Good Bye Lenin Programme

The Václav Havel Institute, from CADAL’s Puente Democrático Project, organised the Programme “Good Bye Lenin with a view to analyse the socialist experience in Central and Eastern Europe between 1917-1989, the transition to democracy, the communication channels of the opposition and independent journalism in communist dictatorships. The programme was aimed at students and university graduates under the age of 30 and comprised of five classes between October 31st and November 22nd, 2012. Its lecturers were S.E. Petr Kopriva, Ambassador of the Czech Republic; Ewa Majkut, Second Secretary of the Political and Economic Affairs Section at the Polish Embassy in Buenos Aires; the historian Ricardo López Göttig and writer Fernando J. Ruiz.

The Václav Havel Institute, from CADAL’s Puente Democrático Project, organised the Programme “Good Bye Lenin with a view to analyse the socialist experience in Central and Eastern Europe between 1917-1989, the transition to democracy, the communication channels of the opposition and independent journalism in communist dictatorships. The programme was aimed at students and university graduates under the age of 30 and comprised of five classes between October 31^st and November 22^nd, 2012.

The historian Ricardo López Göttig gave the first two lessons, where he analysed “The Construction of Socialism in Europe” and “The Collapse of Real Socialism”. López Göttig covered the following topics in the space of two days: The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917; Lenin, Trotski, Stalin and the formation of the Soviet Union; Land reform, super-industrialisation and militarisation of society; Soviet expansion in post-war times: Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary; Economic, social and political problems; The emergence of dissidence in Central Europe: Solidarity and Charter 77; The perestroika and glasnost of Mikhail Gorbachov; The events of 1989 and the collapse of the “Socialist Bloc” in Europe; The transitions of socialism: Velvet glove and iron fist transitions.

The third class was conducted by Dr. Fernando J. Ruiz on Wednesday November 14^th, in which he presented "The Communication Channels of the Opposition in Communist Dictatorships", suggesting that dissident groups are mainly constructed through the creation of new means of communication for the diffusion of information and of alternative frameworks of interpretation to those of most citizens’.

On Thursday November 15^th, the documentary film "El poder de los sin poder" (“The Power of the Powerless”) was shown at the CEMA University’s Auditorium on the occasion of another anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. The 78 min. long documentary was directed by Cory Taylor and tells the inspiring story of the 1989 Velvet Revolution. The film, narrated by Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons, includes original interviews to dissidents such as the ex-president Vaclav Havel. The Ambassador of the Czech Republic, S.E. Petr Kopriva, provided the closing words.

The last class was dictated on Thursday, November 22nd: "Todo empezó con Solidaridad en Polonia" (“Everything started with solidarity in Poland”), by Ewa Majkut, Second Secretary of the Political and Economic Affairs Section at the Polish Embassy in Buenos Aires.