Proper noun

Singular Central Europe

Plural -

Central Europe

1. A geographic region in the center of Europe, usually including the former Austro-Hungarian states, Poland, and Germany.
   • 1996 — Lonnie R. Johnson, Central Europe: Enemies, Neighbors, Friends, p. 4

     Western Christendom's centuries-long confrontation with the Oriental and Islamic empire of the Ottoman Turks also helped define Central Europe as a cultural and historical region.

Central Europe is the region lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe. The term and widespread interest in the region itself came back into fashion after the end of the Cold War, which, along with the Iron Curtain, had divided Europe politically into East and West, splitting Central Europe in half.

The concept of Central Europe, and that of a common identity, is somewhat elusive. However, scholars assert that a distinct "Central European culture, as controversial and debated the notion may be, exists." It is based on "similarities emanating from historical, social and cultural characteristics", and it is identified as having been "one of the world's richest sources of creative talent" between the 17th and 20th centuries. A UN paper employs 8 factors "to define a cultural region called 'Central Europe'". Cross Currents: A Yearbook of Central European Culture characterized "Central Europe as an abandoned West or a place where East and West collide".

As of the 2000's, Central Europe is going through a phase of "strategic awakening", and multiple Central European countries are routinely listed among the world's 30 most developed countries. However, in Western popular culture, much of the region is still erroneously associated with Cold War era "backwardness".