Vztah Čechů k československé státnosti
Relationship of Czechs to Czechoslovak statehoo

Summary/Abstract: This article presents insight into the development/changes in the way in which Czechs treated the Czechoslovak state in 1918–1992. I have taken into consideration the roots of the modification to the Czech state resulting from historical developments and supplemented in the 19th century. I also ascertain that – except for the Second Republic – Czechs adopted a positive outlook on the emergence of an independent state – Czechoslovakia. This emergence posed a considerable problem predominantly to communist ideologists. However, even they could not eliminate this social vision in their targeted and simplified interpretations of history. The emergence of Czechoslovakia as well as its pre-war and post-war existence were therefore interpreted as a trend in accordance with the then ideological understanding of social progress. This concept was shared by a majority of the Czech society, irrespective of different world views. Notably, there were other, more distanced positions in the Slovak society. The national minorities (Hungarians, Poles, Germans, Ukrainians-Russians) oftentimes represent entirely different opinions. While Czechoslovakia as a state disappeared as early as in 1992, the rudimentary concepts of the Czechoslovak state have survived and have been reflected in the way the new Czech state is treated.

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