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This article seeks links between contemporary Europe and its historical state-nation experiences, above all when regarding "Reading the Other". Discussing – and challenging – the main three European dimensions – geographical, political and cultural, the article points out Europe's mission/task/meta-art - still to be fully fulfilled – to develop its remarkable "capacity to live, permanently and beneficially, with cultural difference: profitably to all sides not despite their differences, but thanks to them", as well as "to acquire and share the art of learning from each other". Tracing such abilities already in the Roman Empire the article focuses in particular on two Modern Central European states, based on multiculturalism and multinationalism: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both are discussed as experiments worthy of becoming essential examples for the today Europe. ; Esta comunicação procura ligações entre a europa contemporânea e as suas experiências históricas de estados-nações, sobretudo no que diz respeito a "Ler o Outro". Discutindo – e desafiando – as três principais dimensões europeias – geográfica, política e cultural – o autor salienta a missão/tarefa/meta-arte da Europa – ainda por concretizar por completo – de desenvolver a sua notável "capacidade de viver, permanente e beneficamente, com a diferença cultural: proveitosamente para todos lados, não apesar das suas diferenças, mas graças a elas", bem como de "adquirir e partilhar a arte de aprender com os outros". Encontrando já tais capacidades no Império Romano, esta comunicação centra-se particularmente em dois estados europeus modernos, baseados no multiculturalismo e no multinacionalismo: a commomwealth polaco-lituana e o império austro-húngaro. Ambos são discutidos como experiências que devem tornar-se exemplos essenciais para a europa dos nossos dias.

This article seeks links between contemporary Europe and its historical state-nation experiences, above all when regarding "Reading the Other". Discussing – and challenging – the main three European dimensions – geographical, political and cultural, the article points out Europe's mission/task/meta-art - still to be fully fulfilled – to develop its remarkable "capacity to live, permanently and beneficially, with cultural difference: profitably to all sides not despite their differences, but thanks to them", as well as "to acquire and share the art of learning from each other". Tracing such abilities already in the Roman Empire the article focuses in particular on two Modern Central European states, based on multiculturalism and multinationalism: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both are discussed as experiments worthy of becoming essential examples for the today Europe. ; Esta comunicação procura ligações entre a europa contemporânea e as suas experiências históricas de estados-nações, sobretudo no que diz respeito a "Ler o Outro". Discutindo – e desafiando – as três principais dimensões europeias – geográfica, política e cultural – o autor salienta a missão/tarefa/meta-arte da Europa – ainda por concretizar por completo – de desenvolver a sua notável "capacidade de viver, permanente e beneficamente, com a diferença cultural: proveitosamente para todos lados, não apesar das suas diferenças, mas graças a elas", bem como de "adquirir e partilhar a arte de aprender com os outros". Encontrando já tais capacidades no Império Romano, esta comunicação centra-se particularmente em dois estados europeus modernos, baseados no multiculturalismo e no multinacionalismo: a commomwealth polaco-lituana e o império austro-húngaro. Ambos são discutidos como experiências que devem tornar-se exemplos essenciais para a europa dos nossos dias.

The author notes that to speak of democracy in the countries of Central Asia would seem to be a futile effort. The republics that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union are known for their authoritarian, repressive, & centralized regimes. Following a review of the history & sociopolitical context of the Central Asian countries, the author describes being in Bishkek in Jan 2010, when Kyrgyzstan was between revolutions & popular revolts, & discusses the country's internal dynamics as well as foreign relations with the US, Russia, & other Western nations. While a ray of hope was apparent at that time -- with the establishment of a new legitimate government & a new social contract -- it was soon extinguished. Once again, the future of Kyrgyzstan, like that of the other Central Asian countries, appears unlikely to change anytime soon. S. Stanton