The Power of the Powerless

Written in 1978, 'The Power of the Powerless' is a seminal essay by Václav Havel that critiques the post-totalitarian systems of Eastern Europe.

The essay, which was circulated in samizdat form, argues that individuals living within such systems must 'live in truth' to challenge the pervasive lies and ideological control of the state.

Havel uses the example of a greengrocer displaying a communist slogan to illustrate the mechanisms of compliance and the potential for resistance.

The book, edited by John Keane, includes responses from various contributors and provides a broad spectrum of democratic opinions on freedom, power, and civil liberty under totalitarian conditions.