Václav Havel: Posthumous Reclamation of a National Hero?

This article examines the legacy and memorialization of Václav Havel, a Czech playwright, dissident, and president, comparing his recognition domestically and internationally. Internationally, Havel is celebrated as a symbol of democracy, human rights, and nonviolent resistance, with his ideas—especially from his essay *The Power of the Powerless*—influencing global dissident movements and scholarly discourse. Domestically, his legacy is more complex and contested, shaped by political divisions, generational differences, and mixed assessments of his presidency and the post-Communist transition. Since his death in 2011, efforts such as the Václav Havel Library, public commemorations, and civic movements like A Million Moments for Democracy have contributed to an evolving collective memory that continues to engage with his ideals of truth, responsibility, and civil society.