Whose Code Have We Cracked? A Critical Response to Murray

Abstract

Western scholars must become more culturally sensitive as they participate in the reform of public affairs education in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). As evident in Michael Murray's recent article in J-PAE (January 1999), current relationships tend to be based on a set of cultural myths, in which West is best, all countries in “the East” share the same “Soviet mentality,” and thus academic institutions depend upon purely Western methods of instruction. This essay argues that such approaches fail to take account of the social, cultural and political diversity in the region and, consequently, miss important opportunities for change. In the future, patterns of this nature must be avoided and more responsive, appropriate strategies must be initiated in the transformation of CEE systems of public affairs education.