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Integrating Republicanism: A Conceptual Approach
Halamka, Tomáš ; Franěk, Jakub (advisor) ; Znoj, Milan (referee) ; Fořtová, Hana (referee)
Republicanism is often divided into neo-Roman and neo-Athenian versions. However, both traditions considered separately can provide only a limited and narrow understanding of republicanism and thus deprive the republican political theory of valuable insights. On the contrary, this thesis argues that it would be preferable, both historically and theoretically, to conceive of the neo-Roman and the neo-Athenian strands as branches of a single integrated republican tradition. The thesis begins with a methodological discussion focused on how such an integrated account might be formulated and explains its preference for a conceptual approach that follows the morphology-oriented methodology developed by Michael Freeden. The thesis proceeds to track down the earliest formulations of republican concepts in ancient Greece, then turns to the Roman usage of these concepts and analyses the similarities and differences between the two earliest appearances. The next part concentrates on development of these concepts during the early modern era of classical republicanism in Italy, England and America. Afterwards, the most prominent neo-Athenian and neo-Roman approaches are analysed and interrelated. The last chapter summarises and synthesises the most important findings: (1) Two separate narratives of the...
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Spiritual government in the work of Josef Ludvík Fischer
Ťoupalík, Petr ; Znoj, Milan (advisor) ; Bíba, Jan (referee)
This thesis re-evaluates a positive reply given by the majority of existing secondary literature on the question of whether J. L. Fischer was a democrat and a theorist of democracy. On the other hand, some features of the author's work can cast doubts on his political orientation, and the existing secondary literature does not provide a clear disapproval of these doubts. The core of this thesis then lies in forging a newly designed interpretation of the author's compositional philosophy foregoing the Second World War. We are using the existential "bloody disjunction" of the author as our interpretational key with the hope that it can allow us to explain even the most difficult parts of J. L. Fischer's work constructively to the "uninformed reader". We are recognizing the specificity of this work as an author's-actor's creative expression. Therefore its internal expressional structure should not be reduced solely to the theoretical component without attention paid to the strong philosophical, artistic, and charismatic ambitions of the creator. This thesis interprets indicated components of Fischer's philosophy and his existential fight, which, even though manifested through breaches of argumentation, is at the same time giving to the compositional philosophy a whole new level of coherency. The...
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František Palacký and the Influence of British Tradition of Thought on His Work
Kyllar, Václav ; Doubek, Vratislav (advisor) ; Znoj, Milan (referee)
Precis The task of this thesis will be a detailed analysis of the work of František Palacký with emphasis on his political thought. This analysis will be carried out through a comparison with the British tradition of thought, which will be represented by selected thinkers with whom František Palacký came into contact and on the basis of whose ideas he profiled his work and basic concepts of his later political practice. The analysis assumes a thorough knowledge of the work of František Palacký and his British counterparts and the overall philosophical, cultural and political environment in which Palacký became a leading figure of the Czech national revival. The main part of this thesis will focus on the analysis of key texts of František Palacký and British writers who had a major influence on him. We will describe and evaluate this influence in detail in the context of the basic concepts that characterize Palacký's work in its entirety. With this analysis, we will try to deepen our understanding of Czech political thought, František Palacký and his legacy. Methodologically, the work will reflect the interdisciplinary character of Palacký's work and despite its entrenchment in political thought it will also work with a conceptual study of the nation, the national revival, and to some extent aesthetics and...
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Liberal Institution and its role in political promotion of neoliberalism after 1989
Medvíď, Martin ; Znoj, Milan (advisor) ; Slačálek, Ondřej (referee)
Focus of thesis is Liberal Institute and its role in establishment of ideology of right-wing politicians and parties after November 1989. Focus of research is relationship between Liberal institute as actor and government or political parties. Objective is to determine how important participant was Liberal institute in process of neoliberalism rising from marginal theory to key element of ideology of government of Civic Democratic Party and prime minister Václav Klaus. Liberal institute was one of the first think tanks in Czech Republic. Therefore, research will be done by methods which will facilitate describing its behavior during economic or democratic transition. Thesis will be divided between two parts. In theoretical part will be description of neoinstitutional approach toward institutions and Liberal Institute as actor in political process. It will outline reasons for founding of Liberal Institute, his goals, who founded it and its role in politics. It is the kind of institution which did not exist before founding of Liberal institute. Empirical part will illustrate how important actor Liberal institute was and how it managed promote ideology of neoliberalism. Several occasions will be used like privatization laws or liberalization of market. Keywords: Liberal Institute, neoliberalism,...
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Hayek's concept of individualism
Doleček, Pavel ; Znoj, Milan (advisor) ; Bíba, Jan (referee)
This thesis aims to reconstruct meanings of individualism in works of F. A. Hayek and to prove that individualism serves as a standpoint to his epistemological advocacy of liberalism. First of all is presented an analytical framework which stands on distinction of two degrees of liberal argumentation and defines possible meanings of individualism. Subsequently methodological individualism is discussed to clarify Hayek's concept of social sciences and his critique of scientism. The political individualism shows complementarities between epistemological arguments and general liberal postulates. Finally is Hayek's position confronted with Karl Popper. Here we discuss their partial differences and agreements.
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Max Weber on the relation of protestant ethic and capitalism
Svita, Maksim ; Znoj, Milan (advisor) ; Hesová, Zora (referee)
This article will focus on a Weber 's theory of modernization, which is based on the thesis of the connection between Protestant ethics and capitalism, as explained in his book "Protesntat ethic and the spirit of capitalism". In Weber 's theory of modernization culture becomes a determining factor in economic and political development; the so-called "Protestant ethics" was, according to Weber, one of the most important causes of the rapid development of capitalism in the states of Western Europe. This ethic is based on the Lutheran understanding of "vocation" and Calvinism, which is based on a specific interpretation of the concept of inner worldly ascetism. Weber's vision of modernization has provoked a lot of controversy and criticism, mostly because it was limited to the cultural conditions of Western Europe and did not take into account development in other non-European countries. In my bachelor thesis i will gradually discuss the different critique of Weber's understanding of the modernization proces and on the relationship between capitalism and Protestant ethics. As the method for this research was chosen to analyze various texts, book sources and other modern critical writings pointing to a freer and more diverse relationship of the process of modernization with cultural and value patterns of...
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The concept of the "soviet people" after the XXth congress of CPSU as a part of the soviet ideology and its political meaning in the process of de-stalinization
Popova, Victoria ; Znoj, Milan (advisor) ; Štefek, Martin (referee)
The concept of the Soviet people has always been a part of the Soviet political myth, nevertheless during the existence of the USSR its meaning had been changing substantially. The subject of research is transformation of meaning of the concept of the Soviet people during de-stalinization process after the 20. Congress of CPSU under Khrushchev, where that concept has got an ideological importance in construction of Soviet state of law and in the same time has stayed a significant part of the Communist political religion. It was about both need for socialist legality and promise the current generation will live in Communist society. Research will be focused on ideology of Communist regime as political religion. The subject of the thesis will be practical changes in institutions, laws, politician's speeches and public space as consequences of usage of the new concept of the Soviet people, which was spared from substantial link with Stalin's class struggle theory and class conflicts. Key words: Soviet people, political religion, sacralisation of politics, Stalin, Khrushchev, de-stalinization
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Emanuel Rádl's individualism in his concept of the dispute between the Czechs and the Germans
Pošvářová, Viktorie ; Doubek, Vratislav (advisor) ; Znoj, Milan (referee)
Bachelor thesis concerns on the individualistic philosophy of Czech philosopher and biologist Emanuel Radl and explains how theorist emphasizes on the activity and responsibility of each member of the state. In the thesis is summarized Radl's methodology and core historical, political and philosophical thoughts. From these ideas is formed the concept of Radl's ideal human which is incorporated to the solution of national conflict in the Czechoslovakia. Problems of the First Czechoslovak Republic are by the methodology of Radl divided into three specific crisis and their solution is based on philosophers concept of nationality as political program "for the future". Radl's thoughts in the thesis are compared with liberal and social contract theories.
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Hannah Arendt on Democracy
Těmín, Kristián ; Štefek, Martin (advisor) ; Znoj, Milan (referee)
The thesis deals with the specific problem of Hannah Arendt's positive political project which has never been a central topic for her. She rather reflects political phenomenon from ancient Greek polis to modern times of mass society in the second half of the 20th Century. She assumes that one of the human conditions is acting - political activity. On the one hand, this activity needs a specific space for demonstrating itself. On the other hand, this activity presupposes the equality of acting people. However, these presuppositions have been disfigured during the growth of the society. This thesis examines the positive political project of Hannah Arendt which stands as a remedy of disfigured political space. We start with Arendt's theory of freedom and contrast it with Isaiah Berlin's theory. Then we describe the concept of acting and explain why has been disfigured during modernity. Finally, we show why we can call Arendt's positive political project or regime as a democratic one. We identify two moments (moment of deliberation and moment of participation) which are essential for understanding Arendt's political project. Then we deal with the problem of elites which is explicitly in her thoughts. But we show an interpretation which is based on J. C. Isaac article that real political space for...
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The presumption of guilt regarding top politicians as a political phenomenon
Frankeová, Anna ; Znoj, Milan (advisor) ; Hesová, Zora (referee)
This thesis is divided into two parts. The first part is the theoretical one. In this theoretical part I am describing the theory of speech acts by the authors J. L. Austin and J. R. Searle. These theories are key elements for the understanding of the main methodology written by the author Q. Skinner, that is used in this thesis later on. In the theoretical part I also define the presumption of innocence which is a commonly used term in law. The reason for this is that the presumption of guilt is based on the presumption of innocence. The other half is the practical part of my thesis. I am analyzing three real cases out of our recent political history. The first one is the evolution of the concept of presumption of guilt in the political career of Miloš Zeman, who introduced us to this term. I will also be looking at two very well know political cases of Stanislav Gross and Andrej Babiš. In the end I will either confirm or refute the hypothesis. Key words: Presumption of innocence, presumption of guilt, theory of speech acts, the performative role of language, legal state, democratic values
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