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Public opinion on the political system in the Czech Republic - February 2014
Čadová, Naděžda
In the February survey CVVM focused on views of Czech citizens in the political system in the Czech Republic and to what extent can our political system be considered democratic. We asked respondents to assess the political system in our country before 1989, the political system after 1989 (in the 1990s), the current political system and their views on what political system will be in our country in 10 years.
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Towards a Safer Europe
Hokovský, Radko ; Winzen, Thomas ; Breitner, Igor ; Trautvetter, Daniel ; Vassilopoulos, Theodore ; Miccinilli, Máximo ; Riedel, Rafal ; Martinsm, Nuno Wahnon ; Ghazaryan, Sargis
This paper summarises the discussions and conclusions of Working Group 1 of the 2010 European Values Network. The Working Group met for a two-day workshop in Brussels in March and since then has engaged in research and debate online. During a second workshop from 8–12 May 2010 in Prague, the group met to evaluate and refine the conclusions presented below. Our starting point is the observation that engagement in democratic politics is in a dissatisfactory state. There are many symptoms of this including declining electoral participation and low trust in political institutions and the governing elite. But above all, political disengagement represents a certain view of politics, remote and inaccessible to ordinary citizens, benefitting only a select few rather than making collectively acceptable choices. Disengagement from democratic politics challenges the way we organise decision-making in our societies. It goes to the heart of one of the most cherished set of norms, enshrined in the legal and living constitutions of states in Europe and beyond. We were asked to analyse the phenomenon in greater depth and to develop recommendations that could contribute to greater and deeper engagement with democratic politics. Political disengagement is a complex phenomenon that varies across social groups and over time both in terms of its manifestations and its determinants. Therefore, we found it preferable to focus our discussions on a sub-set of the problem and its solution: young people and education. Predispositions for political engagement are developed and habitualised at an early stage of political participation. The way young people engage in politics is likely to shape, though not determine, patterns of political disengagement throughout their lives.1 We focus on education because the way individuals become acquainted with politics in school can be shaped more easily than other influences on the political engagement of youth. Our purpose, in sum, is to discuss how educational systems could contribute to greater political engagement of young people. Political engagement is a two-dimensional phenomenon including, but not confined to, formal participation such as voting. Formal participation is of critical importance if “democracy” is to be more than merely a fashionable term. On the other hand, engagement also refers to the critical awareness of public affairs among individuals. That is, their interest in matters of common concern and their ability to make critical, informed and conscious choices as to how they wish to position themselves in relation to such matters. Participation and critical awareness form two sides of the concept of political engagement. Our question, therefore, must be how the educational system may contribute to either of these two dimensions. We come to two main conclusions. On the one hand, we need more and better courses in civic education. Importantly, quantity itself is not sufficient but the style and substance of the classes has to be taken into account. On the other hand, we also draw attention to a strategy of animating civic education and call for more opportunities for young people to experience real-world politics.
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When do stable democracies emerge? Mending the view of economics and political science
Kovář, Kamil ; Müller, Karel (advisor) ; Dvořáková, Vladimíra (referee)
This thesis deals with the economic theories of democracy and democratization and their synthesis with political science theories. First discussed is the 'static' model of Acemoglu and Robinson (2006), which focuses on economically motivated political conflict between elites and masses, and in which stable democracy emerges in countries with medium levels of economic inequality. The second discussed 'dynamic' approach comes from the North, Wallis and Weingast (2009), who postulate the existence of two social orders that inextricably combine economic and political elements . In the third chapter I argue that the economic models of democratization are not able to capture the dramatic spread of democracy around the world in the last three decades. For this purpose, they would have to include normative preference for dermokracy and political science concept of legitimacy. It is concluded that the synthesis of economic and political science models is essential for proper understanding of emergence of stable democracies.
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Transformations textbooks civic education at the turn of the 80th and 90th 20 century
HADÁČEK, Marek
This thesis deals with the analysis of curricula, plans, civic education textbooks and civic education in the late eighties and nineties of the 20th century. The aim of this work is to analyze the today's approach to teaching civic education in the establishment of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and change of it before and after the revolution of 1989 by establishing a democratic regime. The work involves the analysis of textbooks and curricula from this period. The work is divided into two parts which are loosely linked. In the theoretical part of the thesis, there is the general definition of school textbooks, which are recorded features, concepts, structures, meanings, status, research and research methods according to various educational authors who dealt with analysis of school textbooks. This section is of narrower extent complemented by a variety of observations and comments of author. The practical part of the thesis is based on a detailed analysis of textbooks and curriculum of civic education that is embedded in the space of two historical periods of our country, at the turn of ending socialism and emerging democracy. The work focuses on the individual thematic subject which is then incorporated into the teaching curriculum of the elementary school years by the author. Here examines the appropriateness, timing and similarity teaching materials during the period of socialism with a democratic system of our state. Research component consists of a questionnaire survey work, where the former teachers are asked and current civic education. There are recorded difficulties of teachers and complicated transformation of the subject of the socialist epoch to the present democracy, referred to herein examines the issue of textbooks and curricula. In the practical part, the descriptive part analyzes composition of textbooks, curriculum demands for student motivation and graphic form of textbooks, educational goals and the interpretation of textbook materials for pupils.
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Citizens on the Political System in the Czech Republic - February 2013
Ďurďovič, Martin
n its February survey, CVVM focused on opinions towards the political system in the Czech Republic. Questions in the survey concerned the level of satisfaction with democracy, the evaluation of democracy as a form of government, coequality and fairness in treating people and the evaluation of the political system development since 1989. About three fifths of Czechs (63 %) are not satisfied with the functioning of democracy in their country. Similar number of Czechs (63 %) holds the view that people are not treated coequally and fairly in the Czech Republic.
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Cultural and spiritual crisis of Europe
ARBET, Petr
The basic attribute of the work is remind of cultural and spiritual root of Europe, because it?s time for Europe to realize it?s legacy in a position, where there is a deep cultural, economic and especially spiritual crisis. Europe stands on unique legacy of archaic Greece, Christianity and scientific-technical revolution. The work looks for wide psychological perspective. In the end we are trying to find a way to route the unique human energy.
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Relationship between values and politics in the context of civil religion
KLEČATSKÁ, Linda
This diploma thesis is focused on the relation between values and politics in the western societies of Europe and The USA. It points out the status and role of religion in the society and compares the current secularization tendencies in Western Europe against the role of traditions in American society determined by civil religion. The study maps the influence of enlightenment on the forming of democracies, then the totalitarianisms of the 20th century and both the secularization and de-secularization in the last decades. It analyses the discussion about the role of values and civil society in secularized Europe. Finally, it describes the importance of religion for American citizens and its penetration of their entire lives both socially and culturally.
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Globalization in the Light of the Catholic Social Doctrine
TŘEŠKOVÁ, Zuzana
This thesis deals the phenomenon of globalization in relation to aspects of its origin, content, course and possible further development. It presents the current debate experts, social scientists and theological authorities, aspecially Pope Benedict XVI., in the most important topics of globalization different walks of life: political, economic, social, enviromental and religious. The thesis also presents future scenarios of globalization to the public interpreted contemporary experts. The main emphasis is placed on interpretation of the globalization process secular world view and Catholic social doctrine.
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Participation in non-state non-profit organizations for children and youngsters
VELÍKOVÁ, Kateřina
The work deals with participation within non-state non-profit organizations for children and youngsters. It is focused on possibilities and usage of participation in two biggest civic associations in the Czech Republic ? Junák and Pionýr. In the first part of the thesis, the term participation is defined and the resources which it is based on and which it uses are explained. The basic division of participation is mentioned as well as the necessity of education of individuals towards everyday participation. Another part of the researched issues is non-profit sector and that is why the second part of the paper concerns the characteristic of non-state non-profit organizations and it outlines possible employment of participation in this area. The third part deals with possibilities and realization of participation in Junák and Pionýr. Based on the analysis of selected documents of both the organizations, the research itself concentrates on the phenomenon of participation in basic units of these organizations and their participation in the life of society. The findings are evaluated and mutually compared.
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Tension between Capitalism and Democracy
Brabec, Martin
In my article I focus on features producing tension betwen democracy and capitalism. First, I show contradictions betwen personal and private rights and present the ways in which these contradictions have been eliminated during history. Next, I focus on how in capitalism powers relations penetrate various social spheres and squeeze democratic decision. Consequently, in capitalism there arise areas where power is not accountable and the voice of the people is silent in spite of the fact that decisions concerning the people are made there.
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