British people would disregard importance, although even there

She managed to escape the distress as a hedonistic ‘chav’ if they met her change is on the way.

of the anonymous masses, and once on the street, managed to evoke so

it was clear that she would die of much public pity? Uniformity is typical for mass

cervical cancer the British public Jade Goody is a creature of mass media. Instead of providing

couldn’t stop following Jade’s every media democracy. But she is certainly orientation and neutral coverage as

step. Public pressure went as far as not the only one: Baby P, Madeline well as opinionated articles which

moving the Minister of Justice to McCann, Michael Jackson, and are crucial for public discourse, the





★ 17

mass media channels the opinion of explain her behaviour which was statements, as Goebbels can tell you.

the masses, it picks up the prevailing in principle perfectly correct. Also The Bible has been misused for all

emotional status of the public and Gordon Brown used the power of sorts of crimes, be it the exclusion

‘screams it out’. tabloids such as such statements recently when he of blacks, women and homosexuals;

‘The Sun’ are good examples of mass cancelled Question time because in short, people who are different

media. An important consequence of the death of David Cameron’s from the ruling masses. ‘Common

is the so-called ‘emotionalisation’ son. Instead of answering difficult knowledge’ is a dangerous concept.

of the society. The mass media questions on bankers’ bonuses, he Half-truths can be misused and

produces powerful statements manifested his condolence publicly. transferred into publicly accepted

which even politicians are afraid lies.

to attack. Even the Queen had to Ancient philosophers such as

bow to this phenomenon when Socrates, Plato and Aristotle already It is obvious that Jade Goody

she was criticized for not having talked about the division of the soul and the extinction of the Jews are

Buckingham Palace’s flag on half- into emotions and desires on the different things. But the principle

mast following the death of Princess one hand, and reason on the other. remains the same. As long as an

Diana. Keeping to the royal protocol For all of them, the rule of reason opinion finds sufficient support

(which is what the Queen did) was was the only way to coordinate the amongst the majority of the people,

not welcomed in this period of soul in order to achieve happiness. it can be misused. The mass media

collectivised expression of emotion. But in this world of emotions there creates this support by addressing

Indeed, it was the death of Lady Di is less and less space for rationality. the emotions of people. Of course

that for the first time showed the The public soul seems to have been it is sad when a woman dies from

power of staged public grievance taken over by collective emotions. cervical cancer, but what about the

in modern times. Elisabeth II was History teaches us that the public other 210,000 people that die from

pushed to speak to the public and can easily be misled by such powerful cancer every day?

18 ★

‘light’ entertainment over proper needs some undemocratic elements.

The British public seems particularly journalism. Another point might be Representative democracy as

sensitive to such emotional the different emphasis in the general most Western countries apply it

statements. Nowhere in Europe is education in Britain. Specialised nowadays is probably the best way of

the public so susceptible to these knowledge is already early in the governing a country. Professionalism

collective outbreaks at the moment. educational curriculum given conditions reasonable moderation,

The Sun is rightly known as the preference over general knowledge. which is an essential feature of good

queen of the European tabloids. The The common ground of knowledge government.

British media is famous for its harsh shared by everyone in Britain

(and irrational) judgement. The is consequently relatively small; This professionalism should equally

expenses scandal once more showed however, the mass media draws from be applied when it comes to the

that the British public can easily be this common ground, because it media. Mass media seems to be the

misled by emotion. can not otherwise address everyone opposite of professional journalism.

Why the British public differs quite at the same time. So in my view, It does not look for the truth; instead

substantially from its neighbours continental European countries it looks at emotions and momentary

is hard to say. Britain is often seem more resistant when it comes moods. It can only be hoped for that

seen as a precursor for Western to such emotional outbreaks. people rediscover rationality when

Europe. trends and developments it comes to public discourse, and

are said to be observed first of all Mass media democracy can to a will soon have had enough of light

in Britain, before they spill over certain extent then be seen as the entertainment. Apply reason and

to the Continent. It is true that most extreme form of democracy. educate yourself!

other European countries such as The view of the majority is all A good sign has been sent out by

Germany (‘Bruno, der Bär’ is a great that counts. Isn’t that exactly what some of the most popular mass

example) have seen similar cases. democracy is all about? This is media institutions: both the London

So might it just be that the rest of where we come to an old problem Lite and the London Paper closed

Europe will become just like Britain of democracy. The Athenians down this year.

in the future in terms of mass media? failed with their direct democracy

I am not altogether sure. I my view and nowadays only some Swiss

it is Britain’s extensive consumerist towns still apply direct democratic

culture that largely contributes to procedures. When we talk about

the success of such mass media democracy, we seem to assume that

campaigns. Information is not the public will is inherently good.

exempt from consumption. But is this true? As we have seen,

Quantity prevails over quality. It the public will can easily be misled.

seems as though some people prefer As paradox as it sounds, democracy

★ 19

A Small Guide to EU Blogs

By Emily Katzenstein

Nosemonkey’s EUtopia Blogginportal

Probably one of the best blogs about everything A constantly updated portal which brings together

related to the EU (focuses on politics and IR) high-quality articles from various sources such as

from what the author calls an ‘Anglo-European’ the Marshall fund as well as personal blogs. Focuses

perspective. Written by former Parliamentary on Central/Eastern Europe.

Assistant to Sir Patrick Cormack, J. Clive Matthews. http://www.bloggingportal.eu/

Very interesting articles about identity (both

national and supranational), as well as an excellent Charlemagne’s notebook

overview of other EU-related blogs. The Economist’s European blog. Provides sound

http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/ analysis for a range of EU-related topics, covering

everything from Anti-Americanism to the Czech

Julien Fritsch EU Presidency.

The EU from the perspective of a young, euro-phile http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/

German.

http://julienfrisch.blogspot.com/



20 ★

POlITICS

Thilo Sarrazin and Integration: A Viewpoint

/ Omar El-Nahry / Bosnia-Herzegovina: A

Discovery / Tobias Lingemann / Out of

Breath / Denis Dobrovoda / Gender Inequa-

lity ... et alors? / Maria Holmblad

America and the NHS:

Oceans Apart?

Why American commentators, proponents and critics of healthcare reform alike,

constantly use the NHS as a measuring stick.

by Antoine de Saint Phalle







One point six trillion dollars. This nations are confronted with similar journalist (including yours truly) is

cataclysmic figure is none other than problems, and the fact remains that eager to offer their take on the matter.

the estimated US budget deficit for they spend less on healthcare per But no model has received as much

the current year. In times of recessi- capita and have a better life expec- press as the NHS.

on, a costly reform that would provi- tancy than the United States. The- The first potential source of inspi-

de government-funded healthcare is refore, the overarching consensus is ration is the ‘Scandinavian’ model,

a hot button issue. In early Novem- that the system itself must be refor- a system of social insurance which

ber, Congress decided to ratify Pre- med, mainly that a system that only exists in Northern Europe. Scandina-

sident Obama’s healthcare plan after offers privatised healthcare and no vian countries are ranked among the

never-ending debates and some last ‘public option’ and where insurance highest in quality of care and custo-

minute compromises. The Senate fol- companies have the right to deny co- mer satisfaction and offer healthcare

lowed suit last month. However, how verage is inherently ‘un-American’. provisions that other countries could

the two bills passed by both houses But if this is the path that the Ob- only dream of. However, this system

of Parliament will be harmonised, ama administration has decided to comes at a price. Mainly, that it has

which is the standard procedure for pursue, where should we look for to be sustained by very high tax rates.

legislation in the United States, re- guidance, to determine the ‘do’s’ and to a majority of Americans, a signi-

mains to be seen. However, the fact ‘don’ts’ of healthcare reform, if you ficant tax hike would be unaccepta-

remains that the US has the most will? Other countries which have a ble, federal taxation and the size of

privatised healthcare system in the national healthcare system have pro- the federal government being a very

Western world, and arguably one of vided a good basis for inspiration in controversial subject in the US, espe-

the most inefficient. This may be due the past, despite inherent political cially after a large scale bailout of the

in part to what the American public and cultural differences. Select states, banks. Not to mention that Scandi-

ingests. The increased consumption like Massachusetts in this case, have navian healthcare systems operate

of processed and fast food has led to also long been known as a good pro- on a much smaller scale and that the

an increase in the obesity rate, which ving ground for legislation. Many of public debt of Sweden and Finland

now stands at a whopping 30.6 %. these healthcare models have been only represents roughly 30% of their

This has in turn caused a surge in the heavily scrutinised by the American annual GDP, while it represents over

number of heart attacks, which is the media. After all, 24-hour news net- 60% in the United States. All in all,

leading cause of death among Ameri- works have a lot of time on their American legislators have deemed

can adults. However, other Western hands, and every blogger or budding this model too progressive and in-

22 ★

applicable to the current economic

situation in the United States.

Another existing model is the health-

care system that was created in the

state of Massachusetts by the Medi-

cal Healthcare Reform Act in 2006.

This system requires Massachusetts

residents to purchase healthcare insu-

rance and provides direct or indirect

government assistance for those who

cannot. As shown by a recent poll in

the Boston Globe, support for the

new healthcare system is waning due

to increased public spending. A gro-

wing number of people feel that the

plan should be reformed. However,

only a small minority of respondents

want the plan to disappear entirely.

This raises an important point about

universal healthcare, mainly that stem like the NHS provides a larger long time and is widely regarded as

people who have grown accustomed scale overview of what government- a success. Studies suggest that whilst

to it cannot imagine being deprived funded healthcare would look like in Americans under 65 are drastically

of it once more. The Massachusetts very different parts of the country. under-covered, Americans over 65

Act was a step forward but it can With more layers of government to are better covered than senior citizens

hardly be a barometer for the nation. cope with, would the new system re- in most European countries. ‘Medi-

Not simply because New Englanders ally be a bureaucratic maze? care for all’ seems therefore to be the

are more liberal and therefore more A third potential model is Medicare, way forward. However, it remains a

willing to embrace the concept of a government programme which co- rudimentary system (there are strict

universal healthcare, but because vers people over 65 in the USA. In limits on the number of times that

this system is a very recent creation. August, protesters marching upon a doctor can come and visit you at

Other US states have examined the Washington brandished signs that the hospital, for instance). Its scope is

Massachusetts Act and  similar legis- read “Get the Government‘s hands also quite limited: it doesn’t deal with

lation is going to be developed in off my Medicare”. A very bewilde- people with long-lasting health pro-

California later this year. time will ring request, considering that Me- blems whose treatments are often the

tell if these new healthcare provisions dicare is none other than a govern- most expensive and who more often

are effective but if the federal govern- ment-run programme. While such than not do not reach the age of 65.

ment is to ensure universal healthca- a statement sums up the confusion It can therefore not be the only an-

re, as Barack Obama has suggested, that the healthcare debate has trig- swer to the healthcare debate.

it must look at a more established gered, it also highlights the popula- As a result, the NHS has become

healthcare system. Covering some rity of Medicare, even among those an example of what the American

500 000 Massachusetts uninsured re- staunchly opposed to government healthcare system could potentially

sidents is not the same as providing intervention. As opposed to the new- look like when a healthcare reform

government-funded healthcare to ly created system in Massachusetts, bill is passed. US commentators

300 million people. Looking at a sy- Medicare has been established for a operate under the assumption that

★ 23

Britain’s healthcare system is a com- a goal that the United States is also and not treated. This is an unfair cri-

promise between the social insurance trying to achieve. However, despite ticism of universal healthcare in se-

model of Northern and Western Eu- the existence of private healthcare veral respects. Firstly, the NHS does

rope and the privatised system in their in Britain, as well as the privatisati- not deny care to senior citizens, the

own country. After all, Britain and on of some of its services, the NHS so called ‘death panels’ that were cited

America do share a certain number remains a true institution. Under 8 by the Republican Party are a myth.

of cultural and political ties (just percent of the population uses pri- Secondly, if Senator Kennedy were

ask tony Blair!). As such, the NHS vate health care, and oftentimes it British he could have done exactly

is perceived as the least of all evils is used on top of treatments provi- what he did in the United States and

by some, and the adequate solution ded by the NHS. Furthermore, cri- entered a clinic and received private

by others. Both Presidents Franklin ticism of the existence of the NHS treatment, being a very wealthy man.

Roosevelt and Harry truman tried can amount to political suicide; Da- The NHS is by no means ‘socialist’ in

to create a single-payer healthcare vid Cameron had to rebuke recent a literal sense: it does allow people to

system during and after the Second comments made by Daniel Hannan, choose among public and private care

World War. This system would have a Conservative Member of the Euro- options and simply gives everybody

mirrored the NHS to a certain ex- pean Parliament, who criticised the the right to access a minimum level

tent, which was itself created in 1948 NHS in a Fox News interview. The of care. As much as Americans value

but on proposals that were made fact that the Conservative Party had individual choice, around 45 million

in 1942 in the Beveridge Report. to hurriedly step in to distance itself of them are uninsured, limiting their

There are undeniably a few simila- from what it thought were politically choice to well, nothing. According to

rities between American healthcare damaging comments speak volumes the World Health Organization, the

as it currently stands and the NHS. about the popularity of the NHS. United States is in last place when it

British doctors, like most American Why then shouldn’t the US take comes to healthcare equity, meaning

doctors, earn much more than doc- advantages of the ties that it has that the gap between the quality of

tors in Western Europe. In addition, with Britain and adopt an NHS care provided to high and low income

the NHS has been increasingly pri- style system? Three main criti- citizens is the largest in the world.

vatised in recent years. Some hospi- cisms are raised: the importance Lastly, the creation of a public option

tals have private wards which feature of individual freedom, excessive would not lead to the disappearance

side rooms that are fitted more com- bureaucracy, and excessive cost. of Medicare or any other pension

fortably, and where, for a fee, more Individual choice is a legitimate con- systems which exist for low income

amenities are provided. These are cern, even though it is often brought families (Medicaid) and war vete-

often referred to as ‘Amenity beds’. up in ridiculous circumstances. One rans. It would simply mean that basic

Some people are calling for the priva- such circumstance came after the de- treatment is accessible to all, regard-

tisation of some of the more expen- ath of Senator Edward Kennedy. In a less of age and financial disposition.

sive and infrequently used treatments shameful display of indecency, Sean Another criticism of the NHS and

provided by the NHS. In addition, Hanity, a Fox News analyst, claimed of most universal healthcare systems

many services previously provided by that Senator Kennedy would not is that they are too bureaucratic. Ac-

the NHS have been subcontracted to have been treated by the NHS as he cording to a recent Rasmussen poll

private companies, such as DHL for was 77 and had a brain tumour. He conducted in the United States, 51%

instance. As a result, British healthca- explained that as an old man with a of respondents said that they feared

re might be the best example of a two condition that is expensive to treat government more than they feared

tier system where private and public and offers very little hope of recove- insurance companies. However, insu-

healthcare exist alongside each other; ry, the Senator would have been put rance companies are effectively huge

at the bottom of the list of priorities conglomerates, whose bureaucratic

24 ★

inner workings can be just as confu- money pit. However, even though it be able to curb public spending by

sing, the difference being that the go- does not have a system of universal making government and insurance

vernment can be held accountable by coverage, the US government still companies more accountable while

the people. Excessive bureaucracy is spent more money per capita in 2006 also reducing the amount of money

an inevitable flaw in every system and on healthcare ($3,076) than the Bri- that the average American has to

that’s why efficiency must constantly tish government ($2,457). Accor- spend on healthcare.

be improved, but it must not deter ding to the same study, on average, I don’t know about you but for the

governments from granting healthca- American households spent $6,719 first time in 14 years, I’m writing a

re for all. The last point of contenti- per head while the British spent a letter to Santa. I’d really like to see

on rests in the fact that a bureaucra- mere $2,815. If we had a universal this one wrapped up before Christ-

tic system is inevitably perceived as a healthcare system, perhaps we would mas.









★ 25

Thilo Sarrazin and Integration:

A Viewpoint

Brave comments by politicians can lead to open debates. Have Thilo Sarrazin’s

comments on Muslim immigrants in Germany helped trigger such a debate?

By Omar El-Nahry





“I am not obliged to accept words were officially met banners appeared on the

anybody who does not do with indignation and harsh website of the (in)famous blog

anything, who lives off criticism. Party representatives, PI-News that considers itself

welfare, rejects this state, is trade unions, the Central ‘critical of Islam’ and is visited

not concerned with his or Council of turks and Sarrazin’s by about 20.000 people a day.

her children’s education, and boss, Axel Weber, rejected his Even commentators who

constantly produces new little choice of words as well as his rejected Mr. Sarrazin’s choice

headscarf-girls.” (Thilo Sarazin) view on Muslim immigrants in of words credited him for

Germany. casting light on an issue that

When Thilo Sarrazin, ex- The German public, however, should already have been a part

Finance Minister of Berlin showed a very different of political dialogue.

and now board member of the response to Mr. Sarrazin’s

German Central Bank, used words. In a poll taken shortly Since the first turkish ‘guest-

this sentence to characterize after his remarks, a majority of workers’ arrived in Germany in

turkish and Arab migrants 51% agreed with his comments the 1960s and it became clear

in Germany in October, his in principle. ‘Support Sarrazin’ that they would not be ‘guests’,

26 ★

but permanent residents, especially in bigger cities like points out a culprit, but fails to

discussions on integration Berlin. It is obvious that there propose a way to improve the

and a multicultural German are potentially grave problems existing grievances; therefore,

society have been ongoing. between the German society it cannot lead to a positive

As the turkish population in and immigrant communities debate, but to a spiralling series

Germany keeps growing, the within it. Unquestionably, a of accusations.

mood in Germany has changed discussion about immigration Instead of deepening the

from indifference to a more and and its effects is necessary. It is already existing rifts between

more critical, even depreciative, of no use to remain silent about foreigners and Germans, a

attitude towards foreigners. conflicts and problems; they true effort from both sides is

Primarily based on economic can only be solved through an required. Whilst the immigrant

issues, the debate has lately open societal dialogue. population has to show that

been amplified by the ongoing But will Thilo Sarrazin’s it is willing to integrate into

discussions about culture comments really lead to society – learning German

and religion, and especially this necessary debate about and being an active part of

the positions of Muslims immigrants in Germany and society – the latter has to show

in Europe. Any discussion their integration, when he that it is willing to give them

about Muslim foreigners in claims that a big part of the a fair chance. Furthermore,

Germany nowadays quickly immigrant community is all parties have to admit that

changes into a debate about neither willing nor able to they have had their share in

cultural values, often leading integrate? what has caused today’s often

to severe and polemic disputes. It is not very probable, to say the problematic situation – from

The spectrum of opinions has least. Rather than stimulating immigrants not embracing or

always been very wide-ranging, a debate, Mr. Sarrazin’s even rejecting the culture of

from the complete rejection of remarks seem to corroborate their new home country, to the

immigration to the affirmation the negative perception of failure of German society with

of a multicultural Germany. foreigners in Germany and respect to the integration and

These opinions have always reinforce stereotypes, whilst also acceptance of foreigners. That

clashed in heated discussions. alienating foreign communities is what has truly been missing

in Germany. How can a in the past and it can only

There is no way to deny that statement that accuses a group happen if the debate is finally

there are problems among lead to a vital debate, especially freed of prejudice, intolerance

turkish and Arab communities when the attacked group starts and blatant racism on both

in Germany, from the low to defend itself and ignores sides.

quota of graduations, to even reasonable criticism in

unemployment, to criminality; the process? His statement

★ 27

Bosnia-Herzegovina:

A Discovery

Our writer embarks on a journey to the unknown land of Bosnia and Herzegovina

and stumbles upon unexpected beauty.

By tobias Lingemann





What? Bosnia and Herzegovina? What, then, should a visit be visible all over.

like?

When telling friends, quite However, Sarajevo is a

enthusiastically, that I was Admittedly, the first hours after particularly unique place, a

about to travel around Bosnia arrival in Sarajevo were, well, a living museum of history. It is

and Herzegovina, I was met bit different. home to Latin Bridge where

with a mixture of scepticism Driving down Sniper Alley in Habsburg heir Archduke Franz

and ridicule. Summer, the misty early hours of the Ferdinand was assassinated

vacation, free will and that morning made you feel queasy. on 28 June 1914. The

country – these elements didn’t Less than 15 years ago, consequences are well-known.

seem to match at all. refugees tried to make it to The city has also been a witness

Up to then, I hadn’t considered the UN airport via that alley to the country’s multi-ethnic

myself to be particularly and thousands were shot by history; onion-shaped domes

adventurous. It’s not Costa del snipers. Improvised cemeteries alternate with campaniles and

Sol, but it’s certainly not North border the main roads and minarets. This is probably one

Korea either. are silent witnesses of what of the few places in the world

happened there. A glance at where you take a picture and

However, the prevalent the innumerable gravestones have various sanctums of all

scepticism is not unfounded. tells you that all of them must major world religions in it.

If anything, Bosnia and have been set up between 1992

Herzegovina is, presumably, and 1995, the period of the While western European

commonly connoted with war war. Having been under siege politicians, scientists, and

and Srebrenica. More recently, by Serb irregulars from the self-proclaimed experts

it featured in the media in very beginning of the fighting, debate about the rise of our

connection with the Karadzic the capital suffered a lot. Albeit multicultural, -religious

trial in The Hague and the an alleged substantial recovery and -ethnical societies, its

announcement that the in terms of restored and values, benefits and inherent

EUFOR mission is going to reoccupied buildings, damaged dangers, people in Bosnia and

stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina buildings still dominate many Herzegovina have been living

for at least another year. areas, not only in Sarajevo but in such a society for centuries.

Not the best press. also in other places like Mostar, People from all over Europe,

which suffered greatly. Bullet Africa, Asia Minor, Syria,

holes and shelling damage are Egypt and Palestine populate

28 ★

the area of today’s Bosnia and the countryside becomes, the from 15 years ago. There is

Herzegovina and have made more you realise: the hinterland the sense of a new start calling

this place one of incredible has long concealed its richness. them home.

vitality. The city centre reflects This is surely about to change true, the country remains

these influences: traces of the as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s divided along ethnic lines for

Ottomans, ancient trading recovery goes hand in hand large parts, but tensions have

places with artisan workshops, with its entering of the tourist ebbed and optimism prevails.

coffee drinking dens alongside market and travellers starting

Austro-Hungarian colonial to recognise its potential, Once renown for tragic reasons,

buildings and the old tram which includes rafting on the Bosnia and Herzegovina is

network. Una or tara river, hiking in the trying to restore normality to

Dinaric Alps, cliff- jumping in life.

Leaving the city, more and more the Kravice waterfalls or skiing Gradually revealing its richness,

of the country’s richness and around Sarajevo. Alternatively, it is not surprising that the

variety is revealed. On board for the more cultured, ancient World tourism Organisation

the train, rushing through the towns like tešanj with its old estimates that Bosnia and

Bosnian mountains, you cannot castle, Mostar with its famous Herzegovina will have the

stop window gazing. Viaducts bridge, the Stari Most, 16th third highest tourism growth

follow tunnels, and more century monasteries, the rate in the world between 1995

viaducts follow switchbacks. historical town of Blagaj... and 2020.The image of Bosnia

At risk of being too cheesy, the Filling brochures would be an and Herzegovina I gained has

scenery is simply amazing. easy job. not much in common with the

stereotypical view. It might be

Again, the war has left its But not only tourists are worthwhile going there before

traces. Land mines still make increasingly attracted. More budget airlines start flights to

for danger and continuing and more refugees have come Sarajevo or Mostar, and before

programmes to clear them away back to the country they fled fast-food chains open their first

are in place. However, the safer branches.

★ 29

Out of Breath

After the Fall of the Iron Curtain many Central and Eastern Europeans believed in

the ideals the quick collapse of the communist regimes promised. Reality did not

follow these ideals. twenty years later people are still asking questions.

By Denis Dobrovoda



On the 17th of November the clash between the students and the new president, and the first

1989 the students of Prague took the police took place) resulted in democratic elections in forty years

to the streets to protest against the formation of the first big civil were held.

the Czechoslovak communist opposition groups, which later This is a short overview

government. The police was were transformed into the first of the Czechoslovak Gentle (or

ready and easily handled about democratic parties. These groups Velvet) Revolution. This year

two thousand peaceful students. organised the first strike after forty marks the 20th anniversary of these

The students were brutally years of communism. The massive events, and the whole society,

assaulted, but their demonstration demonstrations, which later took particularly the intellectual elite,

sparked a chain of events which place in all major Czechoslovak is trying to reflect on the twenty

the government and the police cities broke the neck of the democratic years. Even though the

were unable to respond to. The communist government. In the days of the revolution seem like

spontaneous nation-wide reaction span of a couple of months the they are taken from an American

to the demonstration on Narodni constitution changed. Vaclav film, the days and the years that

trida (the street in Prague where Havel, a leading dissident, became followed led to the end of many



30 ★

people’s ideals and dreams. They entered Czechoslovakia. Dubcek hope that there would be any

are asking questions, and some are and his government were change in their lifetime, so when

trying to come up with answers. kidnapped and taken to Moscow, an opportunity for democracy (and

Why were so many mistakes made? and any hopes for further reforms this time it was real) appeared,

Why do many of the communists vanished in the face of the tanks people were consumed by

still have major functions? Did we shooting people in the squares happiness and excitement. The size

want things to go this way? The of Prague and Bratislava. The of the revolutionary crowds speaks

most important ones, however, Russians simply could not risk any for itself - in Prague there were

are Was the revolution successful? unrest in ‘their’ sphere of influence a million people, in Bratislava,

and What have we learnt from it? and the Czechoslovak reforms about four hundred thousand. This

In this article I want to address were making Brezhnev nervous; accounts for basically the whole

some of these questions, and what if other countries took population of these cities.

explain the revolution and its inspiration from the development The role of the dissidents

results so that people who have in Czechoslovakia? Therefore, (who can be regarded as the

little or no knowledge of it will the reformist movement had to be intellectual elite) in the revolution

understand this historical period crushed. was major: they were the ones who

better. Also, I hope to give rise to After 1968, Dubcek had organised the civil movement. In the

questions. Because I believe that to resign, and a hard-line Soviet Czech Republic this was the group

many of the things my society backed government followed. The of people around Vaclav Havel’s

has encountered are universal and new era, which lasted for the rest Charta 77 movement, many of

apply to the whole of the Western of Czechoslovakia’s existence whom were philosophers, writers,

world, I want to encourage anyone started, the era of the so-called lawyers or artists. In Slovakia the

who would like to find out more ‘normalisation’. The communists dissidents came mainly from the

about the revolution to contact me. declared that the state of the society religious environment, but also

Moreover, anyone who disagrees in 1968 was abnormal, and that a number of these participated in

with anything I say or wants to the society had to be ‘normalised’ Charta 77. The dissidents were

start a polemic with me is welcome again. In fact, this meant that the the ones who created the ideas

to respond to this article in any way people who openly criticised and programmes of the future

he or she considers appropriate. the government were kicked out development; they were the faces

The roots of the of their jobs, could not travel of the revolution, speaking on

Czechoslovak revolution can be anywhere and their children could television, radio or newspapers.

traced back to 1968 and the events not study. The problem was that The majority of them were people

of the Prague Spring. In that year the whole nation was frustrated of very high moral standards,

the government of Alexander with the regime, the invasion who were prepared to risk their

Dubcek started a series of reforms and the party. People just could freedom and safety for democracy.

which abolished censorship and not see how they could change The stories of the dissidents after

encouraged freedom of speech anything, so a vast majority of the revolution are very interesting

and art. Some people even them remained silent and officially and depict the social development

speculated about the possibility agreed with the new development, of that era very well; I shall come

of free elections. The society was because they were afraid of the back to them later.

excited about the new direction consequences of protesting. This The leaders of the

of the party, which was perhaps explains why the support for the revolution could clearly distinguish

closer to social democracy than revolution was so thorough and between good and evil. They

communism. However, on the the revolution itself so unexpected. imagined an almost ideal society,

night of the 21st of August the Most of the people gave up any and many of them believed that the

Warsaw Pact armies surprisingly new consciousness of the people



★ 31

promised a victory of truth, love of material wealth and newly the difficulties of the change from

and understanding over the demons acquired optimism. a totalitarian to a free society.

of the past. The people listening to However, the years that The communists were

them in the squares also believed came were nowhere near this giving evil, which was present

in the bright future. All the people ideal. The feelings I described in the society, a face; all that was

who participated in the protest lasted only for a couple of days wrong was their fault. This made

often remember the beautiful or weeks. The ‘atmosphere of the fighting the evil easier, because

atmosphere in the air. People squares’ never came about again, it was personified in the party;

were so nice to each other after all and the promises of understanding, defeating it seemed possible.

those miserable years that it must love and reconciliation were never With visible and personified goals

have seemed as if the ideals were fulfilled. The positive sentiments life is a lot easier. Paradoxically,

attainable. My father often says went away and slowly everyone defeating the communists created

he will never forget the feelings was ‘sober’ again. Why are a wave of disillusion amongst

of friendship and understanding people asking questions twenty the people. When the party was

that existed between people. A years after the revolution? Why in power it seemed that evil was

good example of this is when one is the success of the revolution someone else’s fault, and that there

particular aggressive revolutionary even being questioned? Because could be a definitive date when it

took the microphone and said that everyone’s expectations were would, more or less, cease to exist.

all people should take shovels and ridiculously high, and the higher However, when the dictatorship

punish the communists for the past the expectations, the bigger the was defeated, evil did not die with

crimes. He was very surprised disappointment of reality becomes. it. Evil stayed in the society in

when people spontaneously started The revolution was like when a different forms (corruption, Mafia,

shouting “We don’t want violence! runner starts a 100-meter race, general negative attitudes), and

We don’t want violence!” One of and then finds out he is actually especially the first decade after

the dissidents in a recent interview running a marathon. People the revolution in Slovakia was full

said that he does not expect to believed their ideals were very of it. The revolution made people

feel so much positive energy and close, but in fact both material and realise that evil does not really

optimism ever again. The people philosophical wealth was much have a face and that it is impossible

I know all agree with this. The further away. Not many people to fight it, because (and I cannot

ideals seemed real and the near were ready for the misery of the formulate this without sounding

future seemed to hold a promise economic transformation, nor for pathetic) it, in fact, is in ourselves.

32 ★

This is one reason why cynicism 1988, which discredited him. element. People who believed the

and pessimism are so deeply I believe that the fact ridiculously optimistic prediction

rooted in society nowadays. Saying that the dissidents, who were the that after three years the country

anything idealistic is met with intellectual elite of the nation, would be on the same level as

laughter and disrespect. Vaclav did not want, or were unable, to Switzerland were obviously left

Havel’s motto that “truth and love lead the state after the revolution disappointed. That did not happen,

will prevail over lies and hate” was explains the political misery and could not have happened.

taken seriously in November 1989. which is present in our society However, those who knew the

Years after, it is often ridiculed by today. The people who fought the transformation would be difficult

the Czechs. communists were unable to make a are not unhappy now.

As I said before, the story significant contribution to the new I personally believe that the

of the dissidents is very important. realpolitik establishment. Their destruction of evil unfortunately

The old saying that “the revolution reluctance created space for people did not take place. What happened

eats its children” was more or less like Vladimir Meciar who had no is the runner effect I described

right in their case. It is important moral standards whatsoever. The before: on the 17th of November

to bear in mind that the dissidents incompetence of such people 1989 people believed that the

(and here I mean the real ones, affected the lives of Slovaks and positive change would come in a

who participated in the destruction Czechs in a very negative way. very short time, and that it would

of the communist regime years More and more citizens have given be for good. They were ready for

before the revolution started) up voting. They are trying to show a short, 100-meter run. In reality,

were all very moral people. They their disillusionment with our the struggle, the revolution, did

strongly believed in the ideals they political life, the fact that there is not end on the day of the free

fought for, and the world shaped by no real conflict any more. All that elections; it went on. There were

realpolitik, which was born after is left is the parties’ struggle for still so many things to be done; in

the revolution, was a completely influence and money. This is also fact, they are still being worked on,

hostile place for them. Many of something worth thinking about. twenty years afterwards. People

them, such as the musician Michal So, was the revolution did not expect such a marathon and

Kocab, the priest Michal Maly and successful? An answer to this now our society, all the individual

the journalist Ivan Hoffman went question is very subjective. Fedor people, are out of breath. Everyone

back to their original jobs after the Gal, one of the Slovak dissidents is tired of running, tired of the

main goal (the free elections) had says the revolution was successful continuous transformation. The

been achieved. Another group of because it managed to fulfil all ideals everyone believed in

dissidents, such as Ivan Ruml, Jan the goals that the leaders of the did not come true. The biggest

Langos and Frantisek Miklosko, revolution put on paper short problem is that communism stayed

tried to make their way into after the 17th of November: a new in the minds of some people,

politics. Some of them have more constitution, freedom of speech, and these minds could not have

or less been there until now, but the free elections, independence of been changed in a day or a year.

climate of realpolitik prevented judiciary, free press etc. However, However, I think the path we have

them from fulfilling their political when asked, Ivan Jirous, a Czech chosen is the right one: people are

and philosophical ideas. People dissident who was imprisoned just too disillusioned to see it. This

such as Jan Budaj, who was the by the communists, said he was year’s anniversary is a good time

face of Slovak revolution, could very sad about the outcome to finally realise we are running

not even go into politics because of the revolution, because a marathon, and should behave

he had signed a paper about co- his expectations were much accordingly.

operation with the secret police in higher. This is a very important

★ 33

Poland in the Year of Anniversaries:

Where is it all Going?

Freedom and the end of the Cold War - what most people associate with the Fall of

the Iron Curtain. The example of Poland shows that the recent anniversaries don’t

evoke only good memories.

By Marta Zieba

With 2009 drawing to a its borders. using historical revisionism as

close, now is possibly the best The beginnings of the War are a political weapon in relations

moment to reflect on this year widely known; on September between Poland and Russia,

of anniversaries from a Polish 1st, Nazis struck Poland. At 4:45 attention was focused on Russian

perspective. This is particularly the German battleship Schleswig Prime Minister Putin; whether

valid as Poland has diplomatically Holstein, allegedly anchored in he would arrive at all and how he

been the focus of interest on a channel near Westerplatte for would handle Russia’s stance on

numerous occasions; most a friendly visit, opened fire at our common history.

notably when commemorating Polish garrisons stationed in the The dispute and increasing

the 70th anniversary of the area, beginning the first battle tension between the two countries

outbreak of World War II and of the war. It is here that each began as early as August 23rd,

the 20th year of the fall of the year commemorations of the (the anniversary of the signing of

Berlin Wall. Much attention has event gather Poland’s political the non-aggression pact between

been paid to the latter issue; but elites; this year, however, with the USSR and Germany) when

to understand Poland’s present European Heads of States and Russian foreign intelligence

position in Europe fully it is high officials being invited, the premiered Wadim Gasanow’s

also crucial to consider where it ceremony was just as prestigious highly controversial film, ‘The

stands 70 years after one of the as it was problematic. In face Secrets of the Secret Protocols’.

bloodiest wars in history began at of the growing interest in The official production asserted

34 ★

that the Ribbentrop-Molotov which surpass just the issue of Polish intelligentsia, thus

pact, containing a secret clause history and are increasingly disabling rebuilding of the post-

dividing Europe into German relevant for Europe’s energy War nation, are, however, fully

and Russian spheres of influence, security, with Russia dealing declassified and open for view

was necessary in light of Polish the cards over gas delivery, as to historians via the Institute of

policies. Poland was portrayed demonstrated last year. National Remembrance (IPN) in

as having negotiated with Nazis Despite sounding Poland. It is difficult not to think

since mid-1933, in discussions surprisingly conciliatory, Putin that the Russian side continues to

where the main focus was maintained Russia’s hard line in see Katyń as ’revenge for 1920’,

supposed to have been fighting dealing with Poland. Once again when, during the war between

communism. The 1934 Nazi- condemning the Ribbentrop- Polish and Bolshevik forces,

Polish non-aggression pact was Molotov settlement, he referred Russian captives were said to have

said to have been the epitomy of to all pacts with Nazi Germany been executed by the Polish army.

this conspiracy, forcing Russia to as “unacceptable from the moral It is also difficult to overlook the

defend itself against aggressive point of view” and as having fact that the majority of Russian

Polish moves in international “no chance of being realised”. captives most probably died

politics. A press conference was Clearly aimed at stigmatizing as a result of the 1920 typhus

to be called allegedly showing Poland for its participation in epidemics, and no documents

intelligence documents certifying the territorial disembodiment confirming the alleged executions

that Józef Beck, the pre-war head of Czechoslovakia alongside have ever been presented. Voices

of Polish diplomacy, was in fact a Germany, which was condemned in Poland have been raised saying

German agent. by President Kaczyński, the that it is difficult to believe that

With Putin’s attendance statement shows Putin still fails in a situation where the Russian

at Westerplatte confirmed, to, and does not want to, detach Prime Minister has a history of

these revelations were rightly himself fully from the hard- KGB and FSB membership, high

perceived in Poland as political line historical politics that have Russian officials are in no way

agitation, aimed at receiving been raging in Russia in the affiliated with the accusations.

aggressive response from Poland, past months. Despite voicing Under the circumstances

which could serve as a pretext that Russians recognise „all too of Angela Merkel’s full and

for withdrawing the Russian well the acute emotions of Poles repeated recognition of Nazi

Prime Minister from the in connection with Katyń”, Germany’s fault and a letter from

commemorations. The attempt Putin assured Russian archives German intellectuals apologising

failed miserably, with Polish dealing with the matter would – yet again – for the outbreak of

officials remaining silent on the be declassified once Poland opens World War II and its violence,

issue, and it became apparent its archives too. The documents Russia’s moves – although much

that Westerplatte on September on the 1940 massacre, where warmer than before – still leave

1st would become the arena the Soviet secret police executed much room for improvement.

for ultimate resolve. It could be twenty-one thousand Polish It does seem as if either side is

the decisive moment in shaping military officers on Stalin’s direct willing to back down yet. Polish

current Polish-Russian relations, orders, in an attempt to eliminate Prime Minister Donald tusk’s

★ 35

call for ”building trust based on by invading it in 1920 and system and the importance of its

a conscience of the past” has been supposedly killing captives, and relations with global superpowers.

echoed by Putin. It is apparent secondly by negotiating with This is, sadly, still often the case;

though that Russia is not willing the Germans in 1934 against many international observers, for

to take blame for Soviet actions, communist expansion. Soviet example, continue to see the end

which culminated in its invasion propaganda is all too alive in the of the communist era in the Fall

of Poland from the East on minds of many who have spoken. of the Berlin Wall. But would

September 17th 1939. tusk’s Westerplatte co- that have ever been possible if

point that ”Soviets liberated us, mmemorations, referred to as workers’ strikes in the Gdańsk

but could not give us freedom, a moderate success for Polish shipyard in 1981 hadn’t forced

for they never experienced diplomacy, nonetheless gave no the ruling Communist Party

freedom themselves” seems valid. answers to the most pressing to agree to workers’ demands

After all, the memory of Soviet problems facing Poland, and, for the first independent trade

supremacy still echoes strongly due to the country’s growing union in a Warsaw Pact country,

within Russian political spheres, importance, Europe in general. Solidarność, led by Lech Wałęsa.

infiltrating common Russian There have not been any de Many textbooks continue to

conscience through the media, facto guarantees on the security mark the beginning of the Second

textbooks and political agitation. of the gas deal. The plans for World War by their country’s

Russian historian Giennadij the Northern Pipeline, directing entry, but wasn’t the invasion

Bordiugow notices how today Russian gas along the bottom of of Poland, first Nazi, and then

the events of 1920 and 1939 are the Baltic Sea to Germany with Soviet, the decisive factor,

in no way spoken of as open to the ommission of Poland are marking the future of Europe

criticism and revision, making still valid, and no further talks for the next 50 years? Poland’s

people hold views passed down have been held. There seems past, and it’s probable future

by Soviet propaganda because to be no change in what Russia as an increasingly significant

they have no other source of is saying; only the official style economical and strategic partner,

information. ”Indoctrination and is less confrontational. Despite bluntly visible in the controversies

censorship”, Bordiugow asserts in the relative diplomatic success, over the positioning of the US

Polish television, ”are still present Poland still has every reason to anti-missile shield, mark it as a

in Russia”. After all, according be apprehensive about Russia’s coutry of growing importance.

to research of the Jurij Lewada actions and policies in the nearest Along with many equally strong

Institute, only 16% of Russians future. countries of the region, it often

know that in 1939 the USSR With Poland being refuses to be referred to as

entered Poland, which at the the arena where the two most ‘Eastern Europe’, demanding

time was fighting against Nazis, significant processes of the a more representative, ‘Central

and took its territory. Many, as twentieth century began – the European’ status. Polish mentality

were heard on Polish television outbreak of the Second World on the matter seems to be ready;

during Westerplatte broadcasts, War and the fall of Communism when will Europe be?

still think that Poland conspired – it is difficult to overlook its

against the Soviet nation, firstly current position in the European



36 ★

to their gender surely serve to create

men and women with precisely

these characteristics. The danger of

culturally constructed ideas of what

men and women are is this; they

have the tendency of producing self-

fulfilling prophecies, and creating

gender roles that women and men

both find themselves confined to.

The mere recognition that our

gender roles are largely stereotypical

is a constructive psychological step

Gender Inequality towards realising their arbitrariness.





... et alors? While it would never cross

my mind that my male colleagues,

brother or boyfriend belong to

A revival of the inequality debate is needed. a superior part of society, that is

By Maria Holmblad undoubtedly still the way our society

at present is organised. Saying that

Many seem unconvinced by the femininities lies at the very core of it is not about superiority, but that

pink-vs-blue debate, i.e. the idea the inequality problem. men and women are different, and

that the stereotypical categories good at different things, is irrelevant,

boys and girls are placed in at birth Psychologists claim that and doesn’t correspond to the

have any effect on gender equality. stereotyping is inevitable; they have consequences gender disparities

Whereas admittedly the debate is existed since the dawn of time, have in reality: the framework of

easily and often taken to the extreme, and are unconsciously created by our society is built up on basic

claiming that “ironing makes me the human mind. However, this assumptions that persistently

happy, and my husband is a lot realisation does not mean there value characteristics traditionally

better at changing tyres than I am” is no hope of ridding ourselves associated with men higher than

isn’t at all satisfactory in silencing of clichés of what constitute men those associated with women, and

it. Women who wrinkle their nose and women. Rather, it presents us reward men over women. Thus, to

at the word ‘feminist’ and fail to with a different angle on the issue claim that men and women are just

see the underlying reasoning of the of gender stereotypes. Whereas we different, without admitting the

inequality debate are clearly missing cannot – and perhaps need not – value inherently attributed to it, is

the point. There is nothing wrong extinguish them, we can render nonsense. Desirable characteristics

with girls wanting to wear pink; it is them unimportant by not allowing don’t innately belong to men or

just unreasonable to assume that this them to be value-laden, and by women; they are socially constructed,

will doesn’t arise from forms of social not reinforcing them. Stereotypical and while real, essentially arbitrary.

stereotyping. The social and cultural beliefs that men and women tend to

constructions of masculinities and have certain characteristics according



★ 37

This realisation brings light tackle gender inequality through the aspirations of angry women who do

to the question of self-perception, (questionably successful) imposition not shave. The words ‘empowerment

or even self-deception, if you may; of quotas, and, more recently, by of women’ leaves a bad taste in many

just because many young women assuring the quantitatively equal mouths. A misogynistic attitude is

of my generation do not feel they access to elective positions, a concept not the appropriate response to the

are inferior to the male sex or ever known as parité. Women and men gender equality debate, but rather a

come across gender discrimination are politically equal according to misunderstanding of it. Feminism

in their daily lives does not mean the republic trilogy, but the yet doesn’t seek to do away with men, but

that gender inequality isn’t still problematic notion of parité is going to undermine patriarchy. The debate

largely prominent and problematic. to take time; big parties pitifully must however remain situational,

This non-negotiable mindset is of choose to accept financial penalties and apply equally in domains where

course crucial for the development rather than present more female men are underrepresented due to the

of gender equality in our society, candidates on their electoral lists. domination of women; men being

but not sufficient. It is easier to gaze Whereas it is inevitably essential granted equal rights to parental leave

far abroad and express horror over to ensure women equal access to is a good example of the duality of

the treatment of women in certain the political scene, what has to be the debate, and highlights that it is

foreign cultures, but a lot more acknowledged is that to some extent in fact about equality.

difficult to realise that a battle that only the passage of time will be

has been fought for a very long time able to insert into the public mind, Some find the philosophical

by our very own ancestors is not of men and of women, the blatant grounding on why we insist on

even close to being over. Assuredly, truth that women and men are the uncompromising equality

the debate is not new, and attempts equally capable of being politicians. between men and women difficult

to force society into a different Persisting inequalities in politics to stomach, because inequality

direction exist on a wide scale. In has to do with the fact that it still unfortunately exists between so

Norway for example, the gender hasn’t been particularly long since many other groups. However, I find

representation laws introduced women were actually welcomed it difficult to avoid the reality that

to private sector boardrooms in as equal actors into political life. women are not a social category;

2006 have been very successful; Claiming that men are generally we constitute 50% of society. This

in demanding 40% women on more active in politics than women division is as fundamental as it gets.

governing boards, the traditional isn’t tantamount to implying that Whereas we unquestionably must

‘male bastion’ that has long been the this has anything to do with male remove all discrimination based

case in the private sector is being and female characteristics; it is the on arbitrary grounds, if we cannot

eradicated. Norwegian attempts same thing as saying that women are first assure the equal rights and

to boost women’s labour market more present than men in nursery opportunities for men and women,

participation and thereby their schools, pointing only to the fact I doubt that we in the long run will

economic independence rest on the that tradition dies slowly. be successful in assuring any kind of

ethos that “it is important to make non-discriminatory society.

use of all the human resources in our Despite gender equality

country, not just half of them.”being considered a human right, it

is one that is consistently breached

Likewise, the French have and too often in the public eye

been proactive in attempting to brushed of as being the political

38 ★

ARTS

Why does the Perception of Art differ

Around the World? / Aleksandra Zajac /

Tom / Matthew Bremner / Reflections on

Post-modernism / Denis Dobrovoda









★ 39

Why does the Perception of Art

Differ Around the World ?

A visit to the exhibiton “How it Is” by the Polish artist Miroslaw Baika

By Aleksandra Zajac









It was a big day for me as a Polish person: Miroslaw To był dla mnie Polki, wielki dzień: Mirosław Bałka i

Balka and his art in the tate Modern - the gallery jego sztuka w Tate Modern - galerii dyktującej kanony

dictating the canons of modern visual art! I left my tiny sztuki współczesnej! Wyszłam z mojego ciasnego pokoju w

room in one of London’s many student halls and went College Hall i udałam się do tej doskonale zlokalizowanej

to this perfectly located gallery. Why? The 15 min walk galerii. Dlaczego? Piętnasto minutowy spacer wzdłóż

along South Bank from Waterloo tube station to the South Bank od stacji Waterloo do Tate zapoczątkował

tate triggered an avalanche of thoughts in my head, but lawinę myśli w mojej głowie, ale jednocześnie wyciszył

at the same time it cleared my mind. I really didn’t know mnie i skupił. Naprawdę nie wiedziałam czego się

what to expect. Most of the biggest British newspapers spodziewać. Największe brytyjskie gazety, takie jak the

and magazines had mentioned the presence of Balka’s Independent, Guardian, the Times, Daily Telegraph, czy

artwork in London: the Independent, the Guardian, the TimeOut! pisały o tym wydarzeniu - to rzeczywiście musi

times, the Daily telegraph, even timeOut! - it had to być coś ponadprzeciętnego. Weszłam do Hali Turbin, jak

be something extraordinary! I entered the turbine Hall, zwykle oczarowana jej wysokością i przestrzenią, i od razu

as always impressed by its height and space, and walked skierowałam się w dół, żeby sprawdzić gdzie dokładnie

down to check where the exhibition was. On the wall mieści się wystawa. Na ścianie po prawej stronie znalazłam

I found a sign saying something about Miroslaw Balka tekst mówiący coś o Mirosławie Bałka i jego instalacji, ale

byłam zbyt zniecierpliwiona, żeby wreszcie ją zobaczyć,

and his installation, but I was so excited to finally get to

see the exhibition that I didn’t read the text. But where więc pominęłam napis. Ale zaraz. Gdzie ona jest? Nie

was it? I couldn’t find any piece of art, no sculptures, mogłam zlokalizować niczego co wyglądałoby na rzeźbę

no installations; just a huge container-like box made of czy instalację, tylko gigantyczne, przypominające stary

old steel in the middle of the hall. Disappointed that kontener blaszane pudło na środku hali. Zawiedziona, że

the exhibition was over, I decided to silently follow the wystawa najwyraźniej dobiegła końca, postanowiłam po

people that were heading towards the end of this box. prostu w kompletnej ciszy podążyć za zwiedzającymi w

“Now that I am here I can at least check what that is,” I kieunku drugiego końca kontenera. Jeśli już tu jestem, mogę

thought. I figured it was probably a new idea on how to przynajmniej zobaczyć co to jest. Myślałam, że to pewnie

use the space in turbine Hall. The container was open nowy pomysł galerii na zagospodarowanie przestrzeni w

from one side. Stunned by its size and the darkness Hali Turbin. Stalowe pudło okazało się być otware z jego

inside, I entered the box without thinking, and with najbardziej oddalonej od wejścia strony. Nieco oszołomiona

my eyes and mind widely opened. I entered complete jego wielkością i nieznaną ciemnością, która się przede

darkness. Scary and fascinating - this had to be Balka! mną rozpościerała weszłam niewiele myśląc do środka

z oczami i umysłem szeroko otwartymi. Wkroczyłam w

Why did I step into the unknown ‘black hole’? What kompletną ciemność. Straszną i fascynującą zarazem. To

was I thinking? What is so amazing in a completely dark, musi być Bałka!

huge container? All I could see inside were dimmed

faces of people going out, bumping into me, with facial Dlaczego weszłam do tej nieznanej “czarnej dziury”? O

expressions I couldn’t read. In a time where art probably czym myślałam? Co jest tak niesamowitego w całkowicie

has achieved almost every possible visual effect, when it ciemnym, wielkim kontenerze? Jedyne co mogłam

gets really hard to stun or surprise demanding spectators, dostrzec w środku to twarze ludzi wychodzących z pudła,

Balka remains a master in his profession. By minimal wpadających na mnie. Twarze, których wyrazu nie mogłam

means he manages to achieve maximal emotions. odczytać. W czasach, gdy sztuka osiągnęła już wizualnie

prawdopodobnie wszystko,a artystom staje się coraz trudniej

Why is he and his work not fully recognized, and so zadziwić i zaskoczyć wymagających odbiorców, Mirosław

40 ★

often underestimated or misinterpreted in Poland, Bałka jest wciąż mistrzem w swojej profesji. Poprzez

Balka’s home country? During his 24 year career, minimalne środki osiąga maksymalne emocje. Dlaczego

Balka has changed as an artist; his ideas have evolved zatem jego prace wciąż nie są w pełni rozpoznawalne i

and undergone transformations. Starting with the często niedoceniane, czy nadinterpretowane w Polsce,

fascination of the human body, the memory, the rodzimym kraju artysty? Podczas swojej 24-letniej kariery

passage, the graduation and the creation of private Bałka zmieniał się jako artysta, jego pomysły ewoluowały

mythology, the artist moved to forms that accompany i przechodziły transformacje. Zaczynając od fascynacji

human life and the marks the human body leaves. After ludzkim ciałem, pamięcią, przemijaniem i tworzeniem

this period he created projects about death and the prywatnej mitologii, artysta przeszedł do form, które

Holocaust. This seemed to leave the biggest impression towarzyszą ludzkiemu życiu i śladom, które ciało

on art critics in Poland; to such an extent that they did zostawia. Po tym okresie Bałka tworzył projekty o śmierci

not manage to see Balka’s next stage of creativity. He i holokauście. Ten właśnie okres wydaje mi się mieć na

moved to the sphere of minimalism on purpose, to polskich krytyków i obiorców największy wpływ, do tego

avoid unnecessary references to previous works, and not stopnia, że teraz nie są oni do końca w stanie dostrzec jego

to provoke false associations. However, Polish critics następnego etapu twórczości. Mam wrażenie, że artysta

failed to move forward with his art. They are still stuck otworzył nowy rozdział minimalizmu specjalnie, by niejako

in the previous painful stage of his art that refers to theodciąć się od poprzedniego okresu twórczości, uniknąć nie

Holocaust, and therefore they misinterpret and do not potrzebnych odniesień do holokaustu i nie prowokować

understand Balka’s new works. This is probably why błędnych skojarzeń. Polscy krytycy zdają się nie nadążać

one of the best, if not the best, artist in Poland is more krok w krok za Jego sztuką. Utknęli w bolesnej tematyce

appreciated abroad: he has had his exhibitions in New śmierci i prześladowań i wydają się nie w pełni doceniać

York, Chicago, Osaka, Stockholm, Berlin, Amsterdam nowe dzieła Bałki. To pewnie dlatego jeden z najlepszych

and London, where the British press even called it the jeśli nie najlepszy polski artysta swojego pokolenia jest

best installation in the turbine Hall, so far. bardziej doceniany za granicą. Artysta miał swoje wystawy

w Nowym Jorku,Chicago, Osace, Sztokholmie, Berlinie,

Does this mean the perception of art differs around the Amsterdamie i Londynie, gdzie Jego wystawa “How It

world? It is obvious that art is perceived by every person Is” została okrzyknięta przez brytyjską prasę jak dotąd

differently, individually. But why is Miroslaw Balka not najlepszą instalacją w Hali Turbin.

as praised at home as he is in London or New York? This

might be a matter of mentality, historical background Czy to oznacza, że rozumienie sztuki różni się na świecie?

★ 41

and contrasting beliefs. The Holocaust, which left a To oczywiste, że sztuka odbierana jest przez każdego

significant mark on our history, has a different weight indywidualnie. Ale dlaczego w Polsce Mirosław Bałka

in a country that never experienced such a thing. That is jest ceniony inaczej niż w Nowym Yorku, czy Londynie?

why I believe spreading art across countries’ boarders is Może to być kwestia mentalności, tła historycznego, czy

a great step towards a better and wider understanding of innych przekonań. Holokaus, który odcisnął w naszej

art, perceiving it from various perspectives and in new historii znaczący ślad ma inną wagę w kraju, który go

contexts. Maybe, if it can be argued that spectators have nigdy nie doświadczył. Dlatego uważam propagowanie

seen almost everything now, this is the time to analyse iti rozpostrzenianie sztuki poza granice rodzimych krajów

in a more global context to discover its new meanings? jest świetnym krokiem w kierunku lepszego i szerszego

zrozumienia sztuki z wielu perspektyw i w nowych,

In this light, I really appreciate the idea of ‘Polska! Year’

in London which gives Polish art the opportunity to zaskakujących kontekstach. Skoro sztuka wizualnie

be judged and admired by a wider range of spectators, osiągnęła prawie wszystko, to może przyszedł czas na jej

observing it through foreign eyes. ‘Polska! Year‘ is an ponowną analizę w bardziej globalnym, międzynarodowym

event comprising hundreds of projects, including kontekście, odkryć jej nowe znaczenia? Właśnie dlatego

concerts, art exhibitions and other events held to tak bardzo doceniam projekt ‘Polska!Year” w Londynie,

present Polish culture and art. It is coordinated by The który daje polskiej sztuce i kulturze szansę być ocenionej i

Adam Mickiewicz Institute and takes place under the podziwianej przez szerszą publiczność obserwującą ją przez

patronage of HM The Queen and HE The President of oczy innej narodowości. “Polska!Year” jest wydarzeniem,

the Republic of Poland. na który składają się setki koncertów, wystaw i innych

projektów prezentujących to co najlepsze w polskiej kulturze

As many questions, some of them without an answer, i sztuce. Rok Polski koordynowany jest przez Królową

are found in this article, I decided to ask Miroslaw Wielkiej Brytanii i Prezydenta Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej.

Balka what he thinks about the individual or national

perception of art. I also tried to get some information Jako iż mój artykuł pozostawił bez odpowiedzi wiele

about the artist’s sources of inspirations, and his pytań, postanowiłam zapytać Mirosława Bałkę co on

experience as an artist here in London. myśli o indywidualnym i narodowym postrzeganiu

sztuki. Próbowałąm także odkryć jego źródła inspiracji i

Me: A question that you have probably heard many doświadczenia jako artyty tu, w Londynie.

times - what is the source of inspiration for the ‘How it

is’ exhibition? What is darkness for you? What meaning Ja: Pytanie, które pewnie słyszał Pan już wiele razy, ale

does it have nowadays? skąd pochodzi inspiracja dla wystawy “How it is”, czym jest

dla Pana ciemność, jakie ma ona dziś znaczenie?

Miroslaw Balka: It is really hard to say what it was, as

there is no single source of inspiration. The darkness is Mirosław Bałka: Naprawdę ciężko jest powiedzieć co

for me a reversed light, it is questioning the sense. było źródłem inspiracji, jako, że było ich wiele. Ciemność

jest dla mnie odwrotnością światła, pytaniem o sens...

Me: Why did you choose certain materials, and not

others, to make the installation? Was it put together for Ja: Skąd taki, a nie inny wybór materiałów, z których

the first time in the tate Modern? powstała instalacja? Czy została ona złożona po raz

pierwszy właśnie w Tate Modern?







42 ★

Miroslaw Balka: I have used steel and flocks as a means Mirosław Bałka: Użyłem stali i flocku jako kontrastu

to show a hard-soft contrast. Yes, it was put together for twardy-miękki. Tak, istalacja została złożona i bedzie

the first and last time in the tate Modern. rozłożona po raz pierwszy i ostatni w Tate Modern.



Me: What kind of reception of your art have you Ja: Z jakim odbiorem swojej sztuki spotyka się Pan w

experienced in Poland? Does it differ from the reception Polsce? Czy różni się on od tego poza granicami kraju, na

of your art abroad, for example in England? przykład w Anglii?



Miroslaw Balka: It is hard to asses and say what the Mirosław Bałka: Trudno jest określić z jakim odbiorem

reception of my art in Poland is. I am not complaining spotyka się moja sztuka w Polsce. Aktualnie nie narzekam.

about it currently. I have to admit that it differs between Jednak muszę przyznać, że różnica tkwi we wnikliwości

countries because of the view’s insight. I am still an spojrzenia. Jakby nie było ciagle jest sie zwierzeciem

‘exotic animal’. egzotycznym.



Me: A majority of your exhibitions have taken place Ja: Duża część Pańskich wystaw miała chyba jednak

outside Poland. Why? miejsce poza Polską, jaka jest tego przyczyna?



Miroslaw Balka: That is just because of the greater Miroslaw Balka: To tylko dlatego, że tam znajduje sie

number of contemporary art institutions. wieksza ilosc instytucji zajmujacych sie sztuka wspolczesna.



The interview made me think about another feature of Wywiad wniósł do moich rozważań kolejne koncepcje

the reception of art; reception from the point of view of dotyczące postrzegania sztuki. Postrzegania jej z punktu

an artist. Miroslaw Balka doesn’t complain about any widzenia artysty. Mirosław Bałka nie narzeka ani na

misunderstandings or misinterpretations of his art. He niezrozumienie, ani na nadinterpretację Jego sztuki.

seems to just take critique as it is. This raises another Wydaje się przyjmować ktytykę taką, jaka jest. Pojawia się

question: should we in general complain about critiques? więc kolejne pytanie: czy powinniśmy w ogóle narzekać na

No, because they are individual opinions; everyone has krytyke? Są to przecież indywidualne opinie, do których

the right to express freely what he or she thinks, and we każdy ma prawo, a my możemy albo się z nimi zgadzać,

can either agree or disagree with him or her. However, I albo nie zgadzać. Jakkolwiek, myślę że zła jest sytuacja, w

think there is something wrong when common opinions której powszechne opinie krytyków zaczynają kształtować

start to shape individual ones. Again, the solution to such indywidualne spostrzeżenia. Ponownie, uważam, że

a problem would be understanding and commenting kluczem do rozwiązania tego problemu jest rozumienie i

on art in broader, multiple contexts and from various komentowanie sztuki w znacznie szerszym kontekście i z

perspectives, at the same time being faithful to one’s wielu perspektyw, będąc jednoczesnie wiernym własnym

own beliefs. Leaving the problem of miscellaneous art przekonaniom. Pozostawiając problem rozbieżnego

assessments, I would like to recommend the exhibition odbioru sztuki, chciałabym polecić wystawę “How It Is”,

‘How It Is’; it is a great opportunity to see complete jako iż jest to doskonała okazja do ujrzenia kompletnej

darkness in a city that never sleeps and is always full of ciemności w mieście, które nigdy nie śpi i zawsze jest pełne

lights. It is a chance to think for a while about the sense, światła. Wystawa jest szansą na pomyślenie chwilę o sensie,

about life; to reflect for a bit longer than usual in a life życiu, na poddanie się refleksjom na nieco dlużej niż jak to

full of rush and competition. zwykle bywa w życiu pełnym pośpiechu i rywalizacji.



★ 43

InsomnIa czerwony Dywan

By DavID vajDa By DawID Kotur



Zeitens mag ich es, czerwony dywan sam się rozwinął

wenn die nacht ihre Schärfe verliert, I nikogo nie pominął

so ziert im Angesicht erregter Augen Wszystko teraz za blaszaną kurtyną będzie się

ein schwammiger Schleier ihr Haupt, działo

wie ein Super 8 film Nikt się nie dowie jak to się stało

ist sie voll körnig-warmer Zeitlosigkeit. Zdradzeni przez przybranych braci

Zachowali się jak tchórzliwi kaci

Sie, die nacht spitzt ihre Ohren Maski poubierane na twarze zdradliwe

horcht auf deine ohrentäubenden gedanken, Widzą co chcą bo prawdy wydają się

ein wohlwollender Zuhörer niemożliwe

deines ungewollten wahnsinns

und wie die Lust ihre Ewigkeit Ktoś spojrzał pod czerwony dywan, spostrzegł

so ersehnt sie toxische flüsse von najbrudniejszy z brudów

Schnapsideen. I wiedział ze nie wydostanie się spoza tych

murów

Ich will nicht ihre hörige Präsenz,

dieser Konsens verschafft mir blutige Augen

Chciał czy nie chciał…

resigniert auf zwei rote Mauern blickend.

Rację miał

Lieder der Dunkelheit

spielen auf meiner Pupille Klavier,

wie nervöse Tangotänzer

bewegen sich meine glieder zu falschem Takt.



Zeitens mag ich es,

wenn die nacht hell aufscheint.

the IDea (PerPlex) distant times, when poetry was the

toast as the highest literary form.

which fill the foreground with feelings

in order to inspire what’s underneath.

a worD of shaPeD assocIatIons Perplex is a platform for word artists

with all due respect to its writers, who would like to present their

Perplex is not an idea, rather poetry shouldn’t mould on blogs, poems at readings and

nothingness which sprang from the but needs to be printed, heard, want the prospect of touching them

hearts of two pathetics from Munich scribbled, spoken, it needs a piece in a magazine (first issue planned for

in December 2008. of paper, vocal chords to live and it January).

nothingness, because mingled words shouldn’t lose itself in the banality of

have vanished from day to day a hastily woven web (Abide to this Send us your army of poems in the

public life. nothingness, because imperative, we won’t publish poems battle against the satellite state and

poetry, demoted to the margins of on our website). its offsprings so that Perplex can

literature, has become a foreign soon emerge from nothingness.

word. nothingness, because nimble nostalgic modernity, classical and

provocation has taken precedence not, interlocking words, musically ‘How can anything sprout out of dark

over soulful word combinations. perpetuated: a poetry-label that nothingness?’, they will shout, those

offers lyricists a platform, on which ignorant bantlings.

It is imperative to seat poetry on the the verse itself, in its content and

throne that befits it. That is nothing expression, isn’t forgotten behind a Let’s attempt to show them.

new, just pure nostalgia, desire for poetry slam-performance. whereas

society is increasingly logic-driven David Vajda

and cerebral, for us it’s all about Tobias Heitzer

emotions, the aesthetics of words,









Perplex organised two readings in

Munich, on one of which an article

in the Süddeutsche Zeitung was

published, followed by an interview

and a reading live on Bayerischer

Rundfunk.

Now london has to be conquered.

Send poems to: david@perplex-

poesie.com (www.perplex-poesie.

com)

tom

By Matthew Bremner









tom hated himself and he knew to be in the first place, who he neded way out and he looked for it in his

why. tom had problems. His pro- to be for his own sake, that he be- friends. He searched for himself in-

blems were not unique, nor where came lost. He of course knew this, side them, striving to find a glimmer

they deeply complex, they were yet he ventured beyond the point of of himself, of the real life that was

simply problems that tom had. His no return, he pushed himself further rotting away his mind. He needed

dislike of himself arose, primarily, in until there was not even a trace of an exclusive empathy, a personified

his perception of these problems. He himself in the distance. So tom car- catharsis, a mobile confessional. He

held them to be far worse than they ried on being the person that people showed a blithe disregard towards

actually were, and as such his mind wanted him to be, he did things that the danger in presuming to see him-

became a fertiliser to doubt and fear. he told himself he was interested in. self in other people. Unsurprisingly

It was tom who was the problem. Unfortunately tom received gre- he was often left disappointed and

He could cut himself down the at respect from his friends for his hurt. Yet he would persist in these

middle; he saw the way he was with pseudo-existence; he was perhaps futile pursuits of finding others like

other people - his friends - and the even adored by them for it. What him, of finding peace in his hypo-

way he was with himself. Generally the people around him saw was a thetical twin. And he never did find

he was a good human being when person with the ability to live life them. In frustration he crammed his

with friends; happy and gregarious. beyond their own capabilities. As life full of things that he told himself

tom was intelligent and able in life such, tom responded to them in were important, that he was resolute

and he was liked for it. But, early the only way that he could and that could save him. His life became fa-

on, tom would often find himself was to continue; to act out his life ster and he met more and more peo-

alone and this was when the dislike with increasing extravagance. Und- ple. The things he did were invaria-

for who he actually was began to in- oubtedly he sought the approval of bly exciting and the people he met

tensify. When tom had only himself his friends, but more fundamentally were often interesting. Perhaps here,

to offer perspective on the state of he revelled in the distraction it af- in the initial moments of his plun-

his life, he would feel uncomforta- forded - a shield of time, deflecting ge into decadence, tom could truly

ble, agitated and insecure. Yet this attacks from his overbearing self. He say that he felt better about himself

was who tom really was and he had was living for the people, or so he - he was free from his aches and ir-

decided to be this way of his own would romanticise the message in rational irks. Naturally, he embraced

accord. He had thrown himself so his mind. this as his panacea; an acceleration

far away from who he had wanted What tom yearned for was an easy of life, a lot of things and a lot of

46 ★

people all at once. As such he built

his life around the notion of quanti-

ty. tom believed that if he remained

true to this philosophy life would be

better, perhaps it would even end a

little quicker.

Yet his life of excess became repe-

titive and his happiness didn’t last;

in reality he was naive to think it

could. tom became exhausted, tired

of people and fatigued from things.

He became sad. But tom couldn’t

be sad. After all, people knew and

expected him to be happy, organised

and socially correct - they needed

this most of all for themselves. If he

broke down, then what would they

do? In retaliation to his questioning

mind he sped up, he saw the needs

of his friends and felt an obligation

to become the fluid around them,

keeping them safe. Indeed, in his

ignorance he believed that they were

never capable of helping him, and as

a consequence - as a better person

- he would always be there to help and final act of cowardice. tom be- striving to protect - the other peo-

them. In his blind arrogance and came blind to the fact the he could ple that believed he was living his

ironic self-worth he had convinced never really change anything becau- life better than they ever could.

himself that his problems were com- se he had lost sight of himself. He tom had made life senseless. He

pletely unique, and neither he nor had lost all of his humanity when he had made his own life difficult and

any other had the capability of sol- made the decision to live through painful. His own story was depres-

ving them. He was tortured and that other people and abdicate his own sing simply because he chose to tell

is how he really wanted it to be. In responsibilities. How could he even it that way. He had failed to invest

his mind he had unconsciously be- begin to contemplate saving anyone in himself and it was all at his own

come irrelevant and obsolete to him- else when, for so long, he had been expense. tom had fallen out of love

self. tom would now live through incapable of thinking on his own with his mind and consequently lost

others and for others, because what problems? tom could no longer his sense of meaning in the world.

else was really left for him? help humanity because he was una- He had missed out through choice.

Yet what of this existence, did he ble to embrace the idea that he nee- tom had forgotten to realise who he

actually think he could begin to be- ded to exist as himself, in a human was and in doing so was never able

come other people and understand way. He had given up his existence understand how beautiful his life

their needs? His metamorphosis into and despite his assumptions he had could have been.

this Messiah-like state was a deep lost hold of the other people he was

★ 47

Reflections on Post-modernism

Does it make any sense at all? Denis Dobrovoda reflects on nihilism as

expressed by post-modern artists.

By Denis Dobrovoda









At a recent visit to the tate contemporary artists indulges Unfortunately, I often analyse

Britain my friend exclaimed: in a feeling of hopelessness, my life, because at times it

“Why does all the modern art self-pity and a negative attitude appears to be quite unfulfilling.

make you feel so sad?” I thought towards the world surrounding So I do really understand the

about this almost childish them. negative attitudes of post-

observation for a while and I Life is definitely not a happy modern artists. However, I

have to admit that my friend thing. People die, the number cannot, and I hope I will never

was indeed right. Comparisons of Swedish blondes at UCL is be able to, support their art.

between the ‘turner and the very limited and the Russian ice Not because it lacks quality or

Masters’ and the recent British hockey team might win the next good ideas, but because of the

art exhibitions show that either Olympics. I am certainly not a message it bares. It is indeed

the life quality in Britain has fan of the excessively optimistic very healthy to criticise your

become significantly worse view of human existence which environment, because that is

during the last two centuries is so typical for the Americans. the only way improvement can

or something important has Moreover, I often feel that all be achieved. For example, the

changed in the minds of artists. my earthly struggles are in vain. artistic reflection of the post-war

turner and his contemporaries Otherwise, I wouldn’t spend writers and film-makers helped

commonly portrayed themes my free time reading Albert to prevent more large scale

that showed the beauty of life Camus, Friedrich Nietzsche or conflicts in Europe. However,

and things around us. Much Jean-Paul Sartre. If I didn’t have the artworks in the tate Britain

of their work makes you feel the feeling that something is didn’t give me the feeling that

rather happy, you can enjoy wrong in our world, I wouldn’t any positive contribution

the brilliance of its creators. bother thinking about things. to our society can be made.

On the other hand almost When you are happy, you are They were not constructive,

all the work I encountered just happy. No need to reflect because post-modernism loves

in the exhibitions of the on your happiness or existence. dismantling. It indulges in the

48 ★

idea of absolute relativism. It

is about nothingness, because

that is often what it is trying to

reflect upon. How is a tied up

maquete of a woman, showing

her genitals to the general

public supposed to enrich

anyone?

A post-modern artist would

probably dismiss my criticism,

stating that in today’s western

world, where all standards and

gods are dead, nothing has

sense any more and therefore

the modernist concepts of

yesterday are ridiculous.

However, I believe this

argument is somehow lame. I

do not really see the point of

bothering about creating art

in such a world in the first

place. Why would you put it

into galleries for other people of individuals is the main goal. importance to me, because

to see? How can you relativise I know that life can sometimes some time ago I wanted to

some things and others just appear unbearable. Some write books which would

not? You cannot be a nihilist people even choose to end it. probably be quite similar to

only a couple of days a week. However, I think that when the artworks I saw in the tate

I find the fact that many post- you choose to live, you should Britain. Depressive, post-

modern artists support the try to do it in a constructive modern and nihilistic. But

left-wing especially startling. way. By living you show you then I realised: this is nothing

First of all, by having political care about the world (or at new, and in fact it is just the

views you prove that society least some parts of it, e.g. your easy way out. Proving that

matters to you. Secondly, you family or friends). Why waste things are wrong is much easier

choose to support a political so much energy on proving than creating them or working

force for which the well-being that existence is senseless? on their improvement.

of the highest possible number This question has a particular

★ 49

Antoine

de Saint-Phalle









Aleksandra

Zajac





Denis

Dobrovoda









Shiva

Riahi





Frances

Perraudin









Michal

Zdzieborski





Marta

Zieba









Omar

El-Nahry

50 ★

Quirin

Maderspacher









Dawid

Kotur





Maria

Holmblad









Chris

Hall





Konrad

Laker









Matthew

Bremner





David

Vajda









tobias

Lingemann

★ 51

Eureka Magazine

UCLU European Society

eureka.ucl@gmail.com

The magazine is available online:

http://eurosoc.co.uk/



Design & Photography / Konrad Laker

Cover & Photography / Lucile Bornot

Photography / Sanne Schim van der Loeff / Dawid Kotur

Proof-Reading / Chris Hall / Frances Perraudin

Editors / Maria Holmblad / Quirin Maderspacher / Konrad Laker