Central and Eastern Europe

Politics, culture and society in Central and Eastern Europe.

 Poland

Poland in Transition 1989-1991: Urban Landscape with Student Party

The second chapter of the book by David R. Pichaske: “The long, low light of late afternoon washes the scene in the warmth peculiar to that time of day, and for a second I think I’ve wandered into some nineteenth century landscape… or one of those village scenes, painted just last year in the style of the Old Masters, sold in Łódź art galleries for $20.”

Czech Republic

Finally a healthy dose of anti-establishment

The Pirate Party, with the 22 seats in the parliament, has become the third most powerful political force in the Czech Republic. Who are Czech Pirates and what are the problems they want to focus on? Read the interview with the Pirates leader Ivan Bartoš.

Poland

Technology is no guarantee of equality

Jędrzej Niklas of the London School of Economics talks to Bartłomiej Kozek about how algorithms can perpetuate discrimination and argues that they should not be left in the hands of IT people.

Bartłomiej Kozek
 Poland

Poland in Transition 1989-1991: Arrival

The closer I looked, the more I saw… and the less—not the more—I thought I understood. Another two years in Poland and I would have been as unable to interpret Poland as I am able to explain America.