Living Within the Truth: 1989 and the Rise of Civil Society in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland

Living Within the Truth is dedicated to 'The Plastic People of the Universe," the wildly popular Czech rock band, whose members were harassed, arrested, tried, and jailed by the communist authorities in the early 1970s. Among those inspired by this affront to the freedom of creative expression was Václav Havel, a well-known playwright and satirist. Havel and and other leaders from across Central and Eastern Europe set in motion those events which ultimately led to freedom and independence for the nations throughout the region. Revolutionary leaders Adam Michnik of Poland and János Kis of Hungary are also profiled. This comprehensive study traces the history of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland from earliest times to the present. It includes a look at civil society from a historic and contemporary perspective, discusses the nature of foreign aid aimed at assisting the transition to democracy, and reviews various studies designed to evaluate the impact of the revolutions in creating viable and enduring civil societies.