Search for European Projects

Academic Censorship under State Socialism: Czech Republic and Hungary (CZ-HU CENSORSHIP)
Start date: 01 Mar 2008, End date: 28 Feb 2009 PROJECT  FINISHED 

"The research project proposes to study broader implications of differences and similarities in censorship structures and mechanisms in academia between the Czech Republic and Hungary during late state socialism (1968-1989) as a part of European intellectual history that has only been marginally researched. There was no official censoring body during this period in either country, yet multiple layers of censorship existed not only in the media and literature, but also in academic work. The two countries show numerous similarities in censorship structures and practices, but also important differences which have had lasting effects. The project aims to conduct a comparative analysis of “coding” and self-censoring strategies of Czech and Hungarian authors in social science and humanities; to analyse and describe censoring mechanisms to which the authors were exposed; and to analyse the implications and consequences of the potential differences in censoring and self-censoring practices between the Czech Republic and Hungary. The research will employ interviews with academics who published at the time and archival sources. The project draws on empirical research already conducted by the researcher in the Czech Republic. The researcher will carry out the empirical research for the Hungarian component and will prepare a book manuscript from the project during the term of the fellowship."
Up2Europe Ads