The Final Revolution
The Resistance Church and the Collapse of Communism
Published on 9. October 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-19-516664-4 (ISBN)
Description
Many Western commentators have identified the conflict between communism and consumerism as the key factor in the `Revolution of 1989' in eastern Europe. However, in this challenging new book, George Weigel argues that the real root of the Revolution lay in a radical rejection of what Vaclav Havel called communism's `culture of the lie'.
Beginning with the `martyr-cardinals' of the 1950s, Weigel considers the role of the Roman Catholic Church in opposing nearly forty years of Kremlin dictates, and examines why the Church was able to ensure the protest of 1989 was civil, nonviolent, and democratic. He also assesses the impact of the election of John Paul II on the Eastern Bloc, and looks at his `grand' strategy for Catholicism's third millennium and the place in it of a re-Christianized Europe.
Beginning with the `martyr-cardinals' of the 1950s, Weigel considers the role of the Roman Catholic Church in opposing nearly forty years of Kremlin dictates, and examines why the Church was able to ensure the protest of 1989 was civil, nonviolent, and democratic. He also assesses the impact of the election of John Paul II on the Eastern Bloc, and looks at his `grand' strategy for Catholicism's third millennium and the place in it of a re-Christianized Europe.
Reviews / Votes
"An incisive historical reconstruction that is as spiritually uplifting as it is politically significant."--Zbigniew Brzezinski "George Weigel's analysis of the 1989 revolution in Central and Eastern Europe offers evidence that it was the power of nonviolent force and citizens' conscience, not the guns and bombs of warfare, that ended Sovietism."--Washington Post Book World "An extremely interesting, important contribution to the greatest mystery of the century: how Communism collapsed and 'who done it.'"--Jeane Kirkpatrick "Argues the primacy of the spirit."--The Washington Times "If a disconsolate KGB agent were looking for an explanation as to why Communism fell apart so fast, he would probably turn first to the Vatican and to the first Polish Pope. George Weigel has done some very useful sleuthing to help us figure out how something of a miracle was actually pulled off."--E.J. Dionne, Jr. "The spiritual dimension had been largely overlooked in accounting for the Revolution of '89. No longer. Weigel's brilliant demonstration of the relationship between faith and revolution gives us a new window on the miracle of '1989.'"--Charles KrauthammerMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
14 pp halftones
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
442 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-516664-4 (9780195166644)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2003
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€25.49
Available for download
E-Book
09/2003
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€19.99
Available for download
Person
Author of Tranquillitas Ordinis (OUP 1987)