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Czech Foreign Policy in 2015: Analysis Cover Image

Czech Foreign Policy in 2015: Analysis
Czech Foreign Policy in 2015: Analysis

Contributor(s): Michal Kořan (Editor)
Subject(s): Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Civil Society, Political history, Economic policy, Environmental and Energy policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today), EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Geopolitics
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: Czech Republic; Foreign policy; 2015; Political activities; Russia; Eastern Partnership; Middle East; Security policy; economic policy; France; Great Britain; Sub-Saharan Africa; Latin America; Energy policy; Human rights;
Summary/Abstract: When analysing the last year (2014), the authors of this publication concluded that it was the most significant year in terms of foreign policy for the entire monitored period and, to a large extent, for the entire period of existence of the independent Czech Republic in general. The trend towards the weakening of the multilateral and open global order and towards the decrease of trust in this order deepened more in 2015. It is a purely negative phenomenon for a country that has the size and abilities of the Czech Republic. Therefore, the key question for us is still the same: How and why does the Czech Republic react to the challenges coming from the outer regional-international-global environment, and how has it itself tried to influence this environment? Does the Czech Republic contribute with its foreign policy to the cultivation or at least to the sustainment of the multilateral global order or not? In this context, we further ask the following questions: In which areas and why did the Czech Republic implement a proactive, a reactive or “any” policy, and how successful was it? In which areas did the polarization and politicization of the foreign-policy agenda occur, and what was the influence of these factors on the Czech foreign policy?

  • Print-ISBN-13: 978-80-87558-28-7
  • Page Count: 577
  • Publication Year: 2017
  • Language: English
The media context of Czech foreign policy

The media context of Czech foreign policy
(The media context of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):David Chudoba, Vlastimil Nečas
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Media studies, Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:25-43
  • No. of Pages:19
  • Keywords:Media's impact and reporting; Czech foreign policy; 2015;
  • Summary/Abstract:In this chapter, which is devoted to the analysis of the news reporting by Czech media in 2015, we follow the research from the previous years with the same objective, i.e. we identify and determine the predominant characteristics of the news reporting on foreign affairs. The structure of the chapter and the analytical procedure remain the same as in the previous years, and we complement the continuous series of findings on this topic collected since 2008.
The European dimension of Czech foreign policy

The European dimension of Czech foreign policy
(The European dimension of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Vít Beneš
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Politics and society, Present Times (2010 - today), EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
  • Page Range:47-73
  • No. of Pages:27
  • Keywords:Czech Republic; foreign policy; European Union; Government Shift; Public opinion; EU membership;
  • Summary/Abstract:In 2015, the Government coalition of Česká strana sociálně-demokratická (ČSDD), Křesťanská a demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová (KDU-ČSL) and the movement ANO 2011 continued to work. The mere fact that this coalition continued to work for a third year without any significant inter-coalition conflicts in the European policy, as was the case with the previous governments, is worthy of attention. The op-position to the Government’s European policy was relatively weak in 2015. The coalition government declared a “pro-European” course of its foreign policy, so the pro-European opposition (TOP 09) had only a small space for criticising the Government for the pro-European positions. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the traditional Eurosceptic opposition (ODS) was considerably weakened after the last parliamentary elections. In regard to specific issues, such as the reaction to the refugee crisis and the scandal of “the refugee quotas”, the Government had a critical attitude towards the EU, thereby reducing the space for criticism from the traditional eurosceptic political parties. The new populist movement Úsvit of Tomio Okamura is undergoing an internal crisis and is falling apart. The parliamentary opposition had some problems in formulating credible alternative European policies. There is an evident tension between President, Miloš Zeman, and Prime Minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, that is manifested on the level of personal as well as political priorities, but the President’s attitudes in the European policy did not pose a major threat and challenge to the Czech European policy. The President had a much stronger opinion on the Union proposal on the solution of the refugee crisis than the Government. He shaped the public debate on this topic and tried to direct the Government’s policy, but it was not a threat to the European policy of the Government as such.
The security dimension of Czech foreign policy

The security dimension of Czech foreign policy
(The security dimension of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Jan Eichler, Ondřej Ditrych
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Present Times (2010 - today), Peace and Conflict Studies
  • Page Range:74-94
  • No. of Pages:21
  • Keywords:Security Dimension; Czech Republic; foreign policy behavior;
  • Summary/Abstract:In the area of the security and defence dimensions of the foreign policy, the previous year was mainly about the adaptation to the perceived change of the security environment in connection with the Ukrainian crisis, and also the significant securitization of the issue of refugees and the uncontrolled transit of foreign nationals across the territory of the Czech Republic. On the one hand, the trend toward the mainly passive constructive formation and implementation of the Czech foreign policy could have continued in relation to its environment. On the other hand, the normalization, which here means the broad acceptance of the idea of the uniqueness of the contemporary security situation and the necessity to adopt adequate, exceptional measures, brought new risks.
The Federal Republic of Germany in Czech foreign policy

The Federal Republic of Germany in Czech foreign policy
(The Federal Republic of Germany in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Vladimír Handl
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today), EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
  • Page Range:97-117
  • No. of Pages:21
  • Keywords:relationship between the Czech Republic and Germany; foreign policy; European policy;
  • Summary/Abstract:For a long period of time (since 2002), the Czech policy towards Germany has not been divided into as many areas as in 2015. On the one hand, the trend of intense co-operation continued on all the levels of the state administration and in all political departments; it was particularly intense in the border regions. The initiation of the Czech and German strategic dialogue had a special meaning – it was a new and promising instrument of the intensification of the Czech and German cooperation. On the other hand, the so-called refugee crisis tested the Czech and German relations, mainly in the field of political debate, the atmosphere of the whole society and certain particular measures (especially the issues of the quotas for the redistribution of refugees within the EU). There was also a topic that both parties perceived so differently in some aspects that it revealed the less visible differences in some basic coordinates and cultures of the Czech and German societies and policies. The strengthening of the national accents and the cooling down of the relations of the Czech Republic towards the EU, Germany, the establishment and mainstream political groups, and media presented a challenge for the policy and media of both parties. In the context of Central Europe, the Government of Bohuslav Sobotka occupied a central position and thus confirmed its role as a pragmatic and cooperative partner of Germany.
Visegrad cooperation, Poland, Slovakia and Austria in Czech foreign policy

Visegrad cooperation, Poland, Slovakia and Austria in Czech foreign policy
(Visegrad cooperation, Poland, Slovakia and Austria in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Michal Kořan
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today), EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
  • Page Range:118-140
  • No. of Pages:23
  • Keywords:Visegrád Cooperation; Central European Dimension; Czech Republic; foreign policy; Defense and Security;
  • Summary/Abstract:The analysis for the year 2014 stated that Central Europe acquired a position in the Czech political debate in 2014 that it had not had at least since the 1990s. The year 2015 moved this maximum position a bit higher, but the reasons for this prominence are definitely not encouraging. In 2015, the Czech Central European policy was mainly affected by the increasing political crisis in Central Europe and in Europe in general, by the international political development, by the lingering domestic political debate about the “Czech” Central Europe, and, last but not least, in terms of the execution of power, also by the Czech Republic’s preparation and take-over of the presidency in the Visegrad Group in July 2015. The Czech Republic took over the presidency of the Visegrad Group from Slovakia, perhaps in the most turbulent conditions of the entire history of the region, at least since its joining the EU, but probably since the fall of the Iron Curtain.
The United States of America in Czech foreign policy

The United States of America in Czech foreign policy
(The United States of America in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Jakub El-Ahmadieh
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:143-154
  • No. of Pages:12
  • Keywords:USA; Czech Republic; Foreign policy; bilateral relations; strategic dialogue;
  • Summary/Abstract:The United States of America has been regarded as a key partner and ally of the Czech Republic on the international scene in the long term. The mutual relations, which laid the strong foundations during the presidency of Václav Havel, are built on three pillars. They have not changed much in the long term; the main role in the system of mutual relations is the cooperation in economic, defensive, and security fields and in the field of common values and human rights. After the stately celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in November 2014, which culminated in the ceremonial unveiling of the bust of Václav Havel in the premises of the American Congress, and which was accompanied by the statements of the Prime Minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, and the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, Jan Hamáček, on the importance of Václav Havel and his legacy, we might have expected that with respect to the Czech-American relations, the year 2015 would be the year of the renewal of the human-rights agenda and common attitudes to the key events on the international scene. But these expectations were thoroughly wrong.
Russia in Czech foreign policy

Russia in Czech foreign policy
(Russia in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Nikita Odintsov, Lukáš Tichý
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today), Peace and Conflict Studies
  • Page Range:155-189
  • No. of Pages:35
  • Keywords:Czech Republic’s foreign policy towards Russia; Ukrainian crisis; Crimea; annexation; EU relations;
  • Summary/Abstract:In 2015, the Czech foreign policy in its relation to the Russian Federation (RF), as in the previous year 2014, was still influenced by the tense geopolitical situation be-tween the Russian Federation and the western countries and the unresolved conflict in Ukraine. After the escalation of fights at the beginning of 2015, new agreements were signed in Minsk on 12th February, which were intended to supplement the Minsk Protocol from September 2014. These agreements represent the plan that, at the end of 2015, had to lead to the solution of the armed conflict in the eastern part of the country. However, the progress at the end of 2015 was only minimal. The sanctions imposed on Russia, the fate of which is tightly linked to the fulfillment of the agreements, were prolonged, but this did not cause such a debate in the Czech Republic as in the previous year.
The Countries of the Eastern Partnership in the Czech Foreign Policy

The Countries of the Eastern Partnership in the Czech Foreign Policy
(The Countries of the Eastern Partnership in the Czech Foreign Policy)

  • Author(s):Lucia Najšlová
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:190-207
  • No. of Pages:18
  • Keywords:Czech Republic’s Eastern Policy; domestic political disputes;
  • Summary/Abstract:Eastern policy belongs to the declared long-term priorities of the Czech foreign policy. Although in 2015, especially in its second half, the debate on the European Neighborhood Policy was dominated by the refugee crisis, there were also several shifts in the Eastern policy. The most important one was the solid anchoring of the Eastern policy as a priority in all the new conceptual documents, while in the foreign-policy concept, Eastern Europe, together with the Western Balkans, are defined as a part of the Euro-Atlantic area. These changes are based on the programme declarations of the Government adopted in 2014, in which it undertook to understand the EU as the basic framework of the Czech foreign policy.1
The Balkan dimension of Czech foreign policy

The Balkan dimension of Czech foreign policy
(The Balkan dimension of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Tomáš Dopita
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today), Geopolitics
  • Page Range:208-224
  • No. of Pages:17
  • Keywords:Czech Republic; foreign policy; Balkan region; Geopolitics; NATO; EU; Diplomatic efforts;
  • Summary/Abstract:Identically to former years, some representatives of the Czech foreign policy continued with the proactive support of the Western Balkans Euro-Atlantic integration in 2015 as the main long-lasting priority of the Balkan dimension within the Czech foreign policy. Identically to former years, the Czech foreign policy was polarized and politicised in regard to the independence of Kosovo. The normalisation process be-tween Serbia and Kosovo, commenced by the agreement from April 2013, was not reflected in the Czech foreign policy but it was considered by the Czech media. In 2015, the trend of geopolitical competing continued between the EU and Russia; it started in 2014 and functioned as a catalyst for the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans and the counterbalance to the tiredness from the integration in the old EU member states. The general procedure during the integration of the Western Balkans was accompanied by the further development of direct economic and social relationships with all South East European countries, and the economic dimension in 2015 was less affected by former unsuccessful investment expansion of Czech power generating companies in this area. Like in the previous year, the Greek debts played quite a significant and special role in the Czech foreign policy in 2015; it was strongly discussed in the public debate on European and macroeconomic topics but the communication on the official side of the Czech foreign policy was minimal. The new subject of reaction in 2015 from the Czech foreign policy representatives, the public, and media was the wave of migrants passing through the Western-Balkan migration path. In regard to the structure, this chapter focuses on the current solutions and political context of the Czech foreign policy in regard to the Balkan Peninsula. Subsequently, the attention is focused on the agenda and the events in 2015, namely the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, the economic and social relations with Southeast Europe, the refugee wave and the migration. Prior to the conclusion, the analysis of the media context of the Czech foreign policy has been introduced with respect to individual Balkan countries.
The Middle East, the Mediterranean and Afghanistan in Czech foreign policy

The Middle East, the Mediterranean and Afghanistan in Czech foreign policy
(The Middle East, the Mediterranean and Afghanistan in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Bronislav Bechyňský, Michaela Ježová, Marek Čejka
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Comparative politics, Peace and Conflict Studies
  • Page Range:225-249
  • No. of Pages:25
  • Keywords:Czech Republic; Afghanistan; Middle East; foreign policy; media coverage; Diplomatic Relations and Security;
  • Summary/Abstract:In 2015, the general principles of the Czech Republic foreign policy concerning the Middle East remained identical to the former years in the main points. According to the new Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Czech Republic, adopted in June 2015, the Czech Republic continued focusing on strengthening the bilateral economic relations with the countries in the region, particularly Israel, the Gulf countries, and North Africa with the aim to ensure stable security in the area. The bilateral priority remains the strategic partnership with Israel; however, the newly adopted concept binds the Czech Republic to strengthen the cooperation with the Palestinian administration and the preparation of the Palestinian representation to accept statehood. The new concept also highlights the necessity to standardise the relationships with Iran. Unlike those of the former years, the new concept reflects the aim of the left-wing government to support new bilateral partnerships in the region without priority focus on the interests of Israel.
France in Czech foreign policy

France in Czech foreign policy
(France in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Eliška Tomalová
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Environmental and Energy policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:250-257
  • No. of Pages:8
  • Keywords:France; Czech Republic; political relations; 2015;
  • Summary/Abstract:After the start of Sobotka’s Government, it was clear that the Czech-French relations would change. France perceived positively particularly the pro-European orientation of the Czech foreign policy; the good atmosphere of mutual relations was also supported by the party membership of the new Prime Minister when the contacts at the party level with the French socialist party (Parti socialiste, PS) supported further areas of bilateral and multilateral relations. This tendency was confirmed during 2014. It was accompanied with greater intensity of visits by leading representatives of both countries: Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and President Miloš Zeman visited France, French Minister for European Affairs Thierry Repentin visited Prague, and Prime Minister Manuel Valls visited Prague in December, which was the climax of the Czech-French cooperation. Both Prime Ministers signed the Action Plan for 2014–2018 in Prague, which was included in the Strategic Partnership of both countries, and it specified individual cooperation areas of the Czech Republic and France. The year 2015 demonstrated a stronger will of the Czech Republic to cooperate with France than the previous years, particularly within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This change was based mostly on the personal level of higher administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and it was supported by the party contacts between ČSSD and the French PS. In 2015, the trend of mutual visits continued at the political and administration level; the shift within the public diplomacy became apparent when both states increased the number of events for the French and Czech general public. The negative atmosphere from former years caused by the circumstances related to the exclusion of AREVA from the public tender for further construction of the nuclear power plant Temelín is forgotten and the post-Temelín bitterness of the Czech-French relations is in the past.
Great Britain in Czech foreign policy

Great Britain in Czech foreign policy
(Great Britain in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Zuzana Kasáková
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today), EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
  • Page Range:258-275
  • No. of Pages:18
  • Keywords:Czech-UK relations; bilateral relations; political developments; security policy; energy policy;
  • Summary/Abstract:Mutual relations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Great Britain) and the Czech Republic were at a very good level in 2015. An important con-text of the bilateral relations was the question of the European Union direction and particularly the role of Great Britain in the European Union, which resonated mainly in relation to the general elections in the House of Commons of the British Parliament from the beginning of May 2015. Another question which gained the attention of all EU countries, including the Czech Republic, was the referendum on Great Britain remaining in the Union, which had been promised by the Chairman of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, in 2013 in case his party won the elections and formed the government. Despite the pre-election survey, the Conservatives managed to receive the majority of votes and built a unified government. Mr. Cameron then commenced the debate on possible reforms in the European Union in the context of the promised referendum. The accurate date of the referendum was not defined during 2015; however, the supporters and the opponents of the British membership in the EU commenced their campaigns.
The Far East in Czech foreign policy

The Far East in Czech foreign policy
(The Far East in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Rudolf Fürst
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:276-288
  • No. of Pages:13
  • Keywords:Czech Republic; foreign policy; Japan; China; South Korea; Taiwan; Mongolia; Human rights policy; economic influence;
  • Summary/Abstract:This chapter covers the area of the Far East (FE), namely the People’s Republic of China (PRC), both Korean states, Japan, Taiwan, and Mongolia. Similarly to the former chapters on the Far East in this monograph, this group includes also Vietnam be-cause it represents an important country for the Czech Republic and it has not been processed in an independent chapter on South-East Asia yet. The Czech Republic has no specific political interests in the FE area; it shares the mainstream EU and EU member states’ policy which supports the politically and security-wise balanced and stable situation in the Asian-Pacific area. The main interest of all participating European member states is the strengthening of economic contacts in the area of investment and trade in the exceptionally important economic region.
Sub-Saharan Africa in Czech foreign policy

Sub-Saharan Africa in Czech foreign policy
(Sub-Saharan Africa in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Kateřina Rudincová
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:289-310
  • No. of Pages:22
  • Keywords:Sub-Saharan Africa; Czech Republic; Foreign policy; political changes; economic diplomacy; bilateral relations;
  • Summary/Abstract:In 2015, the trend of strengthening the relations with the traditional partners in Sub-Saharan Africa continued, and also the creation of new relations. The interest in Sub-Saharan Africa was traditionally exercised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also other departments, particularly the environmental, agricultural, healthcare, and also industry, including the Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Association of the Industry and Transport which was reflected by increased export to Sub-Saharan Africa. The key aspect considering the implementation of the Czech foreign policy was the approval of new Concept of the Czech Foreign Policy which also focused on the concerned region. Unlike 2014, when the public area focused on the Ebola epidemics, Africa was widely perceived as a region providing significant economic opportunities which was reflected by the number of events organised in relation to the export opportunities to Africa. In 2015, no topic related to Sub-Saharan Africa was politicalized except for the migration issues which became a subject of stereotypical and sometimes even racist media discussions. The Parliament did not develop a polarised debate on the issue of sending the Czech soldiers to Mali within the UN mission MINUSMA, unlike 2013 when the Czech army was sent to Mali within the Training Mission of the European Union EUTM.
Latin America in Czech foreign policy

Latin America in Czech foreign policy
(Latin America in Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Martin Hrabálek
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:311-320
  • No. of Pages:10
  • Keywords:Latin America; Czech Republic; foreign policy; economic relations; diplomatic mission; political dialogue; Human rights; trade;
  • Summary/Abstract:The new Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Czech Republic from July 2015 depicts Latin America as “an area geographically distant but dynamically developing and culturally and geographically close”. The geographic distance is also a major factor for mutual relationships between the Czech Republic and the region of Latin America, which can be described as low-profile in the long-term. On the political level, this re-mote region without (safe for exceptions) closer historical links is relatively of small interest for a country of the size of the Czech Republic. Several years ago, it could even appear that the Czech Republic was withdrawing from Latin America when some missions of the Czech Republic in that region were closed. By reopening of the Embassy in Bogota this trend was stopped; however, instead of its reversal, we can speak about stabilization of the situation nowadays, when other missions of the Czech Re-public are not threatened in that area with high probability now.
The multilateral dimension of Czech foreign policy

The multilateral dimension of Czech foreign policy
(The multilateral dimension of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Jan Blažek
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Present Times (2010 - today), EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
  • Page Range:323-341
  • No. of Pages:19
  • Keywords:Czech Republic; foreign policy; multilateralism; Strategic dimension;
  • Summary/Abstract:In 2015, for the first time since 2011, there has been a change of the decisive value and strategic framework of multilateral co-operation or, as the case may be, of the whole Czech foreign policy. On 13 July, the new Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Czech Republic was approved.1 It follows up the concept from 20112 as well as the programme statement of the government and tries to reflect the changes in the world political order too. This concept has identified three decisive global objectives, which will form the basic outline of the content of this chapter again: a) Security; b) Human dignity and human rights and c) Prosperity and sustainable development.
The economic dimension of Czech foreign policy

The economic dimension of Czech foreign policy
(The economic dimension of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Miloslav Machoň, Štěpánka Zemanová
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):National Economy, Economic history, Political history, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:342-360
  • No. of Pages:19
  • Keywords:economic dimensions of Czech foreign policy; Economic Recovery and Challenges; external economic relations; geopolitics; EU;
  • Summary/Abstract:The year 2015 was the third consecutive year when the area of support of external economic relations of the Czech Republic (VEV) belonged to fairly peaceful parts of Czech foreign policy. This situation was facilitated, without a doubt, by stabilization of the institutional and programme base, which started already during Rusnok’s care-taker government and it was then supported by Sobotka’s government. At the same time, further increasing of activities of key state institutions as well as efforts for greater co-ordination of their activities were reflected in it. Despite some unfavorable tendencies in the international environment, Czech export did well too. The in-flux of direct foreign investments was also satisfactory.
Energy in the external relations of the Czech Republic

Energy in the external relations of the Czech Republic
(Energy in the external relations of the Czech Republic)

  • Author(s):Lukáš Tichý
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Political history, Environmental and Energy policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:361-389
  • No. of Pages:29
  • Keywords:Energy policy; Czech Republic; EU; Energy security; nuclear energy debate;
  • Summary/Abstract:In 2015, the main agenda of the internal and external dimension of the energy policy of the Energy Union was developed in token of the strong continuity of the previous year 2014 focused especially on the Union energy security, which represented one of the most frequently used words of the energetic discourse of the EU. Like in 2014, also in 2015 the Union energy security was characterized by the concurrent operation of two important factors.
The development dimension of Czech foreign policy

The development dimension of Czech foreign policy
(The development dimension of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Ondřej Horký-Hlucháň
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Present Times (2010 - today), Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
  • Page Range:390-416
  • No. of Pages:27
  • Keywords:Development dimension of Czech foreign policy; development cooperation; development goals;
  • Summary/Abstract:For the first time since 1983, when the European Community established the tradition of thematic years, this year was committed to the external operations of the European Union. The choice of the European Year for Development 2015 was related to the symbolic milestone of the end of validity of the development objectives of the millennium. At the same time, it foreshadowed gradual interconnection of the separate agendas of the global and sustainable developments within the United Nations as a unified framework of the social and economic development within the planetary boundaries. Their merger culminated in September in New York, where the General Assembly of the UN approved the Agenda 2030 and its seventeen Objectives of sustainable development representing a huge challenge for the development and other policies of the countries of the global North and South. In this spirit, the European Year for Development was also initiated with the slogan “Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future”. It stood in a peculiar contrast to the closer and rather technical nature of the covering national topic of the “interconnection of activities of non-governmental, private and public sectors in the official foreign development co-operation”.
The human rights dimension of Czech foreign policy

The human rights dimension of Czech foreign policy
(The human rights dimension of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Veronika Bílková
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Politics and society, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:417-438
  • No. of Pages:22
  • Keywords:Human rights policy; Czech Republic; Foreign policy; Czech human rights dimension; democracy;
  • Summary/Abstract:The year 2015 brought some pacification in the Czech foreign policy in the area of human rights. The vivid discussion, which was held about human rights diplomacy and its suitable set-up in the Czech media during 2014, was silenced or, as the case may be, it was only brought to mind by a few isolated inputs and summarizing memoir. In the middle of the year, after long months of the preparations, new conceptual materials – The Concept of Foreign Policy and The Concept of Support of Human Rights and Transformation Co-operation were also officially adopted. Both texts showed that in the Czech human rights diplomacy as well as in the Czech foreign policy in general, no revolution was taking place. The objectives and priorities were completed in a partial way, not reassessed on principle. It also applied to the used tools and involved actors. The topic of human rights in the foreign policy remained politicized in 2015, but the level of its polarization was reduced considerably. It became one of many foreign policy topics again, which – with the exception of extraordinary events – did not generate any bigger interest of the public.
The cultural dimension of Czech foreign policy

The cultural dimension of Czech foreign policy
(The cultural dimension of Czech foreign policy)

  • Author(s):Eliška Tomalová, Jana Peterková
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Sociology of Culture
  • Page Range:439-451
  • No. of Pages:13
  • Keywords:cultural policy; Czech Republic; foreign policy; public diplomacy;
  • Summary/Abstract:The year 2015 was marked by the recovery of interest in the cultural dimension of the foreign policy and Czech public diplomacy as a whole. The initiative was coming especially from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Public Diplomacy Department) and was focused on the conceptual level in the effort to inspire and enliven discussion of the involved actors about the topic of the future direction of the Czech public diplomacy, both in terms of concept and procedures. The impacts of this preparatory conceptual work were not visible in the public space in 2015 yet. However, it became apparent already in 2015 that the key issue of the future development of the agenda will be the will of the involved actors to co-operate, overcoming the department differences and accepting the central role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in formulating the objec-tives and co-ordination of the area of the Czech public and cultural diplomacy.
Selected literature on Czech foreign policy published in 2015

Selected literature on Czech foreign policy published in 2015
(Selected literature on Czech foreign policy published in 2015)

  • Author(s):Not Specified Author
  • Language:English
  • Subject(s):Bibliography, Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:461-463
  • No. of Pages:3
  • Keywords:Bibliography; Czech foreign policy; 2015;
  • Summary/Abstract:Selected literature on Czech foreign policy published in 2015
Appendix

Appendix
(Appendix)

  • Author(s):Not Specified Author
  • Language:Czech
  • Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Present Times (2010 - today)
  • Page Range:469-571
  • No. of Pages:103
  • Keywords:Czech Republic; 2015; political and diplomatic activities;
  • Summary/Abstract:OVERVIEW OF THE VISITS AND CONTACTS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND REPRESENTATIVES OF STATES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN 2015; OVERVIEW OF THE MAIN EVENTS ORGANIZED ON THE OCCASION OF THE CZECH PRESIDENCY OF THE V4 (WITHOUT MEETINGS OF WORKING GROUPS AND TRADITIONAL COORDINATION MEETINGS PRIOR TO THE MEETINGS OF THE EU); THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN FOREIGN MISSIONS AND OPERATIONS IN 2015; DEPUTY CHIEFS SENT BY THE MFA OF THE CZECHS REPUBLIC TO THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN 2015
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