Heretical Conversations with Continental Philosophy: Jan Patočka, Central Europe and Global Politics

Abstract

This article argues that the contributions of the Czech philosopher, Jan Patočka, have been overlooked in the study of International Relations (IR), and more generally international political theory. Attention here is drawn to the many distinctive ideas particular to Patočkian philosophy, such as the solidarity of the shaken and the care of the soul, which combine accounts of a Central European philosophy and dissident political reactions to totalitarian rule. The legacy of Patočka's work frames the latter part of the article, which examines Central European identity and 'samizdat' as often neglected reference points in IR. The article concludes by drawing these themes together in an account of rupture, inspired by the solidarity of the shaken and care for the soul.

Restaging the 1989 revolution: the Romanian New Wave

“…Philosophical explorations of the experience of 'shock' (Pusca 2007), 'rupture' (Moore 2009) and 'a breach in understanding' (Bleiker 2006) offer a potential alternative by turning to psychology, literature and art in order to address change more as a rhythmic back and forth that, while influenced by particular events, derives its driving force from a much wider field of life experience-whether it be a nonexalted, normalized 'everyday' or the unique excitement of literature and art. Yet, even such explorations continue to rely on the assumption of some kind of linear progression and division between the past, present and future, thus placing change, even this new 'rhythmical' change as I call it, in one of these three temporal (and spatial) domains.…”