Czech political parties and the war in Ukraine: continuity of foreign policy stances

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper analyses the foreign policy preference of Czech political parties in the context of the 2021 elections and the war in Ukraine. The authors question whether the war in Ukraine functioned as a critical juncture in reshaping the parties' positions. The authors show that although the European and international profile of Czech foreign policy prevails, some competing visions have emerged since 2013, which applied to the elections in 2021, too. The outbreak of the war did not create a critical juncture reshaping the foreign policy stances of the Czech political parties. Long-term ideological motivations have remained the essential factor.