This book delivers a compelling analysis of how Central and Eastern European nations work to reclaim their political and national identities after decades of communist rule. It reveals the historical, cultural and political factors that make nationalism particularly salient in the region, examining its various manifestations and far-reaching implications.

Filling a significant gap in current scholarship, the book positions nationalism as a driving force behind the region's political and territorial transformation and current challenges. In particular, it demonstrates how rising populism and authoritarian regression in the region can be connected to nationalism.