Archive 1/2012

Vít Beneš
Institute of International Relations, Czech Republic
email: benes@iir.cz

Abstract

This article maps state visits by the presidents of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Austria between 2004 and 2010. It has two goals. First, the article describes and compares the structure of the five presidents’ state visits according to the countries and regions visited and according to the type of visit (official, working, or multilateral visit). Second, data about the state visits of the heads of states are utilized as an indicator of the geopolitical orientation of the respective state. All five countries under study show strong geopolitical orientation towards Western Europe, especially Germany. Nevertheless, our data also show certain differences in geopolitical priorities. Poland stands out with its extraordinarily strong orientation towards Eastern and Northern Europe (the Baltics). The Czech Republic is characterised by a relatively stronger preference for the transatlantic relationship. Our data also show that Hungary is to a certain degree isolated as it is not a favoured destination for presidential visits.

Key words

state visits, foreign travel, foreign policy, geopolitical priorities, president, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Austria

Vratislav Havlík
Department of International Relations and European Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
email: v.havlik@centrum.cz

Vít Hloušek
Department of International Relations and European Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
email: hlousek@fss.muni.cz

Abstract

The article deals with the “state of the art” of municipal and local politics research in Germany. The main objective is to describe and analyze good practice in German sub-regional politics research and to demonstrate its main distinctive features. The paper provides a general overview of current approaches to sub-regional politics research existing mainly in the framework of political science with strong connections to other disciplines (such as law or sociology) and a strong tendency to form a multidisciplinary approach. Our analysis deals with the following: a description of the main research institutions and distinguished scholars in the field, a discussion of prevailing topics, and a study of the most cited publication outcomes since the year 2000. The paper also examines the main differences between Czech and German research in the field of municipal and local politics.

Key words

Municipal politics, local politics, German political science, multi-level governance

Jiří Šubrt
Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Czech Republic
email: jiri.subrt@ff.cuni.cz

Jiří Vinopal
Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Czech Republic
email: jiri.vinopal@ff.cuni.cz

Stanislav Hampl
STEM s.r.o., Czech Republic
email: hampl@stem.cz

Michal Pullmann
Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Czech Republic
michal.pullmann@ff.cuni.cz

Abstract

This paper systematically maps and analyses the opinions of the Czech public on the Velvet Revolution and the social situation in the periods before and after the revolution. It first focuses attention on the image of the Velvet Revolution within the context of Czech modern history, and it explores the opinions of the public on this event. It takes a special look at how the Czech public evaluates the periods before and after 1989 and their perceptions of the entire period since 1989. The Velvet Revolution and related events are viewed mostly as a positive period in Czech history, as a period of rise. The ensuing period is viewed in a similarly positive light, but not as positive as the actual act of changing the political regime. However, a significant difference was found between the Czech public’s evaluation of the first and second decades after the Velvet Revolution. In the public’s view, not every area of life has improved during this period and some areas are even evaluated as worse.

Key words

Velvet Revolution, Public Opinion, Historical Consciousness, Public Opinion Survey

Pavel Pšeja
Department of International Relations and European Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
email: palo@fss.muni.cz

Zuzana Vránová
Department of International Relations and European Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
email: 181789@mail.muni.cz

Abstract

While the causes of war constitute one of the most often studied phenomena within the IR discipline, surprisingly little attention has so far been paid to their explanations through either traditional or modern IR theories. This article aims to contribute to our understanding of the causes of war by exploring the major IR theories and attempting to identify what causes of war they prevailingly identify. Primarily, we aspire to present a comprehensive framework for such an analysis, discussing various realist and liberalist approaches so as to follow with the elaboration of views represented by social constructivism and some critical theories. As it turns out, there are significant overlaps in the ways these theories treat the possible causes of wars and their aspects; consequently, we try to identify the possibilities of achieving a synthesis of various theories in terms of their understanding of the causes of war, while taking into account the most recent developments including evolutionary approaches and other influences coming from outside the IR field.

Key words

war, conflict, causes of war, IR theories

Abstract

Jan Němec (eds.). 2010. Komparace politických systémů: Politické systémy Latinské Ameriky. Praha: Oeconomica Press, 280 pages.

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Slavoj Žižek, Mao Ce-tung. 2011. O praxi a rozporu. Praha: Grimmus, 192 pages.

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Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Abel Polese (eds.). 2010. The Colour Revolutions in the Former Soviet Republics. Successes and Failures, Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 272 pages.

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