Documenting Norwegian Support to Charta 77 and Czech Democratic Movement

Description

The initiative “Documenting Norwegian Support to Charta 77 and Czech Democratic Movement” aims at further documenting and investigating the support of Norwegian society and individuals to the democratic movement and human rights activities in Czechoslovakia in the period of 1968 to 1989 with special focus on the support to the Charta 77 initiative. The documentation will be done through a series of oral history interviews with Norwegian and Czech contemporary witnesses, done in Prague on cameras in line with the Memory of Nations methodology. The applicant “Post Bellum” will cooperate with the

Summary of the results

This project has fostered bilateral relations between Norwegian and Czech societies through pointing out at a long history of mutual solidarity and shared values, such as the principles of liberal democracy and respect to human rights. The promoter had documented and investigated the support of Norwegian and Scandinavian society and individuals to the democratic movement and human rights activities in Czechoslovakia in the period of 1968 to 1989 with special focus on the support to the Charta 77. The documentation was conducted through a series of oral historical interviews with Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and Czech contemporary witnesses, done in Prague on cameras in line with Memory of Nations methodology. All 10 oral historical interviews / portraits were edited, cut and published in the open archive Memory of Nations ( www.pametnaroda.cz ). 8 new testimonies (Bakken, Westling, Skjeseth, Nielsen, Nordsletten, Vrba, Schepelern, Lundgren) and 3 updated testimonies (Hájek, Janouch, Konůpek) were published (and 2 additional ones are in preparation).

A short movie based on the oral testimonies was cut and published. Raising public awareness was supported through a public debate in Prague including Scandinavian individuals that were involved in the support to Charta 77.  Public screenings are already taking place. The impact was further strengthened by publication of 3 articles in Czech media.