Civic and Uncivic Values in the Czech Republic

This book considers the state of Czech democracy, following the rise of authoritarian regimes in Poland and Hungary and the ascent of billionaire oligarch Andrej Babi to the office of prime minister of the Czech Republic, leading to concerns about conflict of interest. The authors argue that civic values, such as tolerance, respect for the equality of people, and readiness to play by the rules of the political game, are key factors in determining whether the Czech Republic will maintain its democracy in the coming years. The book employs a broad perspective, bringing together insights from political science, sociology, cultural studies, and other disciplines to analyse changes in the democracy of the Czech Republic since 1989, taking into consideration various dimensions of civic values, including politics, gender inequality, film, and the media.

Provides the first systematic examination of civic and uncivic values in the Czech Republic Includes analyses of Czech literature, film, and religion as they impact the values of Czechs Situates Czech society and politics in a broader European context

Auteur

Sabrina P. Ramet is Professor Emerita of Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Norway.

Vladimir Ðordevic is Assistant Professor in the Department of Territorial Studies of the Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies of Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic. Christine M. Hasenstab is a retired attorney who also worked as an Adviser in the EU Grants Office at the Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Norway.

Résumé
"This new book is a worthy contribution to our understanding of the state of democracy in Czechia because it focuses on different yet essential issues. ... it is a perfect springboard for anyone who wants to get accurate and up-to-date information. Even a Czech Republic specialist or enthusiast will find valuable information and inspiration to ask further questions about how Czech politics is impacted by the set of values and attitudes shared by the majority of Czech citizens." (Vít Hlousek, Czech Journal of Political Science, Issue 3, 2022)

Contenu
Part 1: Values & the system.- Chapter 1. The Czech Republic: A flawed democracy- An introduction ( Sabrina P. Ramet).- Chapter 2. Czech Values in the Czech Republic in a European context ( Petra Raudenská and Jaroslava Pospíilová ).- Chapter 3. Czech politics at a crossroads? ( Elisabeth Bakke).- Part 2: Education, Media, & Culture.- Chapter 4. The Czech Media Landscape in the Post-Transformation Stage: Main Trends and Problems ( Jaromír Volek).- Chapter 5. Dealing with the Past The History Textbook ( Oldich Tma).- Chapter 6. Civic Values in the Films of Jan Hebejk and Petr Jarchovský ( Herbert J. Eagle).- Part 3: Gender And Civil Society.- Chapter 7. The Political Participation and Representation of Czech Women since 1989 ( Vladimir Ðorevi).- Chapter 8. Feminism in the Czech Republic ( Sharon Wolchik).- Chapter 9. With or Without You: Ideas of Citizenship Driving or Deactivating Participation in Czech Collective Action ( Jií Navrátil and Ondej Císa ).- Chapter 10. Anti-Semitism in the Czech Republic (Eva Taterová).- Part 4: Conclusion.- Chapter 11. The Importance of Civic Culture Conclusion (Vladimir Ðorevi and Sabrina P. Ramet).