I Last month I presented a public lecture “Mysterious Forces of the Nation: Occultism and Nationalism in Central Europe” as part of the Czech Academy of Sciences Week. The talk took place on November 5th at the Institute of Ethnology in Prague, drawing such interest that the seminar room was filled to capacity.
[English translation of abstract]: What influence did occultism have on the formation of national identity in the Czech lands and Austria? The lecture explored how magic and esoterica influenced national movements, ethnicity, and racial theory at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Pavel Horák’s talk took the audience into the world of hidden discourses that fundamentally shaped Central European politics and culture, and showed how occultists strived to elevate their own nation.
The lecture built on my ongoing research into the intersections between alternative spirituality and nationalism in Central Europe. I explored how occult groups and thinkers contributed to discussions about national identity, often in surprising ways that challenge our usual understanding of both occultism and nationalism in this period.
The Czech Academy of Sciences Week is an annual event that brings academic research to the broader public. I was pleased to engage with a full room of attendees on this fascinating topic that connects the mystical with the political in our region’s history. The lively discussion that followed raised interesting questions about the continued influence of esoteric ideas on national identity in Central Europe.
Thank you to everyone who attended and made this event such a success!
