Where East meets West
This text was published in the very first issue of New Eastern Europe by the late Martin Pollack, Austrian author, translator and friend of the magazine. Its relevance is just as strong today, as demonstrated by this abridged version.
September 10, 2026 -
Martin Pollack
- 
History and MemoryIssue 5 2026Magazine
What does a Western European see in the eastern part of the continent? What would a satiated Austrian see if, changing his own habits, he decided to turn his attention to the East rather than the West? Or if, for some reason, he put aside his own minor, everyday concerns and contemplated the region, incorrectly called Eastern Europe? Let’s put it differently: What do Western Europeans expect from these countries? What can they find there?
This is a legitimate question, as there is always a gap between image and reality. We become convinced that we see things and have certain knowledge. We contrive our own opinions. And yet all these are simply conjectures, predetermined opinions, prejudices which would not pass a reality test. Rarely do we consider such a confrontation. It would not even cross our minds to make an attempt to break stereotypes, which, in many cases, have been passed down to us for generations. Hence, our attitude towards Eastern Europe has been shaped by such ungrounded judgements, fake images and clichés.
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