A Cacophony of Stories

Author(s):  
Rogers M. Smith

Most scholars agree that modern populists tell nationalist stories promising to protect “the people” against malignant elites. They appeal to economic and cultural anxieties stirred by many forms of globalization. They also respond, however, to the multiplicity of competing narratives of political identity that have proliferated globally since the end of the Cold War. These have created a cacophony of identity stories that often heightens the appeal of familiar nationalist ones. Examples are drawn from the three great waves of modern nation-building, including Wisconsin in the U.S. and Ulster-Scots in the U.K.’s Northern Ireland; the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines; and the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Ad Americam ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 123-142
Author(s):  
Kryštof Kozák

This article analyzes the developments in cultural memory in Czech-U.S. relations since the end of the Cold War with a special emphasis on the heated debate about placing a U.S. radar base on Czech soil in 2008. It first describes the abrupt transformation in cultural memory related to the transition from communist rule from the transatlantic perspective. It claims that the debate about the radar base is a clear indication of the shift within cultural memory, which became much more contested, especially when compared with the previous period culminating with the Czech Republic’s entry into NATO. As cultural memory is closely linked to dominant historical narratives as well as identity, the findings have serious implications for the future of the transatlantic ties in the region.


Author(s):  
Michal Onderco

This chapter focuses on defence transformations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary since the end of the cold war. The three lesser powers of Central Europe all eventually joined NATO and the European Union, following the fall of the Iron Curtain. The process they underwent completely transformed their security strategies and military doctrines, but the plans to transform their military forces have developed slowly, and the actual process has been interrupted and incomplete. This chapter addresses the development of civil–military relations, the main milestones in the development of the respective states’ national security policies, and the main changes in the structure of military forces in each of these countries. Finally, the chapter looks at the nascent trends towards military cooperation between the three countries, including military sharing and joint procurement.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-102
Author(s):  
Kateřina Kapounková ◽  
Ivan Struhár ◽  
Jitka Kopřivová

The aim of the study was to ascertain information upon the occurrence of hypermobility as well as the symptoms of light brain dysfunction in rhythmic gymnasts and to prove their relationship. The research sample consisted of 78 girls from rhythmic gymnastics teams from the Czech Republic with average age 12,81 ± 2,47. The study used deliberate selection on the basis of chosen criteria: women, age 10 – 18 years, at least 5 let of specialised training in rhythmic gymnastics, week load at least 10 hours. The diagnostics of hypermobility used the method of measuring joint range with the aid of goniometer. The range of the movement of hip joint was measured and Janda test. The diagnostics of mild brain dysfunction diagnostics used orientation brain tests. It is the test of tax, which is aimed upon the proper aiming of movement, test of diadochokinesis, which is aimed at the ability to perform alternating movements, and the test of stability using Romberg pose on a balance platform with open eyes. The results of the goniometric measurement showed a significant flexibility of the gymnasts, mainly in the area of their hip joint (flexe right hip joint 161,09 °; ± 14,78 and flexe left hip joint 158,54 ° ± 14,05). When diagnosing mild brain dysfunction using tax, in both the upper and the lower extremities, no pathology was ascertained, on the contrary, however dysdiadochokinesis was found in 7 gymnasts. The results of the Romberg pose on the balance platform were mildly above the norm (compared with general population), nonetheless, the 7 people with dysdiadochokinesis showed results under the values of the general population. The people with dysdiadochokinesis, also showed worse results in the Romberg pose on the balance platform, as well as the symptoms of hypermobility, which where proved by goniometric examination.


Author(s):  
Paddy Hoey

Sinn Féin’s far reaching commitment to activist materials since the late 1960s included a devotion to the newspapers An Phoblacht/ Republican News. It was almost quixotically committed to producing AP/ RN and the paper became a far-reaching organ of political identity. During the Hunger Strikes of 1980/ 81 it was the authentic voice of those on the protests. Later, during the reforms of Peace Process era it articulated the changes in policy. However, Sinn Féin activists were keen to develop a mainstream vehicle for the newly dominant and optimistic strand of republicanism, one that might compete against the media outlets that had been overtly critical and hostile towards the party dating back to the beginning of the Troubles. The Belfast Media Group whose primary paper, the Andersonstown News, became associated with articulating Sinn Féin’s position throughout the 1990s and 2000s launched the republican daily newspaper Daily Ireland in 2005 in competition with the Irish News, the paper that has traditionally captured sales among the nationalist population of Northern Ireland. It was an experiment in assessing how far the shifts in the cultural and political tectonic plates of nationalism played into the media consumption habits of the people.


2007 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ladislav Rabušic ◽  
Beatrice-Elena Chromková Manea

2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nik Hynek ◽  
Vit Stritecky

The present article examines the tumultuous development in the issue of the Third Site (also known as the Third Pillar) of the US Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) that was planned to be hosted by the Czech Republic and Poland. The article analyzes the entire ‘life cycle’ of the project, from its formal proposal in 2007 by the former U.S. President George W. Bush to its cancellation in 2009 by the current U.S. President Barak Obama. Without any doubts, the Third Site of BMD put Poland and the Czech Republic at the centre of international security politics and as such allows one to see how the two post-communist countries acted and reacted to related international positions, expectations and challenges. A detailed analysis of this issue, nevertheless, does not exhaust aims of this article. Whether brief or detailed, any look at the coverage of the issue reveals that the Czech Republic and Poland have invariably been lumped together through the construction of the imagery of the New Europe as a homogeneous political bloc. It will be argued that such a view is flawed and needs refinement. In order to back the claim, the issue of the Third Site is put into a historical context, revealing that the differences between the Czech and Polish international-security preferences and expectations after the end of the Cold War have been quite stable – including the most recent development after the project has been shelved by the United States, and can thus be conceived of in dialectical terms.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 69-72
Author(s):  
Ludmila Dömeová ◽  
Rudolf Zeipelt

Rural tourism has gone through an important development, but in the Czech Republic has only been possible to run a private business only in last 18 years. In Czech Republic that form of tourism is not very widespread, although there is great potential in it and the neighboring countries such as Austria or Germany are on a much higher level. For more intensive development and better competitiveness on the marker a proper education is necessary especially on the secondary level. An inquiry investigation has been provided. The responders were owners and operators of small businesses in rural tourism. The first part of the questionnaire was focused on the matters of ownership, running the business, promotion, internet services, etc. The subsequent part of the questionnaire gathered the information about the capacity of the places, the types and prices of accommodation, and the facilities. It also surveys the surroundings of the place – both natural and cultural sights.The survey has brought interesting facts about the level of the rural tourism of selected regions.The inquiry investigation was made by trained persons who gathered much information above the framework of the questionnaire. Many demands and complains were concerned with lack of specialized education, needs of new study programs and branches. There are many specifics of this branches, the most important is that there are more than 90% of micro firms. If we want to keep the special features of the rural tourism we have to prepare future entrepreneurs and employees in completely different way than those for big hotels, spas or congress centers. The contribution deals with the present status of rural tourism in Czech Republic and the educational need of the people involved.


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