Historik v politice: příklad Josefa Šusty
Historian in Politics: the Case of Josepf Šusta

Summary/Abstract: The creation of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918 brought a number of challenges. A lack of skilful personnel for higher political and particularly diplomatic positions was on of the most urgent tasks. Since the discipline of political science was not established yet, professional historians, together with lawyers and economists, were most natural resources for this mission. Historian Josef Šusta (1874–1945) entered the world of politics 1918. First refusing an offer for a diplomatic position, he finally accepted a ministerial position in the white-collar cabinet of Jan Černý. Though he served as the Minister of education for only one year (1920–1921), he substantially contributed to the stabilization of a still weak state as well as established useful links with ministerial administration for a long time. One of the most difficult questions for the statesman-scientist was a decision whether to give up the academic career for politics. In contradiction to Kamil Krofta (1876–1945), who neither returned back at the University nor continued his scholarly work, J. Šusta never seriously considered complete withdrawal from the shadow of historical research and teaching. However, he prolonged his service to the state by training young adepts of foreign service at the Prague School for Diplomats and Foreign Servicemen beginning in 1919. Later he replaced his personal involvement by writing Nine-volume synthesis of Modern Era (1812–1914), which remains classic in the Czech historiography. The last part of the article deals with Šusta’s engagement in international politics. He did so in the International Commission of Intellectual Co-operation, established in Geneve as a part of the League of Nations in 1922. Originally Cinderella of the League, it became substantial platform of intellectual and scientific integration of Europe and the World, previously distorted by the World War I. Among the members of the Commission, which Šusta joined in 1928, were also the Nobel Prize holders such as Albert Einstein or Marie Curie-Sklodowska. Šusta’s participation in this organization helped to the recognition of Czechoslovakia as well as to introduce Czechoslovak science and culture to the world. Despite of the League’s failure in peace-keeping, its cultural activities should be given further attention.

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