CultureGramsTM World Edition 2018 Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Catholicism and the Latin alphabet. BACKGROUND In 1526, Hungary, which included what is now Slovakia, became subject to the rule of the Austrian Hapsburgs, Land and Climate resulting in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Upon its defeat in The Slovak Republic is a landlocked country situated in the World War I (1918), the Austro-Hungarian Empire heart of central Europe. It is roughly the size of Costa Rica or disintegrated. Slovaks joined with Czechs under the the U.S. state of West Virginia. The land is generally leadership of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Milan Rastislav mountainous; the High Tatras, part of the Carpathian range, Štefánik in founding the First Czecho-Slovak Republic (the are found on the border with Poland, while the Low Tatras, hyphen was dropped in 1920). also part of the Carpathian range, dominate the central region. Czechoslovakia became the most democratic of the The highest peak is Gerlach, part of the High Tatras, at Hapsburg successor states, although some Slovaks wished for 8,711 feet (2,655 meters). Mountain ridges have inhibited more autonomy within the union. In 1939, the country was travel at times, preserving Slovakia's variety of dialects and not able to withstand Nazi Germany’s foreign policy customs. The country's fertile south is part of the Great scheming. Even as Germany was annexing Czech lands, Hungarian Plain. Forests cover much of the central region. Slovakia declared independence in March 1939 and allied Slovakia is rich in natural resources such as timber, copper, with Germany throughout World War II. The move still stirs zinc, mercury, limestone, and iron ore. Almost one-third of controversy today, as many argue that the Slovak the land is arable. Corn, oats, wheat, and potatoes are the government’s actions did not represent the will of the people. most abundant crops. Its continental climate makes for warm Central and eastern Slovaks staged a revolt, the Slovak summers (especially in the southern lowlands) and cold, National Uprising, in 1944, which was quickly crushed. Upon snowy winters (particularly in northern highlands). Germany's defeat, the Soviet Union's Red Army helped install a new Czechoslovak government. History The Communist Era and the Velvet Revolution Magyar and Hapsburg Rule After 1948, Communists seized control of the government, all Slavic peoples first settled in the area during the fifth century major institutions, and significant property. Slovaks suffered AD. In 833, they founded a loose confederation that became under forced Stalinization and persecution in the 1950s. the Great Moravian Empire. In 863, the Greek missionaries During the 1960s, the reform-minded Slovak Communist Methodius and Cyril introduced Christianity and the Cyrillic Alexander Dubček led a movement to create “socialism with alphabet. The empire's brief history ended in 907 with an a human face.” Censorship was relaxed, and a spirit of revival invasion by nomadic Magyars (today called Hungarians). The and hope swept the country. The experiment met with an area came under Magyar rule, subsequently adopting Roman abrupt end when Soviet-led Warsaw Pact troops crushed the 1 TM CultureGrams Slovakia movement in August 1968. During the 1970s, Gustav Husák's Prime Minister Fico emphasized his party's commitment to regime attempted to satisfy citizens by making consumer limiting the number of refugees allowed in the country and to goods more available, but ruthless repression of political banning Muslims altogether. dissent continued. Economic stagnation and Mikhail •Journalist murdered: In February 2018, journalist Ján Gorbachev's changes in the Soviet Union laid the foundations Kuciak was found shot to death at his home. It is suspected for the fall of communism in 1989. that Kuciak was killed for his investigative work on political The fall of communism in neighboring countries led to the corruption and Italian organized crime in Slovakia. Officials Velvet Revolution, a passive protest against the Communists. condemned the killing, which marked the first murder of a Thousands of protestors gathered in public squares, jingling journalist in Slovakia's history, calling it an attack on keys that simultaneously represented unlocking the doors of Slovakia's press freedom. In response to the political turmoil democracy and telling the Communist Party to leave. and protests following the murder, Prime Minister Fico Czechoslovakia became a parliamentary republic, but the resigned and Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini was transition soon gave way to the sobering realities of selected to replace him. rebuilding democracy. Nationalism reemerged as a major issue. In 1990, Slovaks began pressing for a greater voice in their own affairs. Disagreements over the amount of autonomy for Slovakia and the pace of economic reform led THE PEOPLE to victory for Slovak nationalists in 1992 elections. Czechoslovakia became a federation comprised of the Czech Population Socialist Republic and the Slovak Socialist republic; however, More than 81 percent of Slovakia's population are Slovaks. when the newly elected Czech and Slovak national Hungarians (Magyars) constitute the largest minority (9 governments could not reach a consensus about the division percent), and most of them live in southern Slovakia. of state powers, Czech prime minister Václav Klaus and The Roma (Gypsies) officially represent 2 percent of the Slovak prime minister Vladimír Mečiar decided to split the population, but this figure may actually be higher. The Roma state peacefully and fairly. people are nomadic and difficult to count, and many list Political Reform and the European Union themselves as Slovaks in national census reports. The Roma Mečiar continued some reforms after Slovakia's independence are poorly integrated into mainstream society, especially in in 1993, but his confrontational leadership style led to rural areas, and they struggle against prejudice and political instability. Parliament removed him from office in discrimination. Smaller ethnic groups who are more 1994, but subsequent elections failed to seat a successor and integrated into society include Czechs, Carpatho-Rusyns Mečiar returned to office as prime minister. By the time (Ruthenians), Ukrainians, Germans, Poles, Moravians, and President Michal Kováč's term expired in March 1998, a lack others. of political reform allowed Mečiar to assume presidential powers as well. However, he lost his seat in parliament in Language September 1998 elections, and Rudolf Schuster became Slovaks speak Slovak, a tongue in the Slavic language group, Slovakia's first elected president in May 1999. which includes Czech, Polish, and Russian. Slovak uses a Slovakia made enough progress in its government and Latin script. Literary Slovak is used in official capacities, but economy to be allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty numerous dialects exist in various regions. Hungarian is the Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) in 2004, second most commonly spoken language, especially in the and in 2009 it adopted the euro. Controversy with Hungary, south. The Roma (Gypsies) speak Romany, an unwritten including ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia, continues over language with Indo-Aryan roots, and Slovak. Slovakia's strict language laws that require the Slovak Hungarians want their language to have official status, but language to take precedence in various public and official a law passed in 1995 and amended in 2009 makes Slovak the situations. Controversy also surrounds Hungary's recent only official language. German is understood widely, while decision to allow ethnic Hungarians (many of which live in English is the language of choice to study in school. Russian Slovakia) to apply for dual citizenship. was a required subject in schools before 1989. Other In March 2012, the Smer-Social Democracy party, led by languages are also offered in school. Robert Fico, won a clear legislative majority; it marked the first time a party had won an absolute majority in parliament Religion since Slovakia gained independence. The left-leaning political Freedom of worship is guaranteed in Slovakia, and many party was able to oust the ruling center-right coalition by people have deep religious convictions. The majority (62 winning the support of Slovak voters who were angered by percent) of the population is Roman Catholic. Protestants corruption and government austerity measures. make up 8 percent of the population, while Greek Catholics Recent Events and Trends comprise 4 percent. The rest of the population is atheist or has •Parliamentary elections: In March 2016, the ruling no religious affiliation. Smer–Social Democracy party lost its majority in parliamentary elections, forcing it to form a coalition General Attitudes government. Though Slovakia is not a major recipient of Politics is a popular conversation topic. Slovaks are especially asylum-seekers in Europe, during the political campaign interested in how foreigners view them and are anxious to 2 TM CultureGrams Slovakia foster a positive image abroad. They are aware that their Slovakia than in the United States. country is small and often unknown to outsiders; still, they do not like to be mistaken for Czechs, Slovenians, or Serbians. Visiting Although Slovakia has industrialized, particularly since Impromptu visits are common, but only among close friends 1948, a romantic attachment to peasant ideals and the and family members. Invited guests, especially when coming countryside remains in the hearts of many Slovaks. from a distance, receive a warm welcome. An invitation to Entrepreneurs were considered greedy “price gougers” under dinner is usually in a home rather than a restaurant. Guests the communist regime, but this is no longer the case. Since remove hats and shoes in the house; hosts often provide the transition to a free-market economy, social status has slippers. Visitors wait for hosts to invite them to be seated. become more dependent on wealth and material possessions Invited guests often present the hosts with a gift such as than on education or professional achievement. flowers, wine, or liquor. Flowers offered as gifts should be Slovaks value good humor and hard work.