Karel Šima – författare

Why, where, when, and how should individuals engage in festivities? On the Road to High Modernity traces the modernization of public festivities during the nineteenth century, focusing on the Bohemian Crown Lands of the Habsburg Monarchy. Characterized by its rapid and successful modernization in the final century of the Monarchy's existence, this territory serves as a unique laboratory for examining the evolution of modern political culture. As organizers of celebrations navigated the complexities of an increasingly fragmented society marked by ethnic, religious, and social divisions, they faced the daunting challenge of promoting diverse interests. By analyzing the intricate organization of festive events in public spaces, it is revealed how these activities were not merely celebrations, but strategic orchestrations that balanced rationality with emotion, discipline with spontaneity, and the interplay between public and private realms. These modern festivities were instrumental in promoting various agendas within the intricate landscape of Central European identity politics—be it nationalist aspirations, monarchical loyalty, class interests, or religious affiliations. Ultimately, these celebrations had profound implications for the stability or disruption of political and social order in the late Habsburg Monarchy.

Why, where, when, and how should individuals engage in festivities? On the Road to High Modernity traces the modernization of public festivities during the nineteenth century, focusing on the Bohemian Crown Lands of the Habsburg Monarchy. Characterized by its rapid and successful modernization in the final century of the Monarchy's existence, this territory serves as a unique laboratory for examining the evolution of modern political culture. As organizers of celebrations navigated the complexities of an increasingly fragmented society marked by ethnic, religious, and social divisions, they faced the daunting challenge of promoting diverse interests. By analyzing the intricate organization of festive events in public spaces, it is revealed how these activities were not merely celebrations, but strategic orchestrations that balanced rationality with emotion, discipline with spontaneity, and the interplay between public and private realms. These modern festivities were instrumental in promoting various agendas within the intricate landscape of Central European identity politics—be it nationalist aspirations, monarchical loyalty, class interests, or religious affiliations. Ultimately, these celebrations had profound implications for the stability or disruption of political and social order in the late Habsburg Monarchy.

This book analyses the role of universities as critical actors in the socio-economic development of peripheral regions in Norway and the Czech Republic. Examining the ambiguities of the traditional mission of a university in comparison to contemporary demands, the editors and contributors move past single-case analyses to adopt an integrated conceptual and analytical framework. The authors question whether universities can indeed ‘fix’ the conditions of any region they operate in, as is a common assumption, by examining peripheral regions, many of which have been devastated by natural or man-made disasters. Simultaneously acknowledging the complexities at the heart of both higher education institutions and regions, this book brings together a set of critical contributions that shed light on how universities can fulfil their role in peripheral regions rather than knowledge-intensive cities and towns. This uniquely researched book will be of interest to students and scholars of higher education, universities and communities, and education policy.

This book analyses the role of universities as critical actors in the socio-economic development of peripheral regions in Norway and the Czech Republic. Examining the ambiguities of the traditional mission of a university in comparison to contemporary demands, the editors and contributors move past single-case analyses to adopt an integrated conceptual and analytical framework. The authors question whether universities can indeed ‘fix’ the conditions of any region they operate in, as is a common assumption, by examining peripheral regions, many of which have been devastated by natural or man-made disasters. Simultaneously acknowledging the complexities at the heart of both higher education institutions and regions, this book brings together a set of critical contributions that shed light on how universities can fulfil their role in peripheral regions rather than knowledge-intensive cities and towns. This uniquely researched book will be of interest to students and scholars of higher education, universities and communities, and education policy.