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Small states and foreign policy challanges: foreign policy of the Baltic states towards Russia
Bílý, Tomáš ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Jeřábek, Martin (referee)
Small States and Foreign Policy Challenges: Foreign Policy of Lithuania and Estonia towards Russia Abstract This diploma thesis deals with the use of foreign policy strategies of small states by Lithuania and Estonia in the context of foreign policy towards Russia. In this regard, the work is focused on the analysis of foreign political disputes with Russia, which represented key challenges for these Baltic states with regard to sovereignty and territorial integrity following the collapse of the Soviet Union, specifically then on cases of the withdrawal of Russian military units, the delimitation of the Estonian-Russian state borders and the regulation of Russian transit to the Kaliningrad region. From a methodological point of view, the work is conceived as a case study aimed at developing knowledge about the phenomenon of foreign policy strategies of small states. Its first part is devoted to the presentation of the theoretical concepts of the small state and the foreign policy strategies of small states. The second part of the work is focused on the assessment of the use of the mentioned strategies by Lithuania and Estonia within the examined cases with the aim of ascertaining which of the foreign policy strategies of small states Lithuania and Estonia tried to apply in the context of the analyzed cases...
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Electronic Elections as a Phenomenon and Potential of 21st Century
Fiedler, Jan ; Stauber, Jakub (advisor) ; Brunclík, Miloš (referee)
The Master's thesis examines the phenomenon of electronic elections in the definition of an alternative method of remote voting via the Internet and combines the approach of a survey paper and a case study. The theoretical basis of the thesis is a description of the concept of e- democracy, postal voting and electronic elections, a definition of the typology of this alternative method and the accentuated risks, a summary of the general development of the debate in the Czech environment and an analysis of the process of the initial phase of implementation of electronic elections in the electoral systems of Estonia, Norway and Switzerland. The theoretical background is followed by an analytical section on these selected countries, which examines the characteristics of case-by-case approaches to the implementation and risks of e- elections and the potential impacts on selected indicators such as voter turnout and global state of democracy indices. The analysis of the aspects is conducted in a consecutive and separate categorical framework, whereby the issues are viewed from the specific perspectives of the countries in question, taking into account the differences in political systems. Final implications and conclusions are drawn in the context of a higher level of relevance based on a comparison of...
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The Development of Structure and Capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Baltic Republics
Modrý, Matěj ; Bahenský, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Ludvík, Jan (referee)
Currently, due to the deteriorated security situation in Europe, significantly more states are emphasizing the development of capabilities and the transformation of the structures of the armed forces. The purpose of this work is to examine the development of structures and capabilities of the armed forces of Latvia and Estonia over the past decades. The main input factors are the theoretical assumptions of the behavior of small states and the concept of external strategic shocks influencing the development of the capabilities of the armed forces. As part of the research, the work will demonstrate the importance of some of the factors mentioned in the theories in the form of the armed forces, and at the same time it will present evidence that the second and third strategic shocks in particular greatly influenced the approach to the development of structures and capabilities in both Baltic republics. Keywords Armed forces, Military capabilities, Estonia, Latvia, Military structure, Strategic shocks Title The Development of Structure and Capabilities of the Armed Forces of Baltic republics
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Konkurenceschopnost zemí střední a východní Evropy
Ustiuzhantseva, Polina
This bachelor thesis is devoted to the competitiveness of Central and Eastern European countries. In the theoretical part the concept of competitiveness and methods of measuring macroeconomic competitiveness are described. In the methodological part indicators are chosen, by which subsequently in the practical part comparison of competitiveness of Central and Eastern European countries is carried out. The practical part of the thesis also deals with the comparison of re-sults of measurement of selected indicators. According to the chosen indicators weaknesses and strengths of Central and Eastern European countries are identi-fied. Finally, recommendations for increasing the competitiveness of selected states are formulated. In the discussion part, the achieved results are compared with the results of other authors, and the possible shortcomings of the chosen indicators are discussed.
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Journalistic Perspectives on Nordic Identity in Estonia
Niiler, James Viking ; Shavit, Anna (advisor) ; Turková, Kateřina (referee)
Since its restoration of independence in 1991, Estonia has sought to include itself in the Nordic region (Norden) to boost its international reputation and promote its geopolitical interests. However, Estonia's inclusion within Norden is questionable and controversial despite its historical and cultural links to the region. For this Thesis, I conduct a qualitative case study, performing semi-structured interviews with six leading Estonian journalists to ascertain the state of Estonia's national identity vis-à-vis the Nordic region. Contextualizing these interviews by drawing on contemporary history and theories of nation branding, agenda-setting, and constructionism, I conclude that, due to current social and economic factors, Estonia cannot be considered a "Nordic country" at this time. However, Estonia undoubtedly lies within the Nordic region's sphere of influence and is on track for further integration with Norden, due to both internally generated reforms and external geopolitical pressures. Keywords Estonia, national identity, Nordic, journalism, agenda-setting, constructionism, nation branding
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Ghost Cities of Estonia
Akindinov, Nikita ; Čunát, Matěj (referee) ; Dokoupilová Pazderková, Kateřina (advisor)
The study on the topic of the ghost cities of Estonia draws a sad picture of certain mining and industrial settlements. The first chapter of the project includes historical and theoretical research about the ghost effect in places which were filled with mono functions. Before the USSR collapse economical and social chains of these communes were integrated in the system of the very close relationships with its center. At the same time there were no proposed long-term strategies on how cities can work and survive after the resource depletion. It brought towns and villages like Viivikonna to the point where the skeleton of the settlement still exists but its population is close to zero. Additionally this problem continued with the wave of the outflow of young people to large cities. The second and main chapter was to choose one of the ghost villages which still has some inhabitants. It was important to understand how we can make these places more livable for them and how it can work with the new points of attraction. In some aspects it could bring fresh public and financial interest to the area and open new work places for locals. Analyzing some examples of the different spots around Europe, there were determined certain healing tools which helped to warm up the interest among visitors at these areas. As a major thing for the reboot process there was chosen a cultural function. With the five steps program there was proposed a way how we can rebuild this area and involve it in the new processes with neighboring cities.
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Comparison of lustration laws in Central European states: Czechoslovakia, Poland and Baltic states
Srb, Jáchym ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (advisor) ; Mlsna, Petr (referee)
The paper: "Comparison of lustration laws in Central European states: Czechoslovakia, Poland and Baltic states" describes the emergence and application of the lustration laws in context of the political transformation of these states from the begining of the 90s. The main objective of this paper is to answer the question, what are the differences and similarities in the functioning of the lustration laws in these states and whether there is a single explanation for their divergence. For this purpose the paper describes the political and historical background from which these laws emerged in each state separately. This part, among other things, outlines the concept of the "double-tracked" lustrations in Latvia and Estonia, where the laws followed both the collaboration rationale and the ethnical divide. The paper also aims to critically outline the most prominent theoretical approaches to the aforementioned question of the disparities between lustrations in different states. The second aspect of lustrations, which this paper examines, is their conformity with the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights. From analysing the judicature of the ECHR, the paper concludes that the court was very self-restrained in examining these laws and only intervened in the cases of clearly excesive scope of the...
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NATO's Challenge: Exploring the Persistence of the Alliance's Military Capabilities Gap
Schwarzenberg, Carly Eileen ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Kučera, Tomáš (referee)
This thesis addresses the military capabilities gap between the US and European member states of NATO. It seeks to answer the question, why does the US-European capabilities gap persist despite apparent agreement between Allies on strategic capabilities objectives and cooperative solutions? The paper first establishes the need for a strong, independent European Security and Defense Identity within the Alliance, particularly since NATO's operations in Libya. It then defines and explicates the military capabilities gap within the Alliance, including its scope, history, and attempts to find cooperative solutions. This analysis demonstrates that there is broad agreement both on what the Alliance requires for military capabilities and for how best to obtain them (cooperatively), yet the gap has persisted and grown for two decades. In an attempt to solve this empirical puzzle, the paper employs a two-level games framework to analyze the NATO defense planning process, which links supranational capabilities planning for the Alliance to national-level execution, dependent upon funding from state parliaments. Faced with the general answer that fiscal constraints preclude states from following through on their commitments, the paper delves deeper to determine factors that may influence differences in defense...
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The Dynamics of Naturalization Process in Latvia and Estonia in the years 1995 - 2005
Márová, Tereza ; Švec, Luboš (advisor) ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (referee)
The restoration of independence of the three Baltic States occurred in 1991. However the previous period of Soviet occupation brought dire, and to a large extent, permanent changes in the ethnic composition of the population. The changes were the primary reason why both countries had fairly restrictive conditions in the revival of civil status - citizenship was given to pre-war citizens and their direct descendants. This thesis by comparative analysis tries to find out the main differences and similarities in the dynamics of naturalization process in Latvia and Estonia. The dynamics will be analyzed from 1995 to 2005. Latvian naturalization process began in 1995. The year 2005 is characterized by a dramatic changes in preferences of non- citizens, which probably occurred after the accession to the European Union. The first part presents the important concepts of the work and presentment of the two countries at the beginning of the 1990s. Then the comparative analysis follows itself. Naturalization is analyzed according to the characters, which, I believe, had the most important influence on the dynamics of the process - Citizenship Act (and its amendments), Language Act, the accession of both countries to the EU and other economical reasons. Keywords The Soviet Union, Latvia, Estonia,...
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Selected cephalopods from the Ordovician of the Prague Basin (Bohemia) and Baltica (Estonia and Sweden): taxonomy, paleobiogeography and paleoecology
Aubrechtová, Martina ; Košťák, Martin (advisor) ; Klug, Christian (referee) ; King, Andrew H. (referee)
This dissertation thesis is a summary of five studies published in peer- reviewed, impacted scientific journals. All of the publications are taxonomic revisions of previously unknown or little known collections of fossil cephalopods from the Early Paleozoic strata of Bohemia, Estonia and Sweden. Paleogeogra- phical and stratigraphical distributions of the respective taxa were summarized, refined and compared with contemporary fossil assemblages known from other regions. Implications on the paleoecology of the cephalopods and original envi- ronmental conditions were made. The text of the thesis is divided into three main parts. In the first part, the morphology of cephalopods is explained, stressing out the most important diagnostic characters used for their descriptions. The current systematics of the Cephalopoda is overviewed and the main cephalopod groups during the Ordovician are briefly introduced. The second part of the thesis describes the geological development and settings of the regions, from which the studied fossil cephalopods originate. The third and final part of the thesis provides a discussion and interpretation of the results of the published studies in the context of the previously published research. The genus Bactroceras Holm, 1898 and some members of the order Litui- tida were studied...
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