|
|
The influence of the alleged existence of a "bomber gap" on diplomacy and strategy of the United States of America in the crisis of 1956 during the first presidential period of D. D. Eisenhower
Krebs, Martin ; Pondělíček, Jiří (advisor) ; Raška, Francis (referee)
The "bomber gap" crisis is not well known in the general Cold War consciousness. In addition, the generally accepted and, from my point of view, simplified course of the formation of the "bomber gap" can be questioned using relevant sources, and the same is true of the dating event, which is also treated very loosely. If the course of this event was questioned, it is necessary to look for the cause of the "bomber gap" in a different, than generally accepted plane, referring to the observation during the air show. Some authors thus offer an explanation of the "bomber gap" both from the point of view of political economy and from the point of view of the human factor in the secret services. The second view of the "bomber gap" concerns both crises taking place at the end of 1956, the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Uprising. Although it would seem that strategic air power and nuclear bombs will be a key factor and play a more important role in solving both crises, where both strategies and doctrines of the two great powers, the doctrine of the liberation of Eastern Europe from communism and the Soviet doctrine of penetration into the countries of the Third, indirectly clashed world. At first glance, the strategic air force here played a secondary role, the capacities of both countries for a nuclear...
|
|
|
East German uprising of 1953 from the US perspective
Šidelka, Alexandr ; Nigrin, Tomáš (advisor) ; Pondělíček, Jiří (referee)
This bachelor's thesis focuses on the analysis of the United States of America's view of the East German uprising in 1953. The events take place in the early phase of the Cold War, in which the United States played a vital role as one of the two main world powers. The main content of this thesis is primarily the reaction of the American administration to the events in East Germany and the subsequent analysis of the strategy of psychological warfare. The most important element of this policy was the American food aid program for the East German population. At the beginning of the thesis, the reader is introduced to the historical context of the relationship between the United States and the GDR, and then briefly familiarized with the issue of the mentioned uprising. The thesis uses the available primary sources, which are historical newspaper articles, to depict the reaction of the American media at the time. In the last part of the thesis, it answers the research question of whether and how the East German uprising in 1953 influenced American foreign policy in Eastern Europe in the context of the ongoing Cold War. The work is mainly compilation in nature and is developed on the basis of available primary and secondary sources and literature.
|
|
|
The Religious Factor in the Republican Party and the Influence of Evangelical Support on Its Candidates
Baroš, André ; Raška, Francis (advisor) ; Pondělíček, Jiří (referee)
This thesis explores evangelical Republican candidates and the influence wielded over them by the Christian conservative voter base. The research premise being the electoral campaigns and rhetoric utilized by both the candidates as well as faith leaders vying for more legislative influence. The first chapter is dedicated to the politicization of the church and the main points of political contention for its representatives. Here one gets to know the most influential individuals of the New Christian Right as well as the ground- breaking tactics it used to push its agenda. Furthermore a litany of vehicles used for political advancement is provided. From a theoretical standpoint comes a description of the internal party dynamics of the GOP. This is followed by a case study of specific candidates. Starting with Ronald Reagan in 1980, the chapter later focuses on the Senate career of Jesse Helms throughout the 1970's and 1980's. Then it moves on to Pat Robertson's 1988 presidential campaign and the chapter concludes with the succesful 2000 campaign of Texas governor George W. Bush. The final chapter explores the impact of electing such a candidate as well as the concrete actions that were meant to appease religious voters. Finally a conclusion is available.
|
|
|
Comparison of the Foreign Policy of Donald Trump and Barack Obama with Respect to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Starec, Jan ; Pondělíček, Jiří (advisor) ; Raška, Francis (referee)
This thesis analyses and then compares the approaches of the two US presidents Barack Obama (2009-2017) and Donald Trump (2017-2021) to a resolution of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The thesis aims to answer the research question, which of the two presidents played a greater mediating role in the peace process of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The main research is complemented by two additional research questions: firstly, whether the American role of mediator or the role of judge was more beneficial to the progress of the conflict peace process during the Obama and Trump terms. And secondly, in what ways did Obama and Trump set the stage for the future continuation of the Israeli- Palestinian peace process, in other words, which of their decisions regarding the peace process have the potential to contribute to the future resolution of the conflict. The thesis includes analyses of the strategies and policy decisions of both presidents in the context of the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, during their terms in office. This is followed by an analysis and comparison of the approaches of the two presidents, including the main differences and similarities, for example in the concept of a two-state solution or other key issues of the peace process. Based on the research conducted,...
|
|
| |
|
|
Escalation of tension in the Persian Gulf in 2019 in the context of developments in Iran-US relations
Vítek, Kryštof ; Pondělíček, Jiří (advisor) ; Raška, Francis (referee)
This bachelor's thesis examines the escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf in 2019 in the context of the development of bilateral relations between the United States of America and Iran in the period 2017-2019. The thesis aims to identify the specific reasons that preceded the escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf region in the defined period of May to September 2019, not only within the mentioned context of the development of US-Iranian bilateral relations but also in terms of the geopolitical rivalry between Tehran and the crucial Middle Eastern partner of the United States - Saudi Arabia. The research question of the thesis scrutinizes whether the securitization of Iran within Donald Trump's national security strategy has become the main reason for the escalation of tensions. To achieve the set objectives and answer the research question, the thesis uses the methodology based on the content analysis of selected literature. The thesis is divided into three parts which, besides Trump's practiced policy towards Iran, outline the potential contribution of the three main geopolitical actors of the Persian Gulf, i.e., the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Iran to the tension in the Persian Gulf in 2019. The result of the investigation confirms the thesis that Trump's securitization narrative...
|
|
|
The role of conspiracy theories in American political culture. A case study of QAnon
Klofáč, Jan ; Hornát, Jan (advisor) ; Pondělíček, Jiří (referee)
Conspiracy theories can no longer be considered a fringe matter affecting only a few individuals. Their power has been greatly amplified by the development of information technology, allowing unknown individuals to reach the masses of people on an unprecedented scale. Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon, and American society has been influenced by conspiracy theories from the very beginning. Fear of conspiracies and conspiratorial thinking have played a significant role in American history. According to the conventional wisdom of conspiracy theorists, there has been a constant infiltration of enemies into key institutions of American society, which is predisposed to trust conspiracy theories because of its traditional values. Conspiracy theories are a tool of political propaganda, and QAnon has functioned the same way in American society. Thanks to the Internet and social media, which have contributed significantly to the distortion of shared reality, QAnon has managed to influence American society and become an influential conspiracy theory that has reached the highest levels of the American political scene. This bachelor thesis addresses the ques- tion of what specific qualities have helped QAnon become a mainstream conspiracy theory and how the tendency of American society to believe...
|
|
|
Alternative media and political activism: Crooked Media's involvement in Georgia elections
Bártová, Patricie ; Szobi, Pavel (advisor) ; Pondělíček, Jiří (referee)
Alternative media are a diverse media category, containing several different types of media organizations that in various ways position themselves against mainstream media. This study aims to explore how should alternative media be defined. Specifically, it provides a comprehensive and complex framework to distinguish them not only from mainstream media, but also from extremist, propaganda or fake news outlets. In this context, the possibility of using alternative media as tools for political activism is also explored. To effectively illustrate the use of alternative media as an activist tool, this thesis uses the American media company Crooked Media as an example. To show the audience's attitudes to partisan content, an online survey was distributed to the followers of the company. Furthermore, a content analysis of podcast episodes released by the company were analyzed to provide an overview of the specifics of politically engaged content. Lastly, this study examines the specific results of the activist initiatives initiated by the company. The results show that alternative media are an useful tool to act in an activist manner, especially when the media organization establishes a connection with its audiences. However, while audiences may respond positively to the politically engaged nature of...
|
|
|
The Quiet Revolution and the subsequent political and social development in Quebec
Sluková, Kristýna ; Pondělíček, Jiří (advisor) ; Fiřtová, Magdalena (referee)
This bachelor thesis deals with the Silent Revolution and its consequences concerning mainly the political and social sphere in Quebec. "Révolution tranquille" was an important part of the historical development of the Canadian province of Quebec. Thanks to this "great reformist leap," Quebec was liberated from a longtime conservative government that kept the entire province under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Church and rejected any progressive ideas that had been developing elsewhere in the Western world in the meantime. The period from the late 40's, when Maurice Duplessis became Prime Minister of Quebec, until the end of his reign in 1959, is sometimes sarcastically referred to as the Dark Ages, the so- called Grande Noirceur, literally translated as "The Great Darkness". The consequences of the revolution included not only a change in the political sphere, but also a considerable wave of secularization, reform of education, health care, the economy, a change in relations between the Francophone and Anglophone populations in the province, and last but not least, the beginning of the Quebec nationalist movement and its desire for an independent Quebec, which became the number one issue for several decades throughout Canada. The thesis consists of four basic chapters. The first chapter...
|
|
|
Transformation of Detroit Police Department in the Context of City of Detroit's Socio-Economic Situation from 1960s to 1980s
Moucha, František ; Sehnálková, Jana (advisor) ; Pondělíček, Jiří (referee)
The reform of police forces in Detroit, Michigan, USA, is a phenomenon dating back to the early 1960s. This phenomenon characterizes the organization and operation of police forces in alternative ways, with the police moving away from community police supervision to various programs with the goal of rapidly reducing criminal activity. To do this, federal funds are often being used, whether from financial or legal frameworks. These legislative frameworks allow, for example, the co-financing of local police forces with the help of the federal government. Another example could be the transfer of military equipment into the hands of civilian security forces and their management. However, the public's impression of this phenomenon may be different. Due to this, the police, as a civilian security force, are getting dangerously similar to the definition of military armed forces. This may lead to the impression that the two forces are merging. The phenomenon is therefore concerned with whether it is the police using military methods or the police becoming another armed unit, with a repressive functioning.
|
guest ::
