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This book presents an interdisciplinary reading of Central European dissidence during the Cold War. It argues for a view of dissent as an existential search for mutual understanding and recognition, showing how dissidents´ ideas contribute to current conversations in political theory and philosophy about thinking and action.

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Prologue: Possibility Beyond Shadow Lines Introduction 1. Horizons of the Dissident Life-World 2. Mutual Recognition in the Parallel Polis 3. Towards an Existential Recognition: The Self and Other in Dissidence Conclusion: ´As if I were a dissident:´ A Guide to Thinking and Action

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´Brinton is an elegant writer with a talent for making lively connections between people, ideas, and events. Her book examines the roots of dissident thought in Central Europe and the continuing relevance of dissident ideas not only for historians but also for political philosophy generally and, more practically, for those engaged in struggles against tyranny.´ - James F. Pontuso, Hampden-Sydney College, USA

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Aspen Brinton teaches courses on dissent, social responsibility, and international ethics in the Philosophy Department and International Studies Program at Boston College, USA. She has taught previously at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, Northwestern University in Qatar and Georgetown University, USA. She holds a PhD in Political Theory from Georgetown University.

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