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Small state capacity building with an agency of the European Union: The case of the Czech Republic and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
Halaška, Tomáš ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (referee)
The main goal of this master's thesis is to discover why states are keen on acquiring an agency of the European Union from a perspective of the states' administration's approach towards the agency and its domain after acquiring it. This phenomenon is presented by an interpretative case study of the Czech Republic and the European GNSS Agency (GSA) obtained in 2012 and its expansion to the Agency of the European Union for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in 2021. The thesis verifies how are the three main motivations why a state wants an EU agency - prestige, economic potential, and quality and reputation enhancement of the given area - manifested in practice in the case of the approach of the Czech Republic towards the space sector. The verification is conducted through the operationalization of three scenarios based on the motivations. The data were collected from public sources and from fourteen semi-structured interviews with representatives of different space-related spheres.The research has shown that the approach of the Czech administration towards the space sector has been growing thanks to acquiring the seat of the GSA in 2010, obtaining membership in the European Space Agency in 2008, and appointing the Ministry of Transport as the main coordinator of national space activities in 2011. State...
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The role of EUNIC in small states'cultural diplomacy: the case of Czech Republic
Ondráčková, Natálie ; Tomalová, Eliška (advisor) ; Váška, Jan (referee)
Small states have limited possibilities in promoting their own interests internationally due to their limited resources. They therefore use certain strategies to help them achieve their foreign policy objectives. This thesis deals with cooperative strategies in cultural diplomacy, as it often becomes a tool of small states for enhancing its visibility. But even in this environment, they face competition from stronger, larger states. Do small states use cooperative strategies in cultural diplomacy? And if so, how? The issue is examined in more detail on the case of the Czech Republic's participation in the association of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes of Culture), which represents a platform for cooperation of cultural diplomacy actors from the EU Member States. The Czech Republic is represented in the structures of EUNIC by the Czech Centers. The research of this thesis focuses specifically on the opportunities to strengthen the influence of small states in the international field, which EUNIC offers to the members. It focuses also on what motivations and risks are associated with cooperation. Through the methods of interviews, content analysis and quantitative data analysis the thesis describes activity of the Czech Republic as a representative of small state in the EUNIC network in...
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Small State in NATO: Arms procurement in the Czech Armed Forces
Křikava, Richard ; Kučera, Tomáš (advisor) ; Ludvík, Jan (referee)
This diploma thesis is puzzled with influence of NATO on Army of Czech Republic (ACR)'s armaments and if this influence is key factor in decision making regarding new acquisition projects or if other factors have bigger impact on decision making in question. NATO with the USA as its main sponsor is more benevolent than Warsaw Pact of which The Czech Republic was part during Cold War. Even though we can observe attempts to force member states into increasing their defense budgets from position of power, the main principle in new armament acquisition is standardization, which is based on semi-voluntary bases. However, in case of The Czech Republic standardization is not starting factor for new acquisition project. Change in security environment after Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014 forced states to into increasing their defense budgets, which was manifested itself in summit in Wales in 2014, where NATO member states promised to allocate 2% of GDP by 2024. However, it was observed that not all states will meet this deadline and that size of state do not play significant role. Increasing of defense budget allowed ACR to start long awaited modernization projects. This diploma thesis found that not NATO but outdated equipment with fear from being dependent on Russian provisioning plays a key role.
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Premiant of Foreign Development Cooperation - a Case Study of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Lopourová, Aneta ; Tomalová, Eliška (advisor) ; Menclová, Barbora (referee)
v anglickém jazyce The aim of this Master's thesis is to answer the question why Luxembourg contributes more to official development assistance (ODA) than recommended, why it increases its official development assistance to 1% of GNI. The work is based on the hypothesis that Luxembourg, a small state, is trying to increase its status through foreign development cooperation and through its gradual increase in official development assistance. By reaching 0.7% of GNI, Luxembourg is among the other four countries, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, which have already met this threshold. This group of five countries is the only one that has managed to increase its official development assistance to 1% of GNI and is considered the most generous donor. Luxembourg has averaged 1% of GNI since 2009, reaching number one in recent years, making it the most generous country. Luxembourg achieved 0.7% of GNI for the first time in 2000. In 2009, it reached 1% of GNI for the first time. The timing of the research is limited to these years 2000-2009. The research frameworks of the work are the concept of a small state and the concept of status. The terms used are foreign development cooperation and official development assistance. The research work applies the content analysis of official documents of the...
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The role of EUNIC in small states'cultural diplomacy: the case of Czech Republic
Ondráčková, Natálie ; Tomalová, Eliška (advisor) ; Váška, Jan (referee)
Small states have limited possibilities in promoting their own interests internationally due to their limited resources. They therefore use certain strategies to help them achieve their foreign policy objectives. This thesis deals with cooperative strategies in cultural diplomacy, as it often becomes a tool of small states for enhancing its visibility. But even in this environment, they face competition from stronger, larger states. Do small states use cooperative strategies in cultural diplomacy? And if so, how? The issue is examined in more detail on the case of the Czech Republic's participation in the association of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes of Culture), which represents a platform for cooperation of cultural diplomacy actors from the EU Member States. The Czech Republic is represented in the structures of EUNIC by the Czech Centers. The research of this thesis focuses specifically on the opportunities to strengthen the influence of small states in the international field, which EUNIC offers to the members. It focuses also on what motivations and risks are associated with cooperation. Through the methods of interviews, content analysis and quantitative data analysis the thesis describes activity of the Czech Republic as a representative of small state in the EUNIC network in...
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The power of small states: A case study of Georgia (2004-2012)
Andrš, Vojtěch ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Horák, Slavomír (referee)
This study focuses on use of foreign-policy power by Georgia on USA, EU member states and Russia during 2004-2012. In this period, Georgia wanted to enter into alliance with USA and EU states and gain access to Euro-Atlantic organizations, European Union and NATO. At the same time, Georgia wanted to reduce Russian influence on Georgian soil. After a few months of the new Georgian regime it was clear that the relation with its big neighbor will be difficult, mainly because of the two separatist republics on Georgian-Russian border, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The aim of this study is to determine categories of power that Georgia used to achieve its goals. The study uses concepts of small state and power in international relations. Besides, it uses Nye's concept of soft and hard power. For influencing Western states Georgia chose the combination of soft and hard power. Soft power of Georgia has been mainly based on presentation of attractive values - pro-Western thinking a democracy - which should have attracted Western support. To a lower extent, foreign policy and culture were also used as sources of soft power. Georgia's hard power consisted of security importance and economic and political value of the country. In case of Russia, Georgia used only tools of hard power which included harsh rhetoric...
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The Potential of Estonia as a Small State in International Relations
Růžičková, Kateřina ; Rolenc, Jan Martin (advisor) ; Peterková, Jana (referee)
This bachelor thesis focuses on Estonia as a small state and its potential and position in international relations, it also focuses on Estonian economy and its foreign policy. First chapter concerns terms such as a small state, foreign policy and foreign policy of a small state and their possible definitions or characteristics. Second chapter focuses briefly on Estonian history, Estonian transformation to democratic state and current situation of Estonia. It also describes some Estonian specifics, its values and it briefly concerns Estonian culture. Next chapter focuses on Estonian foreign policy, its objectives, development and changes that have been implemented after gaining independance. Last chapter analyses Estonian economy and domains where Estonia has a good position or much better position than other states or even where Estonia shows especial potential. It also describes transformation of Estonian economy after gaining independance in 1991 and its reorientaion to the West. This chapter also focuses on five selected international indexes and it compares Estonian position in them with positions of other states.
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Austria as a small state in international organizations: the tactics of pursuing Austrian national interests in the European union
Lososová, Radka ; Druláková, Radka (advisor) ; Peterková, Jana (referee)
This diploma thesis deals with the issue of small states in the context of the European Union. It principally focuses on strategies of small states which help them to pursue their national interests in the European Union. Austria has been chosen as a case for the practical purposes of this diploma thesis. The theoretical part introduces the concept of small state in general, characterizes this specific term in the structures of the European Union and points out to the weaknesses of small countries, which may reduce their foreign-policy activism. Subsequently, the text analyses the strategies of small states which are used for the promotion of national interests in the European Union, or more precisely in the Council of the European Union. A practical section of the thesis deals with Austrian foreign policy engagement in three key political issues of the Alpine republic. The analysis of the Austrian initiatives during the years 1995-2015 has identified the strategies which Austria used to pursue its national positions in the European Union.
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Dynamics of the Human Right Priority in Czech Foreign Policy
Malásková, Alena ; Druláková, Radka (advisor) ; Matějka, Zdeněk (referee)
This bachelor thesis deals with the human rights priority in Czech foreign policy and its dynamics. The aim of this thesis is to characterize Czech human rights foreign policy in two different periods: from the beginning of the Czech Republic until the year of 2013 and from the year of 2014 until today and to compare those periods. First chapter is theoretical, it is focused on the role of human rights in the foreign policy of a small state. Practical part of the thesis is concentrated on characteristics of each period and on the evaluation of the development.
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The foreign policy strategy of small states – case study of the Czech Republic
Stehlíková, Jana ; Druláková, Radka (advisor) ; Zemanová, Štěpánka (referee)
Foreign policy strategy of small states does differ significantly from the strategy of superpowers. The first chapter of this bachelor thesis analyses the different strategies present in foreign policy of small states. Strategies of the Czech Republic are identified in the second chapter, and then the attention is focused on the analysis of niche strategy itself in its form of human rights and transition policy. The aim of this work is, with the use of critical analysis, to compare the declared strategy concept of the human rights agenda with its fulfilling by Czech representatives, assess how the fulfilment of this strategy reflects in the view of other countries towards the Czech Republic, and finally to analyse the potential of the niche diplomacy towards building a good reputation of the Czech Republic on the international platform.
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