DOCSLIB.ORG

The Vision of Europe in the New Member States

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Studies & Research N°50 The Vision of Europe in the New Member States Notre Europe asked different personalities of the New Member States to give their vision of Europe in 2020 Contributions of Carmel Attard (Malta), Jiři Dienstbier (Czech Republic), Jaan Kaplinski (Estonia), Ioannis Kasoulides (Cyprus), Manja Klemenčič (Slovenia), Lena Kolarska-Bobinska (Poland), Lore Listra (Estonia), Petr Pithart (Czech Republic), Pauls Raudseps (Latvia), Gintaras Steponavicius (Lithuania), Elzbieta Skotnicka-Illasiewcz (Poland), Miklós Szabo (Hungary). Summary by Gaëtane Ricard-Nihoul, Paul Damm and Morgan Larhant Authors of the summary Gaëtane Ricard-Nihoul Graduate from Liege University in political science and public administration, Gaëtane Ricard- Nihoul was awarded a Mphil and a Dphil in European politics and society by Oxford University. Her research focused on policy formation in the European Union, and more particularly on education policy. From 1999 to 2002, she was in charge of the team for "European and international affairs", in the cabinet of the Belgian Vice-Prime Minister Isabelle Durant, also Minister for Mobility and Transport. She acted, among other things, as a coordinator during the Belgian presidency of the EU Council. As an adviser for insitutional matters, she represented the Vice-Prime Minister in the Belgian delegation at the WTO ministerial conference in Seattle and also in the Inter- Governemental Conference, taking part in the Biarritz, Nice and Laeken European Councils. She was also a member of the Belgian government working group on the Laeken Declaration. Gaëtane Ricard-Nihoul then joined the European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture, in the Audiovisual Policy unit. Employed in the Sector for external relations, she was in charge of the accession negociations with the 13 applicant countries for audiovisual matters as well as the relations with countries from the Western Balkans and South Mediterranea. She also assumed the coordination of an interservice group on intercultural dialogue and followed the work of the Convention on culture. In April 2004, she joined Notre Europe, first as President adviser, then as Secretary General. Morgan Larhant Morgan Larhant graduated of Sciences Po Strasbourg (IEP de Strasbourg), the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna (MAIS) and the University of Political Sciences in Paris (research master). He published a book about the financing of European election campaigns (published by Harmattan). During his internship at Notre Europe he was responsible for the ratification process of the Constitutional Treaty in France and in Europe and then as a research fellow for institutional questions. At the moment he is attending a preparation class for qualifying examinations in the administrative field. Paul Damm Paul Damm is a graduate of Sciences Po in Paris, the Louvre school and the Sorbonne. For his thesis he chose to write about the French Navy in the 18th century. At Sciences Po in the framework of the European Convention of students of political sciences his research focused on educational questions. During his current internship at Notre Europe Paul Damm is in charge of communication and public relations. Authors of the contributions CARMEL ATTARD (MALTA) Carmel Attard is the director of the Malta-EU Information Centre (MIC). He joined MIC as a press attaché in July 2000 after nine years in journalism as the editor-in-chief of a Maltese weekly and information director of a national radio station. He had previously served as a teacher for 10 years.. JIRI DIENSTBIER (CZECH REPUBLIC) Graduate in philosophy from Charles University in Prague, Jiri Dienstbier has served as prime minister and foreign minister of Czechoslovakia, ambassador and representative of President Vaclav Havel to the United Nations. In addition, he has been a rapporteur for the former Yugoslavia at the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees). He is a member of the International Press Institute and of the Commission on Global Governance. Jiri Dienstbier has written a number of works, including: Donesia: From Sukarno to Suharto (1967); Radio against Tanks (1988); Dreaming of Europe (1990); From Dreams to Reality (1999); and The Blood Tax (2002). JAAN KAPLINSKI (ESTONIA) After studying linguistics at Tartu University, Jaan Kaplinski has been a researcher in linguistics, anthropology and ecology, director of the literary department of a theatre and journalist. From 1992 to 1995, he was a member of parliament in Estonia. As a poet, he translated French, Spanish, English, Polish, Russian and Swedish poetry and prose. He is considered as being one of the greatest living Estonian poets and is a member of the Universal Academy of Cultures, founded in 1992 in Paris by Elie Wiesel. He has been regularly put forward for the Nobel Prize in Literature. IOANNIS KASOULIDES (CYPRUS) Having graduated in medicine in 1974, Ioannis Kasoulides began his political career in 1985 by joining the Democratic Rally party (DISY) of Cyprus, where he served, amongst other posts, as chairman of the party’s youth movement. His high level of activity was rewarded in 1991 when he was elected Member of Parliament for Nicosia and was subsequently appointed government spokesman. From 1997 to 2003 he served as minister for foreign affairs of the Republic of Cyprus. He is now a Member of the European Parliament (EPP-ED) where he sits in the foreign affairs committee. He is also a member of the delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly and vice-president of the parliament’s delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council. MANJA KLEMENCIC (SLOVÉNIA) Manja Klemenčič is studying for a Phd at the Centre of International Studies, University of Cambridge. In her research, Manja analyses patterns of government coalitions and negotiation strategies within the EU-25, with specific focus on the Convention on the Future of Europe and the 2003/04 InterGovernmental Conference. Her other area of specialty is European higher education policy in the context of the Bologna Process. Manja graduated in economics from the University of Maribor, Slovenia, and in European Studies from the University of Cambridge. LENA KOLARSKA–BOBINSKA (POLAND) Lena Kolarska-Bobinska is professor of sociology, she had worked at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Polish Academy of Sciences (1970-1991) and she was director of the Public Opinion Research Center, Poland’s biggest public opinion survey institute (1991-1997). She was a member of the Socioeconomic Strategy Committee – advisory board of the Polish Prime Minister (2002-2005) and member of the Advisory Group to the EU Commissioner responsible for “Social Sciences and Humanities in the European Research Area” in the European Commission. Currently, she is director of the Institute of Public Affairs, an independent non-partisan public policy think tank. LORE LISTRA (ESTONIA) She has been the director of the Estonian Institute, where she acted as a consultant for 2 years, since 1995. She studied Romance languages and literature and German languages and literature at Tartu University. She graduated in 2003 with a master’s degree in economics at Tallinn Technical University. From 1990 to 1992 she worked in the department of foreign affairs in the Ministry of Culture. In 2001 she was bestowed with the honour of becoming a ‘Chevalier dans l'Ordre National du Mérite’. She is a member of the national commission of UNESCO and vice president of the national programme ‘Estonian culture and languages in the world’. She works on various magazines such as ‘Estonian Literary Magazine’, ‘Estonian Art’ and ‘Estonian Culture’. PETR PITHART (CZECH REPUBLIC) Czech politician, political scientist and legal historian Petr Pithart was one of the first to sign Charter 77 in 1977. He was one of the founders and top representatives of Občanské Fórum (Civic Forum) after November 1989. After the overthrow of the regime, he served as prime minister of Czech Republic (part of federal Czechoslovakia) from 1990 to 1992. After the split of the country he served the Czech Republic as President of the Senate from 1996 to 1998 and from 2000 to 2004. He is now member of the KDU-ČSL party (Christian and Democratic Union, Czechoslovak People’s Party). He is author of books on the modern history of 1968 and of political essays (The Year 1968, Defence of politics and History and Politics and others). PAULS RAUDSEPS (LATVIA) Pauls Raudseps is editorial page editor of Diena, the largest and most respected daily in Latvia. Mr. Raudseps was one of the newspaper's founders. He was born in the United States to Latvian parents, came to Latvia in 1990 to work for the Latvian independence movement, and has been living there ever since. He holds degrees in Russian history from Harvard College and Indiana University. GINTARAS STEPONAVICIUS (LITHUANIA) Gintaras Steponavicius was one of the founders in 1990 of the Lithuanian Liberal Union, of which he has been the vice president since 2001, currently – the vice president of the Lithuanian Liberal Movement. He worked for the CSCE (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe), and has lectured at the Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences at the University of Vilnius, where he graduated in law. Member of Parliament in Lithuania since 2000, he is now Deputy Speaker of the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament), a member of the European Affairs and Education, Science and Culture committees (ALDE, centre ground liberal party). ELZBIETA SKOTNICKA-ILLASIEWCZ (POLAND) She is advisor to the Minister Office of the Committee for European Integration, Member of the Polish European Movement and “Poland in Europe” Foundation. She cooperates with the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw University and Collegium Civitas in Warsaw. She has written a number of works, including: Parliamentary elite vis-a-vis Poland’s membership in the European Union, The First Year of Membership in the Social Evaluation, The Election to the European’s Parliament in Social Opinion Pools, The Costs and Benefits of Poland’s European Union Membership in Social Awerness.
Recommended publications
  • Thatcherism Czech Style

    Thatcherism Czech Style

    TITLE : Thatcherism, Czech Style : Organized Labor and the Transition to Capitalism in the Czech Republic AUTHOR: Peter Rutland Wesleyan University THE NATIONAL COUNCI L FOR SOVIET AND EAST EUROPEA N RESEARC H 1755 Massachusetts Avenue, N .W . Washington, D .C . 20036 INFORMATIONPROJECT :* CONTRACTOR : Brown University PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR : Linda J . Coo k COUNCIL CONTRACT NUMBER : 807-24 DATE : April 30, 199 3 COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Individual researchers retain the copyright on work products derived from research funded b y Council Contract. The Council and the U.S. Government have the right to duplicate written reports and other materials submitted under Council Contract and to distribute such copies within th e Council and U.S. Government for their own use, and to draw upon such reports and materials for their own studies; but the Council and U.S. Government do not have the right to distribute, o r make such reports and materials available outside the Council or U.S. Government without th e written consent of the authors, except as may be required under the provisions of the Freedom o f Information Act 5 U.S.C. 552, or other applicable law . The work leading to this report was supported by contract funds provided by the National Council fo r Soviet and East European Research . The analysis and interpretations contained in the report are those of th e author. CONTENT S Executive Summary i Roots i i The Political Consolidation of the Market Reformers i i The Economic Reform Program iii The Role of Labor Unions in the Transition t o
  • Download Article

    Download Article

    5 Comment & Analysis CE JISS 2008 Czech Presidential Elections: A Commentary Petr Just Again after fi ve years, the attention of the Czech public and politicians was focused on the Presidential elections, one of the most important milestones of 2008 in terms of Czech political developments. The outcome of the last elections in 2003 was a little surprising as the candidate of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Václav Klaus, represented the opposition party without the necessary majority in both houses of Parliament. Instead, the ruling coalition of the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), the Christian-Democratic Union – Czecho- slovak Peoples Party (KDU-ČSL), and the Union of Freedom – Democratic Union (US-DEU), accompanied by some independent and small party Senators was able – just mathematically – to elect its own candidate. However, a split in the major coalition party ČSSD, and support given to Klaus by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM), brought the Honorary Chairman of the ODS, Václav Klaus, to the Presidential offi ce. In February 2007, on the day of the forth anniversary of his fi rst elec- tion, Klaus announced that he would seek reelection in 2008. His party, the ODS, later formally approved his nomination and fi led his candidacy later in 2007. Klaus succeeded in his reelection attempt, but the way to defending the Presidency was long and complicated. In 2003 members of both houses of Parliament, who – according to the Constitution of the Czech Republic – elect the President at the Joint Session, had to meet three times before they elected the President, and each attempt took three rounds.
  • How Teachers Cope with Social and Educational Transformation

    How Teachers Cope with Social and Educational Transformation

    How Teachers Cope with Social and Educational Transformation Struggling with Multicultural Education in the Czech Classroom Dana Moree EMAN 2008 How Teachers Cope with Social and Educational Transformation Struggling with Multicultural Education in the Czech Classroom Hoe docenten omgaan met sociale en educatieve veranderingen met een samenvatting in het Nederlands Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Universiteit voor Humanistiek te Utrecht op gezag van de Rector, prof. dr. Hans Alma ingevolge het besluit van het College van Hoogleraren in het openbaar te verdedigen op 24 november 2008 des voormiddags te 10.30 uur door Dana Moree Geboren op 20 November 1974 te Praag PROMOTORES: Prof.dr. Wiel Veugelers Universiteit voor Humanistiek Prof.dr. Jan Sokol Charles University Praag Co-promotor: Dr. Cees Klaassen Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen BEOORDELINGSCOMMISSIE: Prof. dr. Chris Gaine University of Chichester Prof.dr. Ivor Goodson University of Bristol Prof. dr. Douwe van Houten Universiteit voor Humanistiek Dr. Yvonne Leeman Universiteit van Amsterdam Dr. Petra Zhřívalová Charles University Praag This thesis was supported by the projects: The Anthropology of Communication and Human Adaptation (MSM 0021620843) and Czechkid – Multiculturalism in the Eyes of Children. for Peter, Frank and Sebastian EMAN, Husova 656, 256 01 Benešov http://eman.evangnet.cz Dana Moree HOW TEACHERS COPE WITH SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATION Struggling with Multicultural Education in the Czech Classroom First edition, Benešov 2008 © Dana Moree 2008 Typhography: Petr Kadlec Coverlayout: Hana Kolbe ISBN 978-80-86211-62-6 7 Contents Acknowledgements . 9 Introduction . 10 Chapter 1 – Transformation of the cultural composition of the Czech Republic . 15 Introduction .
  • The Václav Havel Library Annual Report 2017 2 Lidé Knihovny Václava Havla

    The Václav Havel Library Annual Report 2017 2 Lidé Knihovny Václava Havla

    The Václav Havel Library Annual Report 2017 2 Lidé Knihovny Václava Havla Published in 2018 by the charity the Václav Havel Library registered at the Municipal Court in Prague, file O 338 dated 26 July 2004 statutory representative: Michael Žantovský address: Ostrovní 13, 110 00 Prague 1 Identification no. 27169413 / Tax identification no. CZ 27169413 Bank accounts: 7077 7077 / 0300 CZK; IBAN: CZ61 0300 0000 0000 7077 7077 7755 7755 / 0300 EUR; IBAN: CZ40 0300 0000 0000 7755 7755 7747 7747 / 0300 USD; IBAN: CZ66 0300 0000 0000 7747 7747 SWIFT CODE: CEKO CZPP Tel.: (+420) 222 220 112 Email: [email protected] The Václav Havel Library is registered according to the libraries law under registration no. 6343/2007 at the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic www.vaclavhavel-library.org www.facebook.com/KnihovnaVaclavaHavla www.facebook.com/VaclavHavelLibrary www.youtube.com/knihovnaVaclavahavla www.twitter.com/KnihovnaVH www.twitter.com/HavelLibraries www.instagram.com/knihovnaVaclavahavla Lidé Knihovny Václava Havla 3 It only makes sense as a living or vital organism that occupies a place that cannot be overlooked in overall public and political life. […] The Library must in some way be original as such, in itself, in its everyday nature, as a permanently existing phenomenon or place. Václav Havel A Few Sentences on the Václav Havel Library Hrádeček 4 Contents Contents on the preparation of film documents THE VÁCLAV HAVEL LIBRARY and retrospectives PEOPLE OF THE VÁCLAV HAVEL LIBRARY PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES Founders Best-selling
  • The Rise and Decline of the New Czech Right

    The Rise and Decline of the New Czech Right

    Blue Velvet: The Rise and Decline of the New Czech Right Manuscript of article for a special issue of the Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics on the Right in Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe Abstract This article analyses the origins, development and comparative success centre-right in the Czech Republic. It focuses principally on the the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) of Václav Klaus, but also discusses a number of smaller Christian Democratic, liberal and anti-communist groupings, insofar as they sought to provide right-wing alternatives to Klaus’s party. In comparative terms, the article suggests, the Czech centre-right represents an intermediate case between those of Hungary and Poland. Although Klaus’s ODS has always been a large, stable and well institutionalised party, avoiding the fragmentation and instability of the Polish right, the Czech centre- right has not achieved the degree of ideological and organisational concentration seen in Hungary. After discussing the evolution and success of Czech centre-right parties between 1991 and 2002, the article reviews a number of factors commonly used to explain party (system) formation in the region in relation to the Czech centre- right. These include both structural-historical explanations and ‘political’ factors such as macro-institutional design, strategies of party formation in the immediate post-transition period, ideological construction and charismatic leadership. The article argues that both the early success and subsequent decline of the Czech right were rooted in a single set of circumstances: 1) the early institutionalisation of ODS as dominant party of the mainstream right and 2) the right’s immediate and successful taking up of the mantel of market reform and technocratic modernisation.
  • Paragon Or Parody?

    Paragon Or Parody?

    Peter Bugge CZECH DEMOCRACY 1918-1938 - PARAGON OR PARODY? Appraisals of the political systém of the Czechoslovak 'First Republic' have varied greatly, ranging from the utmost praise to utter condemnation. Needless to say, these evaluations have not been unaffected by the political or national context in which they appeared. So, British and American accounts usually have been favourable towards the First Republic, while German portraits have tended to be less flattering.1 In the post-1948 Czech context, the more oppressive the Communist regime was, the more hostile its attitude toward the First Republic. Conversely, after 1989, ad- miration of the First Republic seemed almost mandatory in public discourse as well as in scholarly writings.2 Indeed, in 1995 President Václav Havel held up the State as Compare Mamatey, Victor S./Luža, Radomír (eds.): A History of the Czechoslovak Republic 1918-1948, Princeton 1973 to Hoensch, Jörg K.: Geschichte der Tschechoslowa­ kischen Republik 1918-1965. Stuttgart 1966, or to Bosl, Karl (ed.): Handbuch der Ge­ schichte der böhmischen Länder. Vol. 4, Stuttgart 1970. I refer to post-war West German literatuře only. In recent years the picture has become far more varied on both sides of the Atlantic and German scholarship focussed less on Sudeten German grievances. See for instance Miller, Daniel E.: Forging Political Compromise: Antonin Svehla and the Czecho­ slovak Republican Party 1918-1933. Pittsburgh 1999. -Feinberg, Melissa: Elusive Equality: Gender, Citizenship, and the Limits of Democracy in Czechoslovakia, 1918-1950. Pittsburgh 2006. - Zakra, Tara: Kidnapped Souls: National Indifference and the Battle for Children in the Bohemian Lands, 1900-1948.
  • What Is Estonian Philosophy?

    What Is Estonian Philosophy?

    What is Estonian Philosophy? Margit Sutrop Department of Philosophy, University of Tartu e purpose of this article is to inquire what should belong in an encyclopedia arti- cle entitled “Estonian philosophy,” should one ever endeavour to write it. e ques- tion “What is Estonian philosophy?” has two parts. First we have to know what we mean by the concept philosophy and aer that how we would specify Estonian phi- losophy? Relying on a Wittgensteinian approach, I will argue that philosophy is an open concept. Although all philosophical works have some resemblances to other philosophical works, it is impossible to nd criteria characteristic of all the varieties of schools and traditions in which philosophizing is carried out. Philosophy should be understood as a certain social practice. ere can, however, be a large number of dierent practices. I will show that if by Estonian philosophy we have in mind a philosophy that is originally and purely Estonian, then at this point such does not exist. If by Estonian philosophy we mean philosophy created in Estonia, regardless of the practitioners’ ethnicity and the language in which they wrote, the history of our philosophy is very rich and diverse. People of many dierent ethnicities have created philosophy in Estonia, articulating their philosophical ideas in Estonian, English, German, Latin, Russian, and Swedish. And if we broaden our concept of Estonian philosophy to also include the work of philosophers of Estonian extraction living abroad, then one could write quite a respectable article on the topic. Keywords: denition of philosophy, Estonian philosophy, philosophy in Estonia, University of Tartu, family resemblance, open concept, African philosophy, Danish philosophy, Finnish philosophy Õ.
  • The Never ‑Ending Story: Czech Governments, Corruption And

    The Never ‑Ending Story: Czech Governments, Corruption And

    The Never ‑ending Story: Czech Governments, Corruption and Populist Anti ‑Corruption 1 Rhetoric (2010–2018) VLADIMÍR NAXERA Politics in Central Europe (ISSN: 1801-3422) Vol. 14, No. 3 DOI: 10.2478/pce-2018-0017 Abstract: Corruption is a phenomenon with significant effects – economically, politi‑ cally and culturally. Corruption tends to be viewed negatively by the public. As such, anti‑corruption rhetoric may be an ideal election strategy for individual political parties. Nevertheless, anti‑corruption rhetoric does not necessarily translate into an actual anti ‑corruption policy. This study analyses the impact of anti ‑corruption rhetoric that does not reflect the actual practices of its speaker and has been used strategically to gain favour. My focus is on elections and the subsequent formation and exercise of government in the Czech Republic. I analyse how anti‑corruption rhetoric directed at political opponents works as an election success strategy. At the same time, I show how electoral success, transformed into real political power, strengthens the ability of actors to engage in activities that amount to borderline or outright corruption, irrespective of any anti ‑corruption rhetoric. Keywords: corruption, Czech politics, anti ‑corruption, Czech government, populism. Introduction The research for this study was completed at the beginning of 2018, a time when the Czech Republic found itself in a unique political situation. Parliamentary elections in the autumn of 2017 had resulted in the clear victory of the ANO 1 This study has been supported by Institutional Support for Long­‑term Conceptual Development of a Research Organization 2018 at the Department of Politics and International Relations in the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.
  • Eesti Voldik Inglise Keelne.Indd

    Eesti Voldik Inglise Keelne.Indd

    E S T O N I A Look and you will see! Estonia Estonia • facts • national symbols • anthem • miscellaneous • Estonia is like a wild strawberry: small, pristine, diffi cult to fi nd… and those who don’t know how to, fail to recognise and “ value it. But once we possess it, once it’s ours, then it’s one of the best things of all.” Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia Offi cial name: Republic of Estonia Currency: Euro (EUR) Anthem: Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm Flag: Blue-black-and-white /My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy/ National bird: Barn swallow (Fredrik Pacius) National fl ower:C o r n fl o w e r Capital: Tallinn Number of islands: 1521 Area: 45,227 km2 Highest point: Population: 1,311,870 Suur Munamägi / Offi cial language: Estonian Great Egg Hill/, 318 m Head of state: President Toomas Hendrik Ilves Member of NATO, EU, UN, System of government: Parliamentary republic OSCE, OECD & WTO National day: 24 February (Independence Day, 1918) See more: www.eesti.ee https://twitter.com/IlvesToomas www.estonia.eu www.valitsus.ee https://www.facebook.com/eesti.ee www.tallinn.ee http://xgis.maaamet.ee/xGIS/XGis www.estonianworld.com www.president.ee What COUNTRY is this? What country is this? There are no mountains, just endless forests and swamps. “ But the people here are full of magic power and their songs are mysterious.” Peeter Volkonski, musician, actor and poet Th e population of Estonia is a little over a million – roughly as much as in cities like Milan, Dallas or Munich.
  • The Czech E Xp Erience

    The Czech E Xp Erience

    …Today, fifteen years on, we are trying to learn from both our achievements and our failures. We try to imagine the position of those who will take power tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, somewhere close or a world apart. In doing so, we assume responsibility for the future of those countries setting out on the difficult road to freedom, countries that will find themselves on a stage, thrust into the spotlight… Petr Pithart The Czech Experience BBurma_cover_ORANZ.inddurma_cover_ORANZ.indd 1 99/26/06/26/06 99:32:41:32:41 PMPM Transformation: The Czech Experience Published by People in Need with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Prague 2006 Printed by Hugo printing company Pražská 16, 102 21 Praha 10, Czech Republic ISBN 80-86961-12-5 (English version) ISBN 80-86961-05-2 (Spanish version) ISBN 80-86961-06-0 (Belarus version) Transformation: The Czech Experience Table of contents Preface: The First Days Petr Pithart 7 Czechoslovakia’s Return to Democracy Jiří Suk 9 Constitutionality and Retroactivity in Central Europe Jiří Přibáň 29 The Fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia Ján Čarnogurský 43 Changes in the Judiciary Jaroslav Marek 51 My Reflections on the Transformation of the Judiciary Otakar Motejl 57 Economic Reforms Viktor Hanzlík 61 Privatisation Tomáš Ježek 81 The Seamy Side of Banking Sector Transformation Jan Hájek 89 Army Transformation Jan Eichler 99 Transformation of the Interior Ministry and Security Forces Jan Frolík 103 My Time at the Interior Ministry Jan Ruml 111 The Transformation of the
  • Sborník Z Konference „1989–2009: Společnost – Dějiny – Politika“

    Sborník Z Konference „1989–2009: Společnost – Dějiny – Politika“

    SBORNÍK Z KONFERENCE „1989–2009: SPOLEČNOST – DĚJINY – POLITIKA“ Reflexe dvacátého výročí událostí listopadu a prosince 1989 se celkem pochopitelně většinou pohybují v prostoru mezi vzpomínáním na to, jak zvláštně a překvapivě se onen velký zlom odehrál, a mezi rozčarováním nad současnou kvalitou české demokracie. Proč se ale naopak nesoustředit na aspekty a oblasti, které se měnily jen velmi pozvolna, a na nově vzniklé jevy či instituce, které i přes svou novost vězely svými kořeny v minulosti? Právě tuto perspektivu sledovala konference „1989-2009: Společnost – Dějiny - Politika“, na níž se v září 2009 sešli badatelé a badatelky v oblasti historiografie a sociálních věd z České republiky, Slovenska, Maďarska, Německa, Francie, Británie a USA. Poodstoupením od tázání po „vyrovnání se s komunistickou minulostí“ vznikl velmi bohatý a plastický obraz konce komunismu a začátku nové éry české demokracie se všemi jejich předpoklady, iluzemi, přesahy a kontinuitami. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Úvod Adéla Gjuričová Elektronický sborník, který právě otvíráte, nabízí většinu toho nejzajímavějšího, co zaznělo na konferenci „1989–2009: Společnost. Dějiny. Politika“ konané v polovině září 2009 v Liblicích. Během konference se projevila shoda na tom, že při dvacátém výročí roku 1989 je třeba namísto svolávání velkých jmen posunout perspektivu tázání od soustředěnosti na moment „sametové revoluce“ ke sledování kontinuit s předcházejícím obdobím i lety následujícími. Toto porozumění bylo celkem nepochybně sdíleno mladší generací historiků a sociálních vědců, na konferenci nejsilněji zastoupenou, ale i několika „velkými jmény“, která přijela a nakonec v plénu strávila oba konferenční dny (např. Petr Pithart a Jacques Rupnik), a také hlavními pořadateli – Ústavem pro soudobé dějiny AV ČR, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Praha a Goethe-Institutem Praha.
  • Vol. 44, No. 5, September-October 2002

    Vol. 44, No. 5, September-October 2002

    Czechoslovak Society ZPRÁVY of Arts and Sciences, Inc. Společnosti pro vědy a umění SVU NEWS Electronic Publication September-October 2002 No. 5/2002 Commentary on and Reflections from the SVU World Congress in Plzeň: Contents of this Issue: Plzeň with Flying Colors SVU World Congress in Plzen: Plzeň with Flying Colors o Remarks by H.E. Margaret Huber Although there were some initial skeptics who had concerns whether our o Remarks by Hon. Petr Pithart Plzeň co-organizers, who had no previous experience with such a mammoth Remarks by Dr. Miloslav Rechcigl, Jr. undertaking, could swing it, I am delighted to report that our Plzeň Congress o State of the SVU in 2002 was a smashing success, thanks to the persevering efforts and boundless enthusiasm of Dean Ivo Budil and his associates Mgr. Ivona Skanderova and From New SVU Rolls Bc. Marta Varejkova. It was the army of his young people – there must have SVU Human Tolerance Award been some fifty of them – all of whom attend the University of West Activities of SVU Members Bohemia, who made the difference. They seemed to be everywhere, In Memoriam handsome looking with pleasant smiles and helping hand, many of whom Focus on Younger Generation spoke flawless English. Most of them sat behind a whole array of computers, SVU Calendar 2002 both at the registration desk and at the press room. They were not only computer literate, many of them were real pros. Some of these young people plenary session was devoted to a special were in evidence already upon our arrival at the Prague Airport carrying symposium, “Czech and Slovak highly visible signs “SVU World Congress” for easy identification.