Robert Weigel (Auburn University, Alabama)
Central Europe in the Work and Thinking of Hermann Broch and
György Sebestyen
My starting point is the myth of the Habsburg Empire (e.g.
as demonstrated by Austrian interwar literature) and its ability
to at least partially unite different cultures under its multinational
umbrella. Similarly, Sebestyen's idea of a transnational Central
Europe can be seen as a role model for a unified Europe, whose
cultural ties transcend national borders. The different ethnic
groups and nations of the Danube-region are connected through
a common historical, cultural and spiritual heritage. This common
bond is the point of departure for their peaceful coexistence,
which aims at integration through acknowledgement of their diversified
backgrounds and may serve as a model for a unified Europe.