Abstract In this article, the writer discusses changes in the political landscape in Europe, focusing on Czechoslavakia. The writer points out that the 1993 dissolution of former Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia dissolved the former Communist Party of Czechoslavakia. Further, the writer notes that a non-communist, capitalist entity emerged as the new government while at the same time the European Union was undergoing a long process of integration. This research examines advantages and disadvantages of the Czech Republic and Slovakia joining the integrated European Union.
From the Paper "At first sight, the issue of the newly formed separate republics merging would appear to be a step backward in terms of political sovereignty. However, to understand the implications of unification fully, one must examine what the transformation means in terms of the new republics that are formed. One of the key factors is that the old regime represented a communist society. This form of government is not compatible with the new European Union. Communism is rigid and depends on equal distribution of goods between the people. One of the goals of the EU is to allow each of the individual countries to continue functioning with their own form of economy.
"The logistics of integrating a capitalist economy with a socialist economy would be difficult, if not impossible."
Abstract This paper discusses the characters in the book "Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera and how Tomas's indecisive personality leads his political decisions while Sabina has a decisive personality. The author looks at how these differences account for the different roles the characters play in the Czech revolution.
From the Paper "Kundera's most famous is said to be a complex book, which is set against the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia. The story revolves around three different characters. The man torn between thought and emotion, love and lust, the woman who lives for rebellion and another woman whose body act as the amplifier for her emotions. The male protagonist is Tomas who falls in love with Teresa and they both get married. Even after marrying her he keeps on having affairs in order to give weight and meaning to his life. With that he also maintains a love- affair with Sabina."
Tags: political activism, Czechoslavakia, revolution, character analysis milan kundera tomas sabina
Abstract Discusses life & writings of Czechoslovakian Havel. His human rights activism. Imprisionment for his criticism of the government. His release. His election as President of Czechoslavakia & then of the Czech Republic. Havel's writings on classic distatorships; post-totalitarian dictatorships. Differences & similarities between the 2 systems of absolute power.
From the Paper "Introduction
Born under the astrological sign Libra, the life and works of Czechoslovakian Vaclav Havel bespeak of the burden of balance thrust upon him by his birth. Born in 1936 to wealthy parents, his life is a veritable riches to rags to riches story marrying a blue-collar lifestyle with the mind of the elite intelligentsia. In order to understand his writings, it is important to review the man.
Although Havel supported himself by working in a brewery, he was able to publish numerous articles and essays in magazines distributed secretly. His writings were often denounced and banned by his government, but he continued as an activist for human rights, noting that in order to have dissidents, there must be a human factor to the totalitarian "system". Therefore,
Abstract This paper examines the political climate of communist Czechoslovakia as depicted in Hrabal's novel. This paper focuses on the government's perception of printed material such as works of literature and poetry deemed unacceptable and subversive by the communist regime. This paper analyzes the protagonist Hanta, a garbage collector, whose job is to destroy all printed materials deemed improper. This paper details the plot of the novel which centers around Hanta's conflict between his responsibilities and his personal beliefs and values which differ greatly from that of his government's. This paper also discusses the protagonist's love for literature and poetry which causes him deep inner turmoil due to the unethical demands of his job, which he desperately needs in order to support his family.
From the Paper "Thus, the self-proclaimed love story of the text is between a man and waste, the wasted words of other authors whose ideas have been destroyed, and the man's accumulation of the facts and information encompassed in such print sources. Hanta, as well as a mourner of lost words, writes of himself as a receptacle or jug, filled with words of others as if the words are matter, or water that he is storing for a later time, but is not given the venue to pour them out. The humble worker retrieves, stores, and digests culture within his won body as well as presses culture to death. However, this action of storing or retrieval also suggests that even though culture is indeed a physical artifact in need of preservation, for it can be easily destroyed as trash, culture can also be quite durable."
