This volume examines regional perspectives on national and democracy-building objectives of individual states, contrasting national discourses with regional views on historical and contemporary political and social landscapes. It addresses current calls for national identity, their origins, and the challenge of shaping a Central European identity amidst dominant national perspectives. The first part analyzes the social and political processes that formed nation-states in Central Europe, highlighting the divergent trends of the Visegrád Group (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) in defining a regional approach. The second part explores key 20th-century figures in the history of these countries, considering their influence on national states and identities post-World War II, while noting that similar national aims often hindered regional understanding. The third part discusses initiatives from civil society and the younger generation in Central Europe aimed at addressing these challenges. This collection features prominent historians from the V4 countries and includes external perspectives on historical developments and political cooperation in the 21st century. Additionally, it presents insights from practitioners in academia and civil society reflecting on political cooperation since 1989.
