István Deák and Historical Empathy

István Deák’s work resonates so strongly because of his empathetic approach to the people of the past. His understanding of the multifaceted identities of historical actors informed his approach to denationalizing the study of East Central Europe and to complicating the narratives of collaboration and resistance in Nazi-occupied Europe. Deák’s approach anticipated intersectionalism, reminding readers how facets of individual identity interact with their changing historical circumstances. Following his example, Deák’s students have pioneered revisions of the histories of national and imperial performances, national indifference, retribution, and instrumental collaborations.