Objectives: The article is aimed at studying the differentiation of the strength of state identity in selected European countries and attempts to explain the observed tendencies. Research Design & Methods: The empirical part is based upon three waves of the International Social Survey Programme entitled ‘National Identity’. Findings: The results show that state identities in Western European countries are well-developed. Central/Eastern European societies are characterised by lower levels of state identity than Western European ones. We attribute this phenomenon to legacies of the past, especially the to many centuries of economic underdevelopment of the region that was enhanced increased by communism and low levels of social capital in Eastern European societies. Contribution: This study links the state identity of citizens of European countries with their living conditions and past legacies.
The author analyzes the space of Prague presenting national perception of the city. It was registered as a UNESCO world heritage site. The author shows the process of changing Prague into a national symbol of Czechness. However, national movement increased national divisions between Czechs and German: in the 1880s separate promenades, coffee shops, and a university were established. During the First Czechoslovak Republic, the capital is mapped primarily in reference to the tradition of Charles IV and the Hussite movement. However, this tradition was modernized: Prague Castle as the seat of President T. G. Masaryk became the most important place in Prague. During Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, places associated with the Hussite tradition were “erased,” but the symbolism of medieval Prince Václav (Wenceslas) was made into a symbol of Czech loyalty toward the Germans. Next phase of manipulation occurred when communist took power. National traditions no longer have an integrating and rallying function today.
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