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Czechoslovakia: The Short Goodbye
Czechoslovakia’s “velvet divorce”―the peaceful break-up of the nation into the new independent states of Czechia and Slovakia―is widely perceived as a victory of liberal democracy and an enlightened response to ethnic and nationalist differences. But in reality the disintegration of Czechoslovakia was neither of these, argues the author of this penetrating book. Abby Innes describes and analyzes in detail the causes, process, and consequences of Czechoslovakia’s 1993 separation. Her account reveals that the Czechoslovak split was a process manufactured by ruthlessly pragmatic Czech right-wing political forces and abetted by a populist and opportunist Slovak leadership. Both political forces remained practically free from public constraint and distinctly authoritarian in their attitudes to the state and its purpose―hallmarks of a Communist legacy.
In addition to a highly detailed account of the break-up of Czechoslovakia, Innes sets the velvet divorce in the context of the history of the Czechoslovak state since its formation in 1918 and traces the political developments in Czechia and Slovakia to the end of 2000. She shows that Western policymakers underestimate the continuing strength of the Communist legacy and often misunderstand the motivation of politicians in this region. The problems of managing the politics of transition remain daunting, she cautions, and the most attractive solutions for politicians are rarely the most democratic.
In addition to a highly detailed account of the break-up of Czechoslovakia, Innes sets the velvet divorce in the context of the history of the Czechoslovak state since its formation in 1918 and traces the political developments in Czechia and Slovakia to the end of 2000. She shows that Western policymakers underestimate the continuing strength of the Communist legacy and often misunderstand the motivation of politicians in this region. The problems of managing the politics of transition remain daunting, she cautions, and the most attractive solutions for politicians are rarely the most democratic.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2001
39 people want to read
About the author
Abby Innes
2 books11 followersAbby Innes is an Assistant Professor of Political Economy in the European Institute, at the London School of Economics.
Before joining the European Institute in 1997 she was a Visiting Scholar at MIT and was a Jean Monet Fellow at the European University Institute, (2001-2). Before her PhD Abby worked as a political analyst in the Office of the Government, Czechoslovakia; as Assistant to the General Secretary of the Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry and as a researcher for the Policy Studies Institute.
A serious illness meant taking a break from LSE from 2005-2009. Since returning to research her interests turned towards exploring the ongoing patterns of party-state ties in Central Europe but also the affinities between Neoliberalism and Marxism-Leninism as materialist utopias. She joined the Editorial Board of East European Politics in 2011.
She was awarded a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship in 2017-2018 to study neoliberal reforms to the state with particular reference to the UK.
She has taught Varieties of Capitalism; the political economy of Europe, the comparative political economy of Central Europe, and a course on the political economy of post-communist transition and emerging markets. She was awarded an LSE Teaching Prize in 2002; the European Institute Departmental Teaching Prize 2011, 2013 and 2015. In the LSE Student Union Student-Led Teaching Excellence Awards she was a Nominee in 2014, a Commended Nominee in 2015 and a Highly Commended Nominee, 2016. She is currently the Teaching Chair of the European Institute
Research Interests
The political economy of Central Europe; models of development in emerging markets; the development of party state ties in Central Europe; comparative materialist utopias; the political economy of Marxism Leninism and Neoliberalism; varieties of capitalism; the political economy of supply-side reforms of the state in advanced capitalist systems.
Expertise Details
Czechoslovak Politics; Political Economy of Central Europe; Varieties of Capitalism; Supply-side reforms in advanced capitalist states; Political economy of Marxism Leninism and of Neoliberalism; Neoclassical Economics
Before joining the European Institute in 1997 she was a Visiting Scholar at MIT and was a Jean Monet Fellow at the European University Institute, (2001-2). Before her PhD Abby worked as a political analyst in the Office of the Government, Czechoslovakia; as Assistant to the General Secretary of the Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry and as a researcher for the Policy Studies Institute.
A serious illness meant taking a break from LSE from 2005-2009. Since returning to research her interests turned towards exploring the ongoing patterns of party-state ties in Central Europe but also the affinities between Neoliberalism and Marxism-Leninism as materialist utopias. She joined the Editorial Board of East European Politics in 2011.
She was awarded a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship in 2017-2018 to study neoliberal reforms to the state with particular reference to the UK.
She has taught Varieties of Capitalism; the political economy of Europe, the comparative political economy of Central Europe, and a course on the political economy of post-communist transition and emerging markets. She was awarded an LSE Teaching Prize in 2002; the European Institute Departmental Teaching Prize 2011, 2013 and 2015. In the LSE Student Union Student-Led Teaching Excellence Awards she was a Nominee in 2014, a Commended Nominee in 2015 and a Highly Commended Nominee, 2016. She is currently the Teaching Chair of the European Institute
Research Interests
The political economy of Central Europe; models of development in emerging markets; the development of party state ties in Central Europe; comparative materialist utopias; the political economy of Marxism Leninism and Neoliberalism; varieties of capitalism; the political economy of supply-side reforms of the state in advanced capitalist systems.
Expertise Details
Czechoslovak Politics; Political Economy of Central Europe; Varieties of Capitalism; Supply-side reforms in advanced capitalist states; Political economy of Marxism Leninism and of Neoliberalism; Neoclassical Economics
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November 30, 2022
This is the book I would recommend on the dissolution of Czechoslovakia into its constituent parts, Czechia and Slovakia. An excellent history of the events, as well as Czechoslovakia in the 20th century. The core thesis is persuasive, namely that the elites of Czechoslovakia (Klaus and Meciar, specifically) and their interests were responsible for its end, and not the nationalism of Slovakia, or conflicting nationalist histories (among other explanations). Great accomplishment.
Displaying 1 of 1 review