Book Club: Václav Havel, The Power of the Powerless

On Saturday, 27th of June, we’re going to meet and discuss the The Power of the Powerless by Václav Havel, an influential book that has become a key text of dissident thought in communist Eastern Europe.

Written in 1978, Havel’s book explores how authoritarian systems sustain themselves not only through force, but through conformity, fear, and everyday participation in lies. What does it mean to ‘live within the truth’? Can ordinary people resist oppressive systems, even when they seem powerless? And what forms of responsibility do individuals bear in political life?

Although written under late socialism in Czechoslovakia, Havel’s reflections remain strikingly relevant today. How do ideology, bureaucracy, media, and social pressure shape our behaviour? Are modern societies immune to the dynamics Havel describes – or do they simply take different forms?

Václav Havel (1936–2011) was a Czech playwright, dissident, political thinker, and statesman. A leading figure of the democratic opposition during communist rule, he later became the last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic.

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Anyone is welcome to join! Before the meeting, please read the book (it’s around 100 pages long), think about it, and note any passages you find especially interesting, challenging, or worth discussing. We’ll share our thoughts and interpretations during the meeting.

Organizational notes:
📍 Attendance is free
⏳ Spots are limited
🔗 Please register via the app so we know how many people to expect and can reserve a table accordingly