Silesian Identity: Hlučíns and Opavians

This chapter explores the contested nature of Silesian identity in Czech Silesia, focusing on the distinct yet interwoven narratives of the inhabitants of Opava and the Hlučín region. It examines how the Czech national discourse reinforces a homogeneous Czech identity while sidelining the complex cultural hybridity of this borderland. This hegemonic narrative is contrasted with the vernacular counter-narratives o f the Hlučín community that emphasise multilingualism and a regional sense of identity. Through cultural artifacts such as the Hlučín Century Comic and Jana Schlossarková’s poetry, the chapter explores how local memory practices challenge dominant historical narratives. The study reveals how historical narratives are crafted, contested, and re-negotiated in the ongoing production of collective identity, memory, and belonging in Czech Silesia.