"History Derailed" and European History Book Review by Top Papers

The following paper reviews Ivan T. Berend's "History Derailed: Central and Eastern Europe during the Long Nineteenth Century". Specifically, the paper looks at how Berend wisely takes the time to touch upon the perceptible insecurity of the East and Center as it witnesses the dramatic rise of Western Europe to global prominence - an insecurity which undoubtedly explains why the East and Center has historically been "distinct" from the West in profound ways throughout modern history even though the two regions share the same continental landmass. Proceeding further, the paper looks at Berend's failure to draw the sort of explicit linkages that might make the unfolding of Central and Eastern European history (and the present day) more comprehensible to first-time students. Lastly, the paper concludes by lauding Berend's text for its strong, lucid organization. The writer concludes that while a generally engaging and well-written text, Berend's work is certainly not without its apparent flaws.