Der erste riss in der mauer
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Biographie Andreas Oplatka, was born 1942 in Budapest and came 1956 to Switzerland. He studied "German language and literature studies" and history in Zurich and Vienna. In 1968 he became external editorial journalist of the "New Zurich Newspaper". As correspondent for the newspaper he worked in Stockholm, Paris, Moscow and Budapest.Présentation In time for its 20th anniversary, the former journalist of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung Andreas Oplatka presents a detailed study on the events leading to the Hungarian border opening in 1989. Oplatka was born in Budapest in 1943 but migrated to Switzerland in 1956. Der erste Riss in der Mauer. September 1989 - Ungarn öffnet die Grenze benefits from his rich experiences as foreign correspondent in Moscow and Budapest as well as his versatile language skills. The book aims to dismantle glorifying myths and some long-standing misinterpretations among a Western, mainly German-speaking audience. Most importantly, Oplatka insists that the rapidly unfolding events of 1989 were neither controlled nor planned, but rather they possessed a partly unintended and unforeseeabledynamic. In addition to eventy interviews with some of the main protagonists, Oplatka has consulted available minutes and proceedings, memoirs and biographies. In contrast to common Western interpretations of courtesy and magnanimity, the author explains that the decision to dismantle Hungary’s fortified border system to Austria was based on financial considerations put forward first by the border guards themselves. In face of an increasing influx of immigrants from its neighbor, Hungary started to openly propagate a stronger human rights regime and the UN Convention on Refugees. Additionally, the rapprochement with Austria and the expected growth of tourism became convincing financial arguments for the dismantling. However, as is well-known today, the Soviet leader had basically released the satellite states as he realized he had to deal with insurmountable domestic problems. Oplatka brilliantly sketches out this chaotic situation in August 1989, in which apparently (and not a little surprisingly) only Moscow remained silent. Oplatka’s account is a very well-structured analysis in which he proves a cautious observer sensitive to political twists and individual vanities. Despite the density of the short period in focus, his narrative remains clear and his text combines excellent journalistic writing and qualified historic analyzing. Der erste Riss in der Mauer. September 1989 - Ungarn öffnet die Grenze is not only a timely, but an essential and eloquent contribution to the ongoing process of canonizing the international dimensions of 1989.
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Dernières nouvelles
| 9 décembre 2009 |
| Le prix du livre européen a couronné pour sa 3ème édition, dans la catégorie romans Gottland de Mariusz Szczgiel publié aux éditions Actes Sud et L’Europe pour les nuls de Sylvie Goulard publié aux éditions First. |
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3 novembre 2009 |
| Le jury du prix du livre européen s’est réuni à Bruxelles et a retenu quatre romans et quatre essais Les romans Ceux qui marchent dans les villes de Jean-François Dauven (Belgique) Courlande de Jean-Paul Kauffmann (France) Gottland de Marius Szczygiel (Pologne) Street without name, Kapka Kassabova (Bulgarie) Les essais Der Erste riss in der Mauer, Andreas Oplatka (Hongrie) La constitution européenne en vers, collectif de poètes belge (Belgique) Les empires coloniaux européens, Henri Wesseling (Pays-Bas) L’Europe pour les nuls, Sylvie Goulard (France) Le prix du livre européen sera remis le 9 décembre 2009 à 18h au Parlement européen à Bruxelles et sera suivi, à 20h30, d'une soirée théâtrale et musicale au Théâtre Varia. |
Lauréats 2009
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Roman Gottland de Mariusz Szczygiel , éditions Actes Sud.
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Essai L’Europe pour les nuls de Sylvie Goulard, éditions First |
Consultez la revue de presse
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Lauréat 2008
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Après-guerre, une histoire de l'Europe depuis 1945 |
| de Tony Judt |
Tony Judt nous convie à une étude fine et éclairée des principales évolutions politiques, économiques, sociales et culturelles, à l’échelle du continent ou du pays. Au total, c’est une sorte de biographie d’un continent qui s’efforce après un passé dramatique, de se reconstruire et de tracer de nouveau sa route. Les analyses de l’auteur Editions Armand Colin |
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