MASARYKUNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL STUDIES DepartmentofInternationalRelationsand European Studies Comparison of Czech and Austrian Foreign Policies and their Politics towards South Asia Diploma Thesis Bc. David Minařík Supervisor: PhDr. Břetislav Dančák, PhD. UČO: 74920 Field: MVES Matriculation year: 2006 Brno, 2008 I herebyprofess that I have writtenthe diploma thesis Comparisonof CzechandAustrian ForeignPolicies andtheir Politics towards SouthAsia alone,usingonlythe literature and resourcesgiveninthe list. Bc.DavidMinařík On this place I would like to thank the supervisor of my diploma thesis PhDr. BřetislavDančák,PhD.for his advice andguidance duringmywork.I wouldlike tothank as well Univ.Prof.Ottmar Höll for his advice duringmyresearchstayat the Universityof Vienna andtothe CzechEmbassyinNew Delhi for providing me withthe opportunity of a researchinternship there andall the employees there for sharingtheir knowledge withme. Last butnot least,Iwant tothankAndreaRuthardtforheradviceandsupport. Abstract: Diploma thesis “Comparison of Austrian and Czech Foreign Policies and their Politics towards SouthAsia” first examines general principles andfundaments of Czech and Austrian foreign policy, identifies and analyzes main aspects of foreign policies of both countries – the historic developments, political, economic and security aspects, position in the international organizations, promotion of human rights and provided development cooperation.The comparison of these aspects is not just the first task of the thesis but also- together withoverview of basic developments in South Asia and of the role of the EU inthis region- provides broader frame for analysis andcomparisonof the foreign policies of both countries towards South Asia. Comparing Czech and Austrian politics towards SouthAsia the author works withthe same aspects of the foreignpolicyas inthe general part andidentifies commonthings anddifferences inthe attitudes of both countriesandthereasonsforit. Anotace: Diplomová práce „Srovnání české a rakouské zahraniční politiky obecně a vůči jižní Asii“ nejdříve zkoumá obecné principy a východiska české a rakuské zahraniční politiky.Identifikuje a analyzuje hlavní aspektyzahraniční politikyobou zemí –zhlediska historického vývoje, politických, ekonomických a bezpečnostních aspektů, pozice vmezinárodních organizacích, podpory lidských práv a poskytované rozvojové spolupráce.Srovnání těchtoaspektůslouží jakoprvní ze dvoucílůpráce a zároveň, spolu snastíněním základních vývojů vjižní Asii a role Evropské Unie vtomto regionu, poskytuje širší rámec proanalýzua srovnání zahraniční politikyobouzemí vůči jižní Asii. Při srovnání politik ČR a Rakouska vůči jižní Asii autor pracuje se stejnými aspekty zahraniční politiky jako vobecné části a snaží se identifikovat shody a rozdílnosti vpřístupechobouzemí adůvody,pročtomutakje. TABLEOFCONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................1 1 CZECHANDAUSTRIANFOREIGNPOLICIES ......................................................6 1.1 CZECH FOREIGN POLICY .........................................................................................6 1.1.1 Foreignpolicydevelopmentsafterthe1989revolution ................................6 1.1.1.1 Czechoslovakia after the revolution .................................................................... 7 1.1.1.2 Czech Republic´s “early years” - the right-centre governments ........................ 10 1.1.1.3 Foreign policy under the Social democracy lead governments ......................... 13 1.1.1.4 The developments after 2006 – ODS lead governments ................................... 16 1.1.2 Ideological andpoliticalfundamentsofCzechforeignpolicy ....................17 1.1.2.1 Legacy of eastern-block relations ...................................................................... 20 1.1.3 Political andeconomic positionintheworld ..............................................21 1.1.3.1 Czech Republic and EU ..................................................................................... 22 1.1.3.2 Czech Republic in other international organizations ......................................... 23 1.1.4 Czechsecurityposition ................................................................................25 1.1.5 Humanrights ...............................................................................................26 1.1.6 Developmentaid ..........................................................................................28 1.2 AUSTRIAN FOREIGN POLICY ..................................................................................31 1.2.1 ForeignpolicydevelopmentsoftheSecondAustrianRepublic .................31 1.2.1.1 Journey to the state sovereignty ......................................................................... 31 1.2.1.2 Second Republic’s early years ........................................................................... 33 1.2.1.3 Austrian foreign policy emancipation ................................................................ 34 1.2.1.4 The decline of Austrian world activism - 1980s ................................................ 36 1.2.1.5 Foreign policy in the 1990s ............................................................................... 38 1.2.1.6 Foreign policy after 2000 ................................................................................... 41 1.2.1.7 The developments since 2007 ............................................................................ 42 1.2.2 Ideological andpoliticalfundamentsofAustrianforeignpolicy................43 1.2.3 Political andeconomic positionintheworld ..............................................45 1.2.3.1 Austria and the EU ............................................................................................. 46 1.2.3.2 Austria in other international organizations ....................................................... 49 1.2.4 Austriansecurityposition............................................................................50 1.2.5 Humanrights ...............................................................................................52 1.2.6 Developmentaid ..........................................................................................54 1.3 CONCLUSION OF THE CHAPTER .............................................................................56 2 THESOUTHASIANCOUNTRIESANDTHE EUROLEINSOUTH ASIA ........60 2.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES .......................................60 2.1.1 India .............................................................................................................61 2.1.2 Bangladesh ..................................................................................................64 2.1.3 Bhutan..........................................................................................................65 2.1.4 TheMaldives ...............................................................................................66 2.1.5 Nepal ............................................................................................................67 2.1.6 SriLanka .....................................................................................................69 2.2 BASIC FRAMEWORK OF THE EU´ S ACTIVITIES IN SOUTH ASIA ..............................70 2.2.1 EUactivitiesintheSouthAsiancountries ..................................................73 2.2.1.1 EU and India ...................................................................................................... 73 2.2.1.2 EU and Bangladesh ............................................................................................ 75 2.2.1.3 EU and Bhutan ................................................................................................... 76 2.2.1.4 EU and The Maldives ........................................................................................ 76 2.2.1.5 EU and Nepal ..................................................................................................... 76 2.2.1.6 EU and Sri Lanka ............................................................................................... 77 2.2.2 ImpactoftheEUroleonthecountry’s policies ..........................................78 2.3 CONCLUSION OF THE CHAPTER .............................................................................79 3 CZECHREPUBLIC ANDAUSTRIAINSOUTHASIA ..........................................81 3.1 CZECH REPUBLIC IN SOUTH ASIA .........................................................................81 3.1.1 RelationstowardsIndia ...............................................................................83 3.1.1.1 Historical development of the relations with India ............................................ 83 3.1.1.2 Current political relations .................................................................................. 85 3.1.1.3 Economic relations ............................................................................................ 87 3.1.1.4 Security issues ................................................................................................... 89 3.1.2 Relationstowardsother SouthAsiancountries ..........................................90 3.1.2.1 Bangladesh ......................................................................................................... 90 3.1.2.2 Bhutan ................................................................................................................ 91 3.1.2.3 The Maldives