The Security of a Small State – The Historical Experience of the Czech Republic

Abstract

This article deals with the problem of the security of a small state, specifically the Czech Republic, one of the key states in Central Europe. The author recapitulates historical facts and events that are known mostly in the Czech environment and less so abroad. In addition, he tries to present the opinions and publications of Czech authors to demonstrate that Czech research on international relations has been interested in this problem. The author first covers the main characteristics of the Czech state in the past. It originated in the Middle Ages as a small state and ultimately became a Central European power. At the beginning of the modern period, the Czechs became part of the Habsburg Empire and lost a number of the characteristics of an independent state, including control over their foreign policy. The author then concentrates on the Czech state's security during the twentieth century. In 1918, the Czechs, together with the Slovaks, proclaimed the creation of a unified Czechoslovakia. This modern democratic republic eventually became a victim of Hitler's aggression. Tragically, the country's allies sacrificed it to him. After the Second World War, Czechoslovakia became Stalin's vassal. Following the collapse of communism in 1989, it was finally possible to ensure the security of Czechoslovakia in a democratic Europe, a possibility also open to its two successor states, the Czech and Slovak republics, after Czechoslovakia's dissolution in 1993. The Czech Republic became a member of NATO, the European Union (EU), and the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE).