Toward a New Central Europe [antikvár]

ForewordTHE present volume is a collection of articles, essays, documentsand statistical data selected from the first six issues (1963-1969) ofStudies for a New; Central Europe, a review devoted to the reorganiza-tional problems and tasks of that area. Besides these, two heretoforeunpublished papers have been added to the collection. Namely, Alex-ander Gallus' "Cultural Pluralism and the Study of Complex Societiesin Anthropology," and Edward Chaszar's "The Place of East CentralEurope in Western Civilization."The main purpose of our periodical as well as of its issuingbody, The Mid-European Research Institute, New York, N. Y., is torevaluate past and present affairs of Central Europe in order to finda proper solution to its problems: a lasting peace based on justiceand equality with the full cooperation of all nations concerned.A growing number of experts grouped around the review and itssponsoring institution have worked incessantly toward achieving thisobjective. From the very outset their activities have been centeredon that goal and without exception they have arrived at the con-clusion that in order to avoid past and present errors a system ofneutralization and federalization should be established in the Danubianarea ranging from Germany to Russia. This common goal has beenscrutinized from different viewpoints by authors of various ethnicgroups. As a result, almost each and every article reflects as a re-current feature the urgent need for founding a neutral, federatedCentral Europe.The scope of inquiry covers quite a broad field. Part I (Inter-national Relations) tries to elucidate foreign policy constellations byexamining Central Europe's relations with the East and West witha view toward creating a Buffer Zone situated between Germany andRussia. Part II (Federalism in Central Europe) attempts to clarifysome specific factors of a regional arrangement. Part III (The Na-tionality Question) highlights ethnic conditions with particular em-phasis on Czechoslovakia and Rumania. The concluding chapter, PartIV (Economic Problems), considers economic conditions and policies,and the Appendix includes many interesting maps as well as statisticaldata.I find myself ill-equipped to say how grateful I am to those whoassisted and guided me in the development of this volume. I am happy