The formative years of Madeleine Albright were dramatically influenced by significant historical events, including the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, the Battle of Britain, and the Holocaust. These experiences shaped her perspective during the tumultuous aftermath of World War II, the rise of communism, and the beginning of the Cold War, providing a rich backdrop for her later life and career in politics.
A Fascist, observes Madeleine Albright, 'is someone who claims to speak for a whole nation or group, is utterly unconcerned with the rights of others, and is willing to use violence and whatever other means are necessary to achieve the goals he or she might have.' The twentieth century was defined by the clash between democracy and Fascism, a struggle that created uncertainty about the survival of human freedom and left millions of innocent people dead. Given the horrors of that experience, one might expect the world to reject the spiritual successors to Hitler and Mussolini should they arise in our era. Albright draws on her experiences as a child in war-torn Europe and her distinguished career as a diplomat to question that very assumption. Fascism, Albright shows, not only endured through the course of the twentieth century, but now presents a more virulent threat to peace and justice than at any time since the end of World War II. The momentum toward democracy that swept the world when the Berlin Wall fell has gone into reverse. The United States, which has historically championed the free world, is led by a president who exacerbates popular divisions and heaps scorn on democratic institutions. In many countries, economic, technological, and cultural factors are weakening the political center and empowering the extremes of right and left. Contemporary leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un are employing many of the same tactics used by Fascists in the 1920s and 30s. Written with wisdom by someone who has not only studied history but helped to shape it, this call to arms teaches us the lessons we must understand and the questions we must answer if we are to save ourselves from repeating the tragic errors of the past
Kniha se zaměřuje na emigraci a exil v českých moderních dějinách, rozdělená do pěti chronologických oddílů, které pokrývají hlavní vlny emigrace od roku 1848 až po pád komunistického režimu v roce 1989. Úvodní studie charakterizují jednotlivá období, zkoumají důvody a podmínky života Čechů v zahraničí a ukazují, jak se exulanti a emigranti vztahovali ke své vlasti. Hlavní část tvoří 30 příběhů Čechů, kteří odešli do zahraničí v 19. a 20. století. Tyto příběhy odhalují motivy a příčiny jejich odchodů, stejně jako sociální, politické a psychologické aspekty emigrace při hledání nového domova. Mezi vybranými osobnostmi jsou známé postavy jako kardinál Josef Beran, Soňa Červená a Karel Kryl, ale také méně známí, jako Vácslav Vondrák, Jan Letzel či generál Josef Buršík. Publikace byla vydána u příležitosti Dne české státnosti 28. září 2012 jako poděkování těm, kteří přispěli k dobrému jménu své "staré vlasti" a pomáhali v těžkých historických obdobích. Autoři textů zahrnují Madeleine K. Albright a další, editorkou je Lucie Wittlichová.
Allows readers to understand World War II, not as seen through the eyes of soldiers, but through the eyes of children who survived the bombings, the blackouts, the hunger, the fear, and the loss of loved ones caused by the war.
A personal and urgent examination of Fascism in the twentieth century and its legacy in today's world, this work by a distinguished public servant and the first woman U.S. secretary of state offers invaluable insights. Madeleine Albright defines a Fascist as someone who claims to represent an entire nation or group, disregards the rights of others, and resorts to violence to achieve their aims. The twentieth century was marked by the struggle between democracy and Fascism, leading to immense human suffering and loss of life. One might expect that the horrors of that era would prevent the rise of similar ideologies today. However, Albright draws on her experiences as a child in war-torn Europe and her diplomatic career to challenge this assumption. She argues that Fascism not only persisted but now poses a greater threat to global peace and justice than ever since World War II. The post-Berlin Wall momentum toward democracy has reversed, with the U.S. led by a president who deepens divisions and undermines democratic institutions. Economic, technological, and cultural shifts are empowering extremes on both sides of the political spectrum. Contemporary leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un employ tactics reminiscent of early twentieth-century Fascists. This timely work serves as a crucial reminder of the lessons we must learn to avoid repeating the tragic mistakes of history.
Madeleine Albright was for eight years during the first and second Clinton terms privy to some of the most fascinating and controversial episodes in recent memory. Her refreshingly candid memoir brings to life the world leaders with whom she worked and the joys and difficulties of her own private life: her daughters, the painful break-up of her marriage, and the discovery late in life of her Jewish grandparents' fate. Weaving together the public and the private, the national and the intimate, Madam Secretary is a valuable contribution to political history and destined to become a classic of its kind. 'It is a mark of the excellence of this memoir by the highest-ranking woman in American history . . . that it could not have been written by a man . . . Ms Albright’s authentic voice is vivid . . . [an] unusually honest book' Jonathan Mirsky, Spectator 'It is fashionable in some of the more rabid right-wing Washington salons to look at the Clinton years as ones of drift and equivocation. [ Madam Secretary] makes a case for the defence - in foreign policy at least - that largely avoids the partisan sniping . . . If that were this book's only quality it would be worth noting' Alex Massie, Scotland on Sunday
"In 2001, when Madeleine Albright was leaving office as America's first female secretary of state, interviewers asked her how she wished to be remembered ... In that time of transition, the former Secretary considered the possibilities: she could write, teach, travel, give speeches, start a business, fight for democracy, help to empower women, campaign for favored political candidates, spend more time with her grandchildren. Instead of choosing one or two, she decided to do it all"--
"In 2001, when Madeleine Albright was leaving office as America's first female secretary of state, interviewers asked her how she wished to be remembered ... In that time of transition, the former Secretary considered the possibilities: she could write, teach, travel, give speeches, start a business, fight for democracy, help to empower women, campaign for favored political candidates, spend more time with her grandchildren. Instead of choosing one or two, she decided to do it all. For nearly twenty years, Albright has been in constant motion, navigating half a dozen professions, clashing with presidents and prime ministers, learning every day. Since leaving the State Department, she has blazed her own trail--and given voice to millions who yearn for respect, regardless of gender, background, or age"--
Does America, as George W. Bush has proclaimed, have a special mission, derived from God, to bring liberty and democracy to the world? This work presents an account which argues that understanding the place and power of religion - and knowing how best to respond to it - is essential if America is to lead successfully around the world.
“A remarkable story of adventure and passion, tragedy and courage set against the backdrop of occupied Czechoslovakia and World War II.” —VÁclav Havel From former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright comes a moving and thoughtful memoir of her formative years in Czechoslovakia during the tumult of Nazi occupation, World War II, fascism, and the onset of the Cold War. An intensely personal journey into the past that offers vital lessons for the future, Prague Winter combines the intimacy of an autobiography with the drama of an exciting and well-told story—all underpinned by the gravity and intelligence of a serious work of history. The result is a highly readable and incisive work filled with tragedy and triumph, a resonant narrative informed by Albright’s remarkable life experience and her characteristic candor in speaking hard truths.
