Political Stability and the Division of Czechoslovakia

Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 8-1996 Political Stability and the Division of Czechoslovakia Timothy M. Kuehnlein Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Kuehnlein, Timothy M., "Political Stability and the Division of Czechoslovakia" (1996). Master's Theses. 3826. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3826 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. POLITICAL STABILITY AND THE DIVISION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA by Timothy M. Kuehnlein, Jr. A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Department of Political Science Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 1996 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this project was both a tedious and rewarding experience. With the highest expectations for the style and content of the presentation, I have attempted to be as concise yet thorough as possible in the presentation and defense of the argument. The composition of this thesis entails nearly two years of diligent work outside of general course studies. It includes preliminary readings in Central and East European affairs, an extensive excursion throughout the Czech and Slovak republics with readings in the theory of political stability, the history and politics of Czecho slovakia, in addition to composing the text. My pursuit was driven by a passion for the topic, a quest for know ledge and understanding, and the argument's potential for continued development. To my family, friends and thesis committee, all of whom have remained committed and encouraging throughout this prolonged educational experience, I extend my grati tude for the time and support offered to me during the successful completion of the thesis. Timothy M. Kuehnlein, Jr. ii POLITICAL STABILITY AND THE DIVISION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA Timothy M. Kuehnlein, Jr., M.A. Western Michigan University, 1996 Utilizing the historical development of relations between Czechs and Slovaks for a century and more, the following thesis contends that Czechoslovakia has exhib ited a propensity for dissolution and the lack of a sound basis for stable order. Socio-political, economic and ethno-cultural vari ables have traditionally characterized Czechoslovak soci ety as highly bifurcated, and with negative implications for a stable political union, especially within the post revolutionary period. This thesis argues that the division of Czechoslova kia need not be lamented. Rather, division may be viewed less negatively than other examples of modern state devo lution in post-revolutionary Europe. Indeed, the divi sion of Czechoslovakia has positive implications for stability, especially when viewed in light of the his torical relations between Czechs and Slovaks, the peace ful process by which dissolution occurred, and counter vailing trends in inter-state cooperation and suprana tional development throughout the continent. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS • • . • . • • • • . • • • . • • • • . • . • . • • • • • • i i CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.. • . • • . • • . • • • • . • • • . • • • • . 1 A Perspective. 1 The Thesis Stated in Outline............... 6 The Theoretical Foundations and Direction of the Argument............................ 16 Stability and the Essence of a Constitution....................... 27 Constitutional Stability: The Argument Applied.................... 39 II. THE HISTORY OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK IDEAL AND ITS PROPENSITY FOR DISSOLUTION.................... 51 Cooperation and Statehood.................. 64 The Decline of Empire and the Rise of Statehoo............................... 73 The First Republic......................... 78 Succession, the Third Republic and Communism: Moving Towards Independence and Federalism................ 92 III. FEDERALISM: THE POLITICAL SOLUTION FOR A BIFURCATED SOCIETY?..................... 105 The Progression of Political Relations.................................. 105 The Context and Basis of Federalism........................... 106 The Equitable Solution.................. 108 iii Table of Contents - Continued CHAPTER The Faults of Federalism................. 112 The Diminishing Role for Slovak Nationalist Sentiment and the Rise of Political Dissent.................. 115 A Divergent Economy........................ 121 A Divergent Social Transition.............. 131 A Conclusion............................... 135 IV. THE VELVET REVOLUTION AND THE DIVISION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA................................ 140 A Pretext.................................. 140 The Revolution............................. 148 The Government of National Reconciliation............................. 151 The Government of Attempted Consolidation.............................. 161 The Velvet Divorce......................... 184 V. TWO NATIONS. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 193 The Management of Pluralism................ 204 Contrasts: The Successor Republics . • . 218 Optimism for the Future: A Conclusion............................... 251 BIBLIORAPHY....................................... 257 iv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A Perspective Revolution gripped France and the entire European continent over two hundred years ago. With the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity as a moral basis upon which revolution emerged and evolved in the wake of the Enlightenment era, the French Revolution completely over threw all vestiges of established order. The absence of durable legitimate authority of any sort led France through at least four successive forms of government within a ten year revolutionary period. Order became something short of a civic virtue in France to say the least, and with telling consequences for France's Euro pean neigh�ors for over a century and more as well. Likewise, the scope of events which have characterized revolution in Central and Eastern Europe during the late twentieth century will undoubtedly reveal their effects over the coming century. Invariably, potential threats to state and continental stability, rivaling the effects of the French Revolution, present themselves with no less optimistic certainty. 1 2 Truth and freedom from oppression were the trumpet sounds of the revolution in Central and Eastern Europe, ideals which may very well parallel liberty, equality and fraternity. The object of the French Revolution, while a consequence of the frustration and discontent of the masses, was a calculated event of the out-elite and Third Estate. Similarly, revolution in Central and Eastern Europe emanated from glasnost and perestroika, and it too is characterized as a revolution from the top and bottom of society simultaneously. In this instance, the establishment tried to preserve its power by reforming internally while the out-elite and the masses challenged and overturned the existing order when opportunity arose. Indeed, revolution in the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe is similar to the French experiences of 1789 and their aftermath in many respects, but it is also distinct in many ways. Revolution in Eastern Europe is character ized more deliberate than its French predecessor. Events therein were considerably more peaceful due mostly to the various stages and locations at which they occurred. Specific examples pertaining to Romania and Lithuania, of course, deserve recognition for their displays of extreme revolutionary fervor and subsequent hardship as the revo lution developed; but the overthrow of communist govern ment in six countries and eventually the Soviet Union came from within established institutions and primarily 3 at the summons of dysfunctional economic structures throughout the Soviet sphere of influence. The demon strations in Gdansk, Bucharest, Leipzig, Dresden, Prague and the various other locations were expressions of in tense social discontent from the masses, and each suc ceeded independently, yet with respect to the other, in discrediting the authority and legitimacy of specific regimes. Keeping in mind that the revolution in eastern Europe is characteristically unique to the various states in which it occurred, one must consider the consequences of revolution as they pertain to each experience. From another perspective, however, a vast ideological empire collapsed entirely, and much as monarchy collapsed, com munism's demise and its far reaching institutional disin tegration has singularly sweeping ramifications for sta ble order within individual states and the continent as a whole. Indeed, the revolution in Central and Eastern Europe raised the very foundations on which societies have been governed for decades and, in one regard at least, almost a century. Governments were overthrown with often dramatic events. Entire regimes, institutions and classes of people have become disenfranchised as a result of revolution, and this inevitably has immeasur able consequences. 4 The French Revolution succeeded in overthrowing an established government, and instability for France and Europe were the outcome of this objective. By April of 1793, Austria, Great Britain, Holland and Spain were immersed in war with France. Monarchy was also restored by 1815 and a considerable degree

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