Following theoretical and cultural perspectives of public intellectuals as speakers and writers of resistance in the public sphere, the course examines contemporary themes of public intellectuals and their contributions to democratic discourse, focusing in particular on East and Central Europe. The course presents a discursive approach to the role of public intellectuals in emerging democracies from Eastern and Central Europe during the last part of the 20th century. Following the European tradition of public intellectuals' engagement in national discourse, the course features how public intellectuals' voices impact dissent, exile and democratic changes in the public spheres of the New Europe. Taking as starting point the historical context of 1989 for the dramatic changes in Eastern and Central Europe, the course examines public discourse by Adam
Michnik, George Konrad, Vaclav Havel, Slavenka Drakulic, Norman Manea and others, in particular their contributions to the political, cultural and democratic transformation of their countries of origin.

While the specifics of the demise of communism provide a fascinating topic in and of itself, the main goals of the course remain multifold, invoking publics, public voice, oppression and dissidence as fundamental approaches pertinent to the role of public intellectuals in democratic contexts all over the world. Accordingly, the course investigates four areas of research in order to connect perspectives on democratic action, dissidence and historical contexts of oppressive regimes, approaches on national identity, media, globalization, and social movements with concrete public intellectual activities.