Liberation and What Next?: Émigré Plans of Reconstruction in Central and Eastern Europe Discussed during the Cold War

• In Event: Between Hope and Disillusion: Émigré Perspectives on U.S. Cold War Liberationist Ideals

Abstract

The slogan of “liberation,” succeeding “containment” and “rolling back” in the doctrines of early Cold War American foreign policy, resonated positively with Central and Eastern European exiles. Among the array of tools employed in the pursuit of “liberation,” such as psychological warfare and covert interactions with underground groups, émigrés swiftly realized that this could not mark the definitive end of the struggle. The question of what Central and Eastern Europe should resemble post-liberation became significantly more paramount. Conversations focused on establishing governance structures for individual countries, devising strategies to forestall future Soviet expansion, and implementing measures to efficiently exploit the economic potential of the region. In seeking solutions, inspiration was drawn from the democratic principles and federalism of American governance, as well as from the unification processes unfolding in Western Europe.
One particularly intriguing idea that gained prominence during this period was the concept of a Central European federation. Numerous projects were proposed for such a federation, alongside efforts to establish a groundwork for it among exiled communities. Institutions such as the Christian Democratic Union of Central Europe (CDUCE) and the Assembly of Captive European Nations (ACEN) were formed to bring together exiles from this region. Examining the history of these ideas within the broader context of the Cold War yields valuable lessons even in contemporary times. My contribution will explore the plans for the post-liberation period, the endeavors to construct alternative frameworks in exile, and the significance of this experience for a more comprehensive understanding of “liberation” as a concept within the Cold War era.

Author

• Sławomir Lukasiewicz, John Paul II Catholic U of Lublin (Poland)