Abstract
The aim of this paper is to reveal the connections between the British version of Euroskepticism (as one variety of this political and intellectual phenomenon) and its Czech variant, personified by the present President of the Czech Republic – Vaclav Klaus. The paper discusses the fundamental elements of the Euroskeptical outlook that are sometimes presented to public opinion in EU states as ‘Eurorealism.’ The British variety is presented alongside the most important elements of the same concept in France and Denmark. Although Czech Europskepticism refers to numerous significant structural elements of its British predecessor, it has a number of original features. Among others, they result from the geopolitical conditions of Central Europe. The author analyzes the statements of the present Czech president (who once described himself as a Thatcherist) to show his essential influence on the shape of Euroskeptical attitudes on the Vltava. The author also presents the most important foreign policy documents of the former political circles of Vaclav Klaus, i.e. the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), with their Europskeptical overtones. The paper concludes with the author’s observations concerning the similarities and discrepancies between British and Czech attitudes.
Highlights
The aim of this paper is to reveal the connections between the British version of Euroskepticism and its Czech variant, personified by the present President of the Czech Republic – Vaclav Klaus
The paper discusses the fundamental elements of the Euroskeptical outlook that are sometimes presented to public opinion in EU states as ‘Eurorealism.’ The British variety is presented alongside the most important elements of the same concept in France and Denmark
Czech Europskepticism refers to numerous significant structural elements of its British predecessor, it has a number of original features. They result from the geopolitical conditions of Central Europe
Summary
Alasdair Blair mianem eurosceptyków okreœla osoby przeciwne integracji europejskiej, czêsto sprzyjaj1ce postulatom niezale¿noœci gospodarczej pañstw i wyra¿aj1ce obawy przed utrat[1] przez nie suwerennoœci. Zauwa¿a, i¿ matecznikiem tej postawy jest Wielka Brytania, choæ w ca3ej UE oraz w samym Parlamencie Europejskim jest wiele ugrupowañ sceptycznie odnosz1cych siê do integracji. W du¿ej czêœci z obcokrajowców, którzy narzuciliby mu decyzjê w sprawach o zasadniczym dla Wielkiej Brytanii znaczeniu, wydawa3a siê Brytyjczykom nie do przyjêcia – ta¿, Wielka Brytania wobec jednoœci europejskiej, w: Wspólna. Jesieñ podkreœla oryginalnoœæ brytyjskiego eurosceptycyzmu, oddzia3ywuj1cego te¿ na zewn1trz, choæ jest on zwi1zany z brytyjsk[1] specyfik[1] ustrojow[1] i jest pewn[1] form[1] odpowiedzi na wyobra¿enia brytyjskie o miejscu tego kraju na kontynencie europejskim i w skali globalnej[8]. Wskazuj1, ¿e takie pojmowanie eurosceptycyzmu w sposób celowy zaciemnia ró¿nice miêdzy wszystkimi, którzy – by oddaæ s3owa autorów – nienawidz[1] wszystkiego, co ma zwi1zek z Uni[1] Europejsk[1] a tymi, którzy maj[1] odmienn[1] wizjê rozwoju EU11
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