This book is a contribution to European comparative history involving Portugal and Slovakia
but also the larger geographic units of Iberia and Slavic Central Europe. While developments in
Portugal and Slovakia predominate Spain the Czech lands and other regions are discussed as
well. The subjects investigated include the position of women and the activities of messianic
thinkers in the seventeenth century as well as semi-fascist Catholic political movements in the
twentieth century. The authors look at the subject matter from the viewpoint of politics
social phenomena and culture. The cultural dimension includes religion and ideology both of
which have clearly been of critical importance in Portuguese and Slovak history. It also
includes problems of ethno-linguistic and national identity and the more recent phenomenon of
multiculturalism whose social promotion is controversial and uncertain. This comparative study
by Zuzana Polá¿ková and Peter C. van Duin a collection of essays is a revelation especially
for students of European authoritarian and totalitarian regimes and furthermore anybody
interested in European history. ¿Josette Baer Professor UZH University of Zurich This book
gives proof to Cicerös dictum: Historia magistra vitae est¿without knowledge of the past we
cannot build a sustainable future. Thanks to the authors for this great contribution to
knowledge! ¿Lucia Mokrá Professor of International Law Comenius University Bratislava This
collection of essays provides not only fascinating insights into the political workings of
these two small states but of the workings of politics in the larger Iberian Slavic context.
Highly recommended. ¿Dr. David Reichardt International Relations Webster University
Saint-Louis Missouri A very important contribution to the study of the comparative history of
Europe and therefore I fully recommend its publication. ¿Mgr. Juraj Marüiak PhD. Institute of
Political Science public research institution Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava Slovak
Republic
