EN
This review article focuses on the closer analysis of the main thesis of this inspirative and provoking volume. In the editor’s view, the "Habsburg Central Europe" of the late 19th century is conceptualized as a space of ethnic, language and cultural hybrid cohesion with unstable, floating identities of its multiple inhabitants. This friendly coexistence was destroyed by invasive nationalism that has been later transformed into the ideology and political strategy of multiculturalism. In contrast with this false project dividing people into conflicting parties, the authors develop the idea of reestablishing the non-hierarchical, rhizomic and polyglossian Habsburg pluriculture as a model for future united Europe and post-colonial world. But several case studies from the recent history of the so called successive states including post-Yugoslavia prove that national identity and loyalty are not so recessive, and the legacy of the late Monarchy is not so idyllic.