First published 2022
Krzysztof Czyżewski founded the Borderland Foundation at the crossroads of Lithuania, Poland, and Belarus. His essays examine fundamental questions about building civil society and repairing communities torn apart by violence. Writing from East-Central Europe, a region marked by both destruction and renewal, Czyżewski presents practical frameworks for relating to people unlike ourselves. He introduces concepts like the invisible bridge, the nejmar who builds connections between groups, and the xenopolis where strangers become neighbors. The book divides into three parts covering concepts, specific places, and actual practices. Czyżewski draws examples from communities across East-Central Europe to show how cultural work can bridge theoretical ideas with real-world application. His vision maps a new understanding of European identity. The book includes contextual essays by historians specializing in Central and Eastern Europe. Czyżewski argues that moving toward xenopolis means recognizing that others are fundamentally ourselves.
Genres: non-fiction, european-literature, cultural, activism, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, practical-frameworks
Setting: Belarus, Lithuania, Poland
Unknown Binding · University of Rochester Press