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REVISIONIST INTERPRETATION OF THE SOVIET HISTORY
Ročeň, František ; Tumis, Stanislav (advisor) ; Stellner, František (referee)
The work focuses on the issue of revisionism of Soviet history in Anglo-Saxon historiography. The aim is to analyze the causes and circumstances of Revizionism, its origins and the character of the dispute between revisionist and totalitarianist interpretation of Soviet history. It also deals with the question of whether one of the interpretations has achieved dominance in its field. Key Words Revisionism, totalitarism, historiography, Cold War, Soviet Union
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Institutional Changes of the CPC's Central Commitee Organs in the Period of 1951 to 1953
Slanina, Daniel ; Štefek, Martin (advisor) ; Drahokoupil, Štěpán (referee)
The objective of this work is to introduce institutional changes of the organs of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist party in the years from 1951 to 1953 and to do that with the help of secondary literature related to this topic and studying documents from the archive. The work will begin with a short historical contextualization and a part regarding the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist party will follow subsequently. After this input the attention will be concentrated on the institutional changes of the organs of the Central Committee which will be described in the context of domestic events and events that occurred in the Eastern bloc. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Principles and goals of the German propaganda in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Straka, Vojtěch ; Mlejnek, Josef (advisor) ; Kučera, Jan (referee)
The goal of this paper will be to show in three single case studies the basic characteristics of nazi propaganda on the teritory of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Firstly, picturing of the enemy, both outside enemy (coverage of the war, bombing of civilians) and enemy within (primary jewish question). Because picture of the enemy was the key to the nazi propaganda itself. Than I continue with the study of the longterm, ideological efforts and goals nazi propaganda had in the protectorate. Here, the main target was czech youth and reinterpretation of the czech history itself. In the last case study i'm observing short term efforts nazis had. These efforts were driven primarily by the necesity of war production and need to use full potential of the strong czech industry. All these cases are then summarized and my goal it to show their effectivity on their respective fields of influence. (industrial production, creation of combat troops, voluntary membership in the collaboration organizations, etc.)
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Representation of totalitarianism in videgames
Vimmr, Martin Kryšpín ; Švelch, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Hladík, Radim (referee)
This thesis examines the topic of representation of totalitarianism in videogames. It aims to show how the totalitarianism is depicted in selected games and whether the videogame as a medium has some influence on this depiction. Theoretical part introduces and examines all sorts of different approaches, based on which one can study videogame as a medium. An argument about the videogames as a medium of control is presented further on and is also discussed in relation with totalitarianism. Second half of theoretical chapter focuses on definition of totalitarianism which is used in the case studies later on. Empirical part analyzes four games - Half-life 2, Papers, please, Wolfenstein: the New Order and BioShock with focus on representation of totality or dystopia. The games are analyzed both with regards to their rules and fiction. The conclusion shows that totalitarianism was represented mostly by its outer activities rather than ideology which were usually represented rather marginally. However, in all cases there could be found some examples of how was the representation of totalitarianism used to merge with system of control in games.
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Hegel's Critique of Ideology
Korda, Tomáš ; Karásek, Jindřich (advisor) ; Znoj, Milan (referee)
This work explores the possibilities of Hegel's critique of liberalisms and Marxism. Firstly, I define the "Return to Hegel", or more precisely, the way how we should conceive of this return to Hegel in order to really return to him. In second part, this formal definition of return is given its content, i.e. Hegel's concept of state. This concept had been denied by the doctrine of liberalism as well as of Marxism and this denial, as I try to demonstrate, can be considered a theoretical cause of totalitarianism. Or, in other words, totalitarianism can be speculatively comprehended as the manifestation of this denial. Thus as long as we live in a post-totalitarian era, Hegel is our contemporary. The last part consists of an explication of Hegel's critique of understanding (Verstand). The main reason for this explication is that liberalism and Marxism are 'understanding'- theories of state, and because of that, they were not able to conceive of the state as an object of Reason (Vernunft) and therefore, they failed to recognize the state as rational in itself. The theoretical result of this analysis is that Hegel's critique of understanding can be grasped, so to speak, as a 'critique of ideology avant la lettre', if the concept of ideology is adequately redefined.
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The Concept of Citizenship of Vaclav Havel and his Legacy for Citizenship Education
Sadílková, Eva ; Moree, Dana (advisor) ; Navrátil, Jiří (referee)
This thesis examines the concept of active citizenship in conception of Vaclav Havel. It further focuses on the possibilities of the legacy of such distinguished personality of modern history in the area of youth education. The theoretical part of the thesis describes the concepts of active citizenship and totalitarianism, and connects them to the example of communist era in Czechoslovakia. Using qualitative research methods, the empirical section of the thesis analyzes the perception of the concept of active citizenship and how Havel's legacy is perceived by students and the employees of Vaclav Havel Library. The analysis also deals with development of civic approach within the scope of Vaclav Havel Library efforts aiming at citizenship education. Using the method of document analysis, the thesis also deals with Havel's essay The Power of the Powerless, which is by Vaclav Havel Library presented as one of his key works serving as a basis for citizenship education. Key words Citizenship, Active Citizenship, Totalitarianism, Communism, Vaclav Havel, Legacy of Vaclav Havel, Vaclav Havel Library, The Power of the Powerless
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Function of the Cadre and Personnel Departments in Czechoslovakia in the Period 1948-1989
Šinkovec, Pavel ; Kocianová, Renata (advisor) ; Kopecký, Martin (referee)
This bachelor thesis discusses the impact of the activities of Cadre and Personnel Departments in Czechoslovakia during the rule of the Communist Party. The study is based on historical documents, learning materials, and secondary vocational studies, monographs and collections of materials and describes constitution, functioning and changes in personnel policy and nomenclature of the Communist Party in the period between February 1948 and November 1989. In its analytical part there are listed and categorized various functions of Cadre Departments which were practical executor of personnel policy in public administration, and economic organizations. Work also notes a shift in the perception of such terms as "cadre" or "nomenclature" during the time period and interprets the phenomenon as a specific form of bureaucracy, a new social class and confronts the matter with the theory of totalitarianism.
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The Relationship of Hedonism and Humanism
Jerman, Ondřej ; Jirsa, Jakub (advisor) ; Švec, Ondřej (referee)
The diploma thesis discusses the relationship between humanism and hedonism. However, its main objective is not to explain the terms in their summarized historical relatedness but to point out their internal coherence. The fundamental issue the thesis deals with is the fact that sentient beings suffer from sorrow. Enumerating the reasons why it is important to search for a solution would be a waste of our reader's time. It is necessary to understand that we don't expect empirical science to solve the problem since - despite the enthusiasm significant for this modern period - has not introduced any relief from sorrow. Here comes the opportunity for philosophy and, eventually, ethics. In its first part the thesis maps out the context of humanism and hedonism, studies their apparent as well as hidden nature, and lays the conceivable foundations of humanistic hedonism. The following section suggests a set of particular steps. Adhering to these instructions makes it possible to experience delight and to eliminate sorrow.
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The Sociology of Emil Lederer and Its Implications for Today
Jáchymová Královcová, Magdalena ; Šubrt, Jiří (advisor) ; Janák, Dušan (referee) ; Havelka, Miloš (referee)
Emil Lederer (1882 - 1939), born in Pilsen, Czech Republic, was an important figure of German social sciences. A close colleague of Max Weber and friend of Karl Mannheim or J. A. Schumpeter, he taught at universities in Heidelberg, Berlin and Tokyo. After fleeing Germany, he helped Alvin Johnson, director of the New School for Social Research, found the "University in Exile." Lederer's research centered on contemporary social problems, approaching them in a critical, objective, empirically- based way. One of the first to study the new middle classes before World War I, he also dealt with unemployment, technological progress and business cycles. Additionally, his analysis of state and its sovereignty in war lead him to study the question of totalitarianism. The present thesis first offers a detailed look at the events in Lederer's life which influenced his scientific work. Its central section presents the main ideas of Lederer's posthumous, and sociologically most important, monograph State of the Masses. Placing it within the context of his previous work, the thesis demonstrates the evolution of Lederer's thinking. By comparing the work with Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism the thesis confirms existing assumptions that Lederer's text served as an unrecognized inspiration for Arendt. The...
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Modern Dystopias and Theories of Totalitarianism
Machart, Filip ; Mlejnek, Josef (advisor) ; Novák, Miroslav (referee)
The diploma thesis Modern Dystopias and Theories of Totalitarianism deals with comparation of this two phenomena. The thesis is based on the concept of Giovanni Sartori. He understands the phenomenon of totalitarianism as ideal ending of the axis totalitarianism- democracy. Extreme points of this axis fulfill the role of unrealizable ideal regimes. In reality we can only move closer to them but modern dystopias may represent these ideal regimes. The diploma thesis is divided into theoretical and practical section. There is the analyse of five books in the theoretical section which deal with the theory of totalitarianism. The analysis contains the work of Sigmund Neumann, Hannah Arendt, Carl J. Friedrich and Zbigniew K. Brzeziński, Giovanni Sartori and Juan J. Linz. Each theory of totalitarianism is supplemented by reflection from other authors. There is the analyse of five dystopias (J. Zamjatin - We, A. Huxley - Brave New World, G. Orwell - Nineteen Eighty-four, M. Atwood - The Handmaid`s Tale, A. Moore, D. Lloyd - V for Vendetta) in the practical section. The analysis contains the storyline of the book, elements of totalitarian regime in the dystopia and inspiration of author for the world of dystopia. There is elaborated final comparation between theories of totalitarianism and modern dystopias...
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