1989-2019: Thirty Years of Czech American Relations
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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America: Soft Power and the Free Flow of Information
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY AND VOICE OF AMERICA: SOFT POWER AND THE FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JULY 23, 2009 Serial No. 111–24 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 51–255PDF WASHINGTON : 2009 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:26 Sep 08, 2009 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 F:\WORK\EU\072309\51255.000 HFA PsN: SHIRL COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOWARD L. BERMAN, California, Chairman GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey Samoa DAN BURTON, Indiana DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRAD SHERMAN, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California ROBERT WEXLER, Florida DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York EDWARD R. ROYCE, California BILL DELAHUNT, Massachusetts RON PAUL, Texas GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York JEFF FLAKE, Arizona DIANE E. WATSON, California MIKE PENCE, Indiana RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri JOE WILSON, South Carolina ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina MICHAEL E. MCMAHON, New York CONNIE MACK, Florida JOHN S. TANNER, Tennessee JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska GENE GREEN, Texas MICHAEL T. -
Annual Report 2011 European Values Think-Tank
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 EUROPEAN VALUES THINK-TANK 1 Dear Reader, you are holding the Annual Report of the European Values Think-tank, in which we would like to present our programs realized in 2011. European Values is a non-governmental, pro-European organization that, through education and research activities, works for the development of civil society and a healthy market environment. From 2005, we continue in our role as a unique educational and research organization and think tank, which contributes to public and professional discussion about social, political and economic development in Europe. In the Czech Republic we point out that, due to our membership – active and constructive – of the European Union we can for the first time in modern history participate in decision- making processes concerning the future of Europe, and ensure that we are no longer just a passive object of desire of large powers in our neighbourhood. With our international program, European Values Network, from 2007, we also contribute to a Europe-wide debate on the challenges that Europe faces today. We believe that the public and politicians do not recognize that the benefits of post-war development on our continent can not be taken for granted, and that there are many global trends that threaten the freedom, security and prosperity of Europe as a whole. We analyze these social, political, security and economic trends, and we offer solutions to problems associated with them. In addition to publishing our own books, publications, studies, recommendations, comments, and media contributions and commentary, we also organize seminars, conferences and training courses for professionals and the wider public. -
Neoconservatives Among Us? Astudy of Former Dissidents' Discourse
43 L 62 Neoconservatives Among Us? A Study of Former Dissidents’ Discourse* JENI SCHALLER Abstract: Neoconservative political thought has been characterized as “distinctly American”, but could there be fertile ground for its basic tenets in post-communist Europe? This paper takes an initial look at the acceptance of the ideas of American neo- conservative foreign policy among Czech elites who were dissidents under the communist regime. Open-ended, semi-structured interviews with eight former dissidents were con- ducted and then analyzed against a background of some fundamental features of neocon- servative foreign policy. Discourse analysis is the primary method of examination of the texts. Although a coherent discourse among Czech former dissidents cannot be said to ex- ist, certain aspects reminiscent of American neoconservative thought were found. Key words: neoconservatism, Czech dissidents, foreign policy, discourse analysis I. INTRODUCTION Neoconservatism, as a strain of political thought in the United States, has been represented as “distinctly American” and Irving Kristol, often considered the “godfather” of neoconservatism, emphatically states “[t]here is nothing like neoconservatism in Europe” (Kristol 2003: 33). Analyst Jeffrey Gedmin writes that the “environment for neoconservatism as such is an inhospitable one” in Europe, especially Germany (Gedmin 2004: 291). The states of Cen- tral Europe, in contrast to many of the established continental EU members, represent a rather more pro-American stance. With groups of former dissi- dents whose political leanings are in part informed by the American anti- communist, pro-democracy policies of the 1970s and 1980s, could there be a more hospitable environment for neoconservative ideas in a Central Euro- pean state such as the Czech Republic? The Czech dissident community was not as extensive or well-organised as that in Poland or even Hungary, largely due to the post-1968 “normalisation” in Czechoslovakia. -
The Rise of Entrepreneurship in Turkey and the Middle East
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY BERKELEY ● DAVIS ● IRVINE ● LOS ANGELES ● MERCED ● RIVERSIDE ● SAN DIEGO ● SAN FRANCISCO ● SANTA BARBARA ● SANTA CRUZ The Rise of Entrepreneurship in Turkey and the Middle East: Successes, Failures, and the Future October 12, 2013 at UC Berkeley Glimpse at the Past With the introduction of multiparty politics in 1950, Turkey’s political trajectory began to diverge form the closed, authoritarian, and repressive political systems that were fast becoming entrenched in virtually every country in the Middle East. In spite of its relatively open, democratic, and pluralistic (though flawed and military-dominated) political system, however, for most of the post- WWII period Turkey’s economic structure and patterns of development bore an uncanny resemblance to the regional norm of underperformance and unfulfilled potentials. Although largely bereft of abundant natural resources and export commodities, Turkey was nonetheless saddled with a state-dominated, inward looking, uncompetitive, corrupt, and inefficient economy that was beset with anemic growth and chronically high levels of inflation, unemployment, disparity, mismanagement, debt, and deficit. The primary foundations for economic takeoff, including the dismantling of import substituting industrialization, encouragement of private initiative, retreat from autarky, and embrace of export led growth, were laid during the premiership/presidency of Turgut Ozal in the 1980’s. Nevertheless, the 1980’s were also a time of turmoil and disruptive transition during which inflation averaged 75 percent and the ratio of government debt to GDP was consistently and excessively high. The period also witnessed the emergence of cozy and unsustainable relations between the government, bureaucracy, banks, and corporations, which paved the way for subsequent financial scandals and crises. -
Anti-Europeanism and Euroscepticism in the United States
EUI WORKING PAPERS RSCAS No. 2004/25 Anti-Europeanism and Euroscepticism in the United States Patrick Chamorel EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies Transatlantic Programme Series 2004_25 Chamorel Cover.indd 1 10/11/2004 16:31:16 EUI Working Paper RSCAS No. 2004/25 Patrick Chamorel, Anti-Europeanism and Euroscepticism in the United States The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies carries out disciplinary and interdisciplinary research in the areas of European integration and public policy in Europe. It hosts the annual European Forum. Details of this and the other research of the centre can be found on: http://www.iue.it/RSCAS/Research/. Research publications take the form of Working Papers, Policy Papers, Distinguished Lectures and books. Most of these are also available on the RSCAS website: http://www.iue.it/RSCAS/Publications/. The EUI and the RSCAS are not responsible for the opinion expressed by the author(s). EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE, FLORENCE ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES Anti-Europeanism and Euroscepticism in the United States PATRICK CHAMOREL EUI Working Paper RSCAS No. 2004/25 BADIA FIESOLANA, SAN DOMENICO DI FIESOLE (FI) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing from the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. Download and print of the electronic edition for teaching or research non commercial use is permitted on fair use grounds—one readable copy per machine and one printed copy per page. Each copy should include the notice of copyright. -
Czech Debate on the EU Membership Perspectives of Turkey and Ukraine
Czech debate on the EU membership perspectives of Turkey and Ukraine David Král EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy November 2005 Acknowledgement: This report was written as part of an international project, mapping the state of debate on the EU membership perspectives of Turkey and Ukraine in four Central European countries: Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia and undertaken jointly by EUROPEUM, Institute of Public Affairs (Warsaw), Centre for Policy Studies at CEU (Budapest) and Peace Institute (Ljubljana). Introduction The question of further EU enlargement is an issue that remained very much on the table even after the May 2004 “Big Bang” expansion of the Union. While in the ten countries that recently acceded all the efforts thus far have been focusing on the rules and conditions of entering the exclusive club, not much space in the public debate remained for discussing the issue as to what are the further steps in EU enlargement, which countries should be considered for joining and what are the stakes of the new member states, including the Czech Republic, in the whole process. This paper will look into examining the Czech attitudes towards the EU membership perspectives of two countries: Turkey and Ukraine. It will deal with the attitudes of the political representation, including the political parties, government and diplomatic service (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and other governmental stakeholders. Further, it will try to give an account of how the issue was treated in the media, especially in the major opinion shaping newspapers. Thirdly, it will try to assess what are the other stakeholders in the process, especially within the ranks of the civil society and how they are likely to shape the public debate. -
The Curious Relationship
Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-76729-3 - Why NATO Endures Wallace J. Thies Excerpt More information 1 The Curious Relationship A curious relationship has developed within the Atlantic Alliance, also known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), since its inception in 1949. NATO is widely regarded as the most successful alliance ever, and statesmen on 1 both sides of the Atlantic have lavished praise upon it. They also complain incessantly about its shortcomings, most of which they blame on their counter- parts across the sea. These complaints have not gone unnoticed by observers in the press and academia, who have been quick to pronounce the Alliance ‘‘in crisis,’’ or even on the brink of collapse. Looking back over the history of the Alliance, there seems to have been scarcely a year when it was not widely said to 2 be in crisis, or at least in disarray. Is it really the case that NATO is perpetually on the brink of collapse? Claims that NATO is in crisis have been frequent in no small part because the idea of a crisis is a useful one for insiders and outsiders alike. For insiders, warning of an actual or impending crisis is the rhetorical equivalent of a shot across the bow – a way of serving notice that trouble is brewing and something should be done about it forthwith. For outsiders, a crisis in the Alliance is the rhetorical equiv- alent of an alarm bell – a way of dramatizing a problem that might otherwise be dismissed as unworthy of space on a prestigious op-ed page or in a scholarly journal. -
From Membership Referendums to European Elections
From membership referendums to European elections Jean-Michel De Waele The wave of referendums which was organised in the eight countries of Central Europe to ratify their membership of the European Union is a fascinating subject for research. This is, in fact, almost the first time that an almost identical question has been asked to the electors of eight different states within a period of less than one year. As we shall attempt to illustrate, this phenomenon raises important questions on the use of referendums in our societies and facilitates comparison. We then proceed to update the information by setting it alongside the results of the European elections in June 2004 and the referendums on membership of the European Union organised in 2003. Did these referendums foreshadow the broad trends identified the first time the new member states had an opportunity to elect European representatives? The rising number of referendums, including the new rounds organised in the eight Central European states to ratify the European Constitution, calls for serious consideration of the referendum question. What part does the referendum play in our modern representative democracies? How do we explain the increase in the use of the referendum in the decision-making process in the European states? What is the situation elsewhere in the world? When and why was the referendum decided upon as a way of making decisions? Is it possible to make comparisons? Can explanatory models be isolated? Do states which use referendums share common political and legislative features? There are many questions to be answered, but not so many have clear answers, partly because of the scope of the questions and partly because of the lack of genuinely comparative research undertaken in recent years on the subject. -
Nato Enlargement: Qualifications and Contributions—Parts I–Iv Hearings
S. HRG. 108–180 NATO ENLARGEMENT: QUALIFICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS—PARTS I–IV HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION MARCH 27, AND APRIL 1, 3 AND 8, 2003 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 90–325 PDF WASHINGTON : 2003 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 17:42 Nov 12, 2003 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 90325 SFORELA1 PsN: SFORELA1 COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana, Chairman CHUCK HAGEL, Nebraska JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware LINCOLN CHAFEE, Rhode Island PAUL S. SARBANES, Maryland GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio BARBARA BOXER, California LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee BILL NELSON, Florida NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire JON S. CORZINE, New Jersey KENNETH A. MYERS, JR., Staff Director ANTONY J. BLINKEN, Democratic Staff Director (II) VerDate 11-MAY-2000 17:42 Nov 12, 2003 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 90325 SFORELA1 PsN: SFORELA1 CONTENTS Thursday, March 27, 2003—Part I Page Allen, Hon. George, U.S. Senator from Virginia, opening statement ................. -
Pfizerlectures03.Pdf
On Corporate Governance The Corporation As It Ought to Be Michael Novak The AEI Press Publisher forthe American Enterprise Institute WASHINGTON, D.C. 1997 Available in the United States from the AEI Press, cf o Pub lisher Resources Inc., 1224 Heil Quaker Blvd., P.0. Box 7001, La Vergne, TN 37086-7001. Distributed outside the United States by arrangement with Eurospan, 3 Henrietta Street, London WC2E BLU England. ISBN 0-8447-7082-5 1357910 8 6 4 2 ©1997 by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission in writing from the American Enterprise Institute except in the case of brief quotations embodied in news articles, critical articles, or reviews. The views expressed in thepublications of the American Enterprise Institute are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect theviews of thestaff, advisory panels, officers,or trusteesof AEI. The AEI Press Publisher for the American Enterprise Institute 1150 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 Printed in the United States ofAmerica To the memory ofMichael A. Scully (1949-1996) who served his faith, his family, his country, and his business vocation well, and who was loved by his friendsas few men are. Contents PREFACE vii WHAT Is THE BUSINESS CORPORATION? 3 EXECUTNE ENERGY 5 THE ANT AND THE ELEPHANT 10 WHY Do FIRMS ExisT? 12 PIRATES! 13 MUTUAL FUNDS AND PENSION FUNDS 15 LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT STUFF 16 A WELL-LIGHTED PLACE 18 ON ENVY: "THOU SHALT NOT COVET" 19 Two TYPES OF INEQUALITY 22 JUSTIFYING UNEQUAL COMPENSATION 24 AGAINST APPEASEMENT 27 A CHEERFUL VIEW AT THE END OF A SORRY CENTURY 30 NOTES 33 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 45 v Preface n the summer of 1995, representatives of Pfizer Inc. -
1. Support a Strong Transatlantic Dialogue 2. Defend Pluralistic Democracy As a Core Value of Western Democracies 3
Although terrorism and the migrant crisis have, until The Steering Committee recently, attracted most of the headlines, in Europe Jeffrey Gedmin, Senior Fellow, Georgetown University; today one of the most serious threats to the democratic Sandra Kalniete, Member of the European Parliament, former order comes from Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin. Across the Foreign Minister of Latvia; continent, Russia is in the process of expanding its Petr Kolář, Chairman, European Values Initiative; former Czech military and political options by polarizing attitudes Ambassador to U.S. and Russia; David J. Kramer, Senior Director for Human Rights and Human among the public in target states. It spreads false Freedoms, McCain Institute; former President, Freedom House; information regarding United States and European Günter Krings, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry Union (EU) policies and intentions in order to decrease of the Interior (Germany); trust in democratic institutions and public support for Mike Rogers, Distinguished Fellow, Hudson Institute; former closer ties with the Euro-Atlantic community in states Member of Congress; former Chairman, House Intelligence both inside and outside of the EU. This campaign of Committee; Gary Schmitt, Resident Scholar, Co-Director of the Marilyn soft-power intervention created the need for a Ware Center for Security Studies and Director of the Program coordinated response carried out by both, the on American Citizenship, American Enterprise Institute; and European governments and civil society with an aim to Lucinda Creighton, Former Irish Minister of State for European improve communication, strengthen advocacy, and Affairs; increase outreach within the transatlantic community. Martin Bútora, Member, Slovak Atlantic Commission, former Slovak Ambassador to the US. -
NORMAN L. EISEN the Brookings Institution 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 238-3178 [email protected] [email protected]
1 AMBASSADOR (RET.) NORMAN L. EISEN The Brookings Institution 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 238-3178 [email protected] [email protected] CURRICULUM VITAE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE The Brookings Institution Senior Fellow, Governance Studies 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 September 2014–Present (Visiting Fellow through 12/2016; Fellow through 6/2017) Author of A Case for the American People: The United States v. Donald J. Trump (Crown 2020); The Last Palace: Europe’s Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House (Crown 2018); Democracy’s Defenders: U.S. Embassy Prague, the Fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia, and its Aftermath (Brookings Institution Press 2020); and numerous reports and other writings. Project chair and principal investigator of “Leveraging Transparency to Reduce Corruption,” a five-year global study examining transparency, accountability, and participation (TAP) mechanisms, along with their contextual factors, in the extractives industry. Convene and lead dialogues at Brookings with diplomatic, government, business, and nonprofit leaders from the United States and Europe. Speak before government bodies and other audiences on governance issues domestically and internationally, including regarding legislation, regulation, and policy formation. Regularly author op-eds in such outlets as the New York Times and the Washington Post and appear on television and radio to present transatlantic relations and governance issues to the general public. Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives Special Counsel 2138 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 February 2019–February 2020 Counsel for oversight and policy issues within the Committee’s jurisdiction, including the investigation, impeachment and trial of President Donald Trump.