Sign Guestbook
View Guestbook
Welcome to the Czech Information Site. This webpage was produced as part of a course
requirement for an undergraduate course at Trent University. It is hoped that this site will
provide both general and specific information dealing with the modern Czech Republic. The
process of political, economic and social transformation since the collapse of the communist
system will be a recurring theme of this site. I hope you find something to your interest and that
you enjoy your visit!
Post Communist Transformation in the Czech Republic
This link will take you to an extensive essay which deal with the question of the success of the
early neoliberal reforms in the Czech Republic. My thesis is that while Czech society has
undergone changes since 1989, the universalistic neoliberal program followed by Vaclav Klaus
distorted the relationship between economy and polity while ignoring important historical and
cultural trends unique to the Czech context. The essay is approximately 17 pages in length, or
just over 5000 words.
Report Series on the Czech Republic
What follows is an annotated list of short reports on the modern Czech state. All four of these
were written between September 2000 and January 2001 for an undergraduate political science
class at Trent University. Each is approximately 2000 words in length.
Report One : A History of the Czech Republic
This first short essay deals with the historical context of Czechoslovakia during the communist
period. Particular attention is given to the experiences of the Czech lands during this time.
Report Two : The Move Towards a Consolidated Democracy
This essay focuses on the political aspects of the transformation process within the framework of
'consolidated democracy' provided by Juan Linz and A. Stephan within their book Problems of
Democratic Transition and Consolidation.
Report Three : Economic Strategies since 1989
This essay focuses on the economic reform strategies since the velvet revolution. Details of the
neoliberal strategy under Vaclav Klaus, and the effects of neoliberal reform on social aspects.
Prognosis of the path reform will take under the Zeman government which was elected in 1998.
Report Four : International Context
This final essay looks at the prospects for regional and global integration of the Czech Republic
in the future. Institutions as well as NGO and business sector involvement in the process of
integration are looked at.
All of the above essays were written by Shane van Engen, copyright 2000, with the exception of Report Four, which is
copyright 2001. These are provided within the public domain for instructive and educational purposes only. Plagiarism is
a serious academic offence. Any inquiries or permissions can be directed to [email protected].
These links will take you to short biographies of several famous Czechs.
Milos Forman : Film Director
Vaclav Havel : Playwright and President of the Czech Republic
Franz Kafka : Author
Jan Masaryk : National Hero and first President of the Czech lands
Josef Sudek : Photographer
These annotated biographies are presented courtesy of The Official Homepage of the Czech Republic <http://www.czech.cz/>
Other Links of Interest:
Links to a few Czech Newspapers Online:
The Prague Post
Prague Business Journal
The Prague Tribune
The Official Homepage of the Czech Republic : A rich source of
information.
Central Europe Online : Link to a part of the Site dealing with the
Prague Spring.
INPEG : Link to an account of Prague protests of September, 2000.
