“As I write these reflections, Western observers, along with many citizens of Central Europe, have experienced moments of wild elation and deep pessimism. Boundless hope about ‘a new world order’ has been followed quickly by the realization that the most ancient of problems are still with us, and sometimes with a vengeance. The euphoria of liberation, which was very real, has often been overshadowed by despair over political tension, nationalist conflict, religious fundamentalism, and economic breakdown… Between euphoria and despair we can perceive grounds for cautious optimism, if we look closely at the unfolding developments as they can be mediated in a free society, abandoning ideological preconceptions.”