Central Europe: the very idea. Riding the wave of the Age of Uncertainty

This article constitutes the formal paper presented by the author to the SEER Journal symposium ‘The European integration of the western Balkans’ which took place in Belgrade on 19 May 2025. The article seeks to centralise a revised Central Europe as a contextualisation for our understanding of the current state of convergence, in conditions not least of the slowing of integration processes and the return of war to Europe. Drawing on philosophical traditions contemplating the meaning of democracy, and in particular a thoughtful and focused review of the importance of the writings of Jan Patočka, the Czech essayist, philosopher and Charter 77 spokesperson, as well as on fresh research and contemporary political developments, the author seeks to develop a novel approach to comprehending the widening divides within Europe and addressing them via a rethinking of the notion of ‘Europe’. The author concludes that the way forward might lie in a combination of Patočka’s philosophical writings and a consideration of the meaning of ‘care’ which, in turn, might allow reflection on the correct multifold approach.