Civic and Uncivic Values in the Czech Republic : Value Transformation, Politics, Education, and Gender Equality

This book considers the state of Czech democracy, following the rise of authoritarian regimes in Poland and Hungary and the ascent of billionaire oligarch Andrej Babiš to the office of prime minister of the Czech Republic, leading to concerns about conflict of interest. The authors argue that civic values, such as tolerance, respect for the equality of people, and readiness to play by the rules of the political game, are key factors in determining whether the Czech Republic will maintain its democracy in the coming years. The book employs a broad perspective, bringing together insights from political science, sociology, cultural studies, and other disciplines to analyse changes in the democracy of the Czech Republic since 1989, taking into consideration various dimensions of civic values, including politics, gender inequality, film, and the media. Preface Contents Editors and Contributors About the Editors Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Part I Values & The System 1 The Czech Republic: A Flawed Democracy – An Introduction I II III IV V Vi 2 Civic Values in the Czech Republic in a European Context Results from the European Values Study 2017 and European Social Survey Round 8 Social and Political Trust Political Interest and Political Efficacy Participation Attitudes Towards Democracy Life Satisfaction Cultural Tolerance and Modern Values Conclusion 3 Czech Politics at a Crossroads? Introduction Theoretical Approach: Parties and Parliamentary Elites Institutions: The Rules of the Game The Czech Party System 1992–2010 and Beyond Organization: Three Generations of Czech Parties The Elites: From Political Dinosaurs to Tordenskiold’s Soldiers? Czech Politics at a Crossroads? Party Acronyms Appendix 1: Elections to the Czech National Council/The Chamber of Deputies, % Appendix 2: Czech Governments 1992–2021 Appendix 3: Voters of New Parties by Party in Previous Election (% in rows) Appendix 4: Where did ANO’s Voters Come From? Part II Education, Media, & Culture 4 The Czech Media Landscape in the Post-transformation Stage: Main Trends and Problems The Transformation Stage (1991–2011): Searching for a New Type of Media System and Unanticipated Consequences of this Process Key Characteristics of the Transformation Stage: Commercialization The Post-Transformation Stage (2012 + ): The Arrival of New Owners and the Beginning of Media Oligarchization De-Globalization of Media Ownership and the Instrumentalization of Media by Domestic Oligarchs: Symptoms of the Return of Authoritarian Power? Weakening of Professional Autonomy of Journalists and Decline of Their Credibility Czech Media System Captured Through the Capture of State Conclusion: Two Scenarios of the Direction of the Czech Media Field 5 Dealing with the Past—The History Textbook Conclusion 6 Civic Values in the Films of Jan Hřebejk and Petr Jarchovský Part III Gender and Civil Society 7 The Political Participation and Representation of Czech Women Since 1989 The New (Democratic) Beginning, 1989–2004 Since 2004 Conclusion 8 Feminism in the Czech Republic Women’s Activism in Historical Perspective The Communist Legacy Post-1989 Women’s Organizing Thirty Years Later: Institutionalization of Organizations and Research Research and Scholarship Feminist Discourse: Feminism Czech Style? Conclusion 9 With or Without You: Ideas of Citizenship Driving or Deactivating Participation in Czech Collective Action Introduction Citizens’ Engagement as a Collective Action Problem Actor-Centered Perspective and Culture Political Activism and Narratives Methods and Data Magnitude of Citizens’ Engagement Modes of Political Activism and Their Narratives Conclusions 10 Anti-Semitism in the Czech Republic Jews in the Czech Republic Historical Background Anti-Semitism in the Czech Republic Religious Anti-Semitism National Anti-Semitism Leftist Anti-Semitism New Anti-Semitism Latent Anti-Semitism Conclusion Part IV Conclusion 11 The Importance of Civic Culture—A Conclusion Index of Persons Index of Subjects This book considers the state of Czech democracy, following the rise of authoritarian regimes in Poland and Hungary and the ascent of billionaire oligarch Andrej Babis to the office of prime minister of the Czech Republic, leading to concerns about conflicts of interest. The authors argue that civic values, such as tolerance, respect for the equality of people, and readiness to play by the rules of the political game, are key factors in determining whether the Czech Republic will maintain its democracy in the coming years. The book employs a broad perspective, bringing together insights from political science, sociology, cultural studies, and other disciplines to analyse changes in the democracy of the Czech Republic since 1989, taking into consideration various dimensions of civic values, including politics, gender inequality, film, and the media