Presentations by Streams

Against a backdrop of communism and nationalism, the panel examines and compares the dissent, political and ideological "witch-hunt", the desire to live in democracy, bravery connected with human modesty and civic responsibility. Topics have been drawn from geographically distant countries - the Czech Republic, or Czechoslovakia, Thailand and Taiwan but there is a strong comparative potential in them. In the case of communist Czechoslovakia, the panel examines Charter 77, Václav Havel, the dissent world and ideas, and the significant help of the Jan Hus Foundation (UK). In the case of the current Czech Republic - already 30 years after the fall of communism - the panel reflects on the development of relations with China and Taiwan. The contribution on Thailand introduces the tragic fate of the young left-oriented student Chit Phumisak in the intersection of nationalism and communism, and compares the positions, chances and choices of Chit Phumisak and Václav Havel, and their legacies.