SOBOTOVÁ, J. (2014): Islamofobie v Evropě: příklad Česka a Španělska. Univerzita Karlova, Praha, 153 s. The thesis is concentrated on problems which are connected with Islamophobia in Europe. Czechia and Spain have been chosen as model regions. The thesis is put to the theoretical-methodological frame of the new cultural geography and geography of religion. Islamophobia problems are examined from the view of majorities in non-Muslim states. The major purpose of the thesis is verification of three premises by the theoretical methods, research of literature and other professional sources, and empirical procedures, analysis of questionnaires and available datasets. First of all if level of Islamophobia is lower between young generation or elder generation; then if higher level of knowledge about Islam (theology, history, etc.) allows lower level of Islamophobia or if it is valid in the opposite way; and thirdly if it is higher level of Islamophobia in Spain or in Czechia because of the more frequent contact with Muslim culture and society, or if it holds true in the opposite way. Interesting results have been found out during the analysis of questionnaires. These results were verified existence of two different types of Islamophobia. Key words: Islam, Islamophobia, immigration, acculturation,...

This thesis deals with the comparison of methodological approaches of Czech urban sociology and social geography. The aim of the thesis is to ascertain whether sociologists have maintained their specific view on urban issues different from that of other disciplines. Currently, it is rather difficult to distinguish between purely sociological and socio- geographic research activities. Therefore, the research part of this thesis is focused on the analysis of diploma and dissertation theses. In the case of students, it is clear which discipline their theses represent. The comparison of theses is based on observation of their topics, theoretical assumptions, methods, techniques and the nature of conclusions. The concluding part of the thesis summarizes the results of the research, supplementing them with the comment on the current state of urban sociology in the Czech Republic. Key words: urban sociology, social geography, city, methodology

This thesis presents a spatial analysis of electoral results of the ANO (Alliance of Dissatisfied Citizens) political platform in the 2013 parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic. The study aims to identify spatial patterns of their electoral support and to uncover underlying factors which steered voters towards supporting this party. Furthermore, the thesis attempts to determine whether ANO is a new right-wing party poised to displace previously established right-wing parties (especially ODS); whether its support reached highest levels of support in areas where traditional right-wing parties lost the most votes, and whether significant regional differences exist in voter support for ANO.As explanatory variables, the study uses socio- demographic and economic characteristics reflecting the population structure and the nature of local contexts. Furthermore, the thesis further intends to analyse possible ways through which the pattern of ANO voter support may have been influenced by the activities of the Agrofertagricultural company owned by the platform's leader Andrej Babis. Methodically, the study is grounded in an analysis of aggregate data on electoral results in municipalities, as well as an analysis of sociological surveys of individual voter behaviour. The thesis processed the data via...

The thesis deals with the topic of corporate social responsibility emphasizing especially its spatial aspects and the impact on regional development. It aims to discover the spatial pattern of the so-called socially responsible firm activities in Czechia including the motivations for choosing this pattern, and to assess the importance of these activities for regional development. Particularly, it aims to present the concept of corporate social responsibility from a geographical point of view. The empirical research using the case of Czechia is structured into two phases. The first phase, based on an extensive research of internet-based sources and a questionnaire survey among selected corporations, explores the institutional context of corporate social responsibility in Czechia and follows the activities of particular firms including their spatial strategies. The second phase, using intensive research in two Czech micro- regions (Broumovsko and Červenokostelecko), particularly in-depth interviews with representatives of selected firms, provides deeper insight into the topic, reveals the motivations of firm behavior regarding social responsibility and sheds light upon the importance of these activities for development of the respective region. The thesis proved direct connection between geography and...

This thesis deals with specific learning difficulties (SLD) in the context of teaching geography in upper primary schools and secondary schools, trying to figure out whether pupils and students have (or may have) specific learning difficulties when learning geography, whether such problems exist. If so, how can be these problems avoided or at least mitigated. To meet stated goals, it was necessary to answer fundamental questions about the specific learning disabilities. What SLD are? What type of SLD are known? What causes SLD? And what are the typical symptoms? After that, based on the findings from answers to these questions, qualitative research was realised through in-depth interviews. Respondents of these interviews were eight people with learning disabilities - dyslexia, dysgraphia, dysorthography, dyscalculia, and a combination. All interviews were recorded on a tape recorder, transcribed and analyzed using the methods of clustering and capturing patterns (so- called gestalts) using open and axial coding. The results of analysis of these interviews were summarised and provide some insight into the SLD related to teaching geography. KEYWORDS specific learning difficulties, dyslexia, education, teaching, geography

Ländliche Gebiete in Brasilien sind mit vielfältigen Problemen konfrontiert. Um gleichzeitig eine nachhaltige, bezahlbare Biodieselproduktion zu fördern und die sozialen Probleme auf dem Land anzugehen, wurde 2004 das brasilianische Biodieselprogramm PNPB beschlossen. Diese Arbeit untersucht, welche Veränderungen die Produktion von Ölpflanzen im Rahmen des PNPB für Kleinbauern mit sich bringt und ob dies zu mehr Resilienz der kleinbäuerlichen Landwirtschaft im Norden von Minas Gerais beiträgt. Untersucht wurden landwirtschaftliche Systeme in zwei Regionen. In der bereits marktwirtschaftlich orientierten Region mit einer gut funktionierenden Kooperative bringt der Anbau von Soja für Biodiesel einen geringen Mehrverdienst und wenig Umsetzungsprobleme. Das Agrarsystem selbst wird jedoch weder resilienter noch werden die Bauern abhängig vom PNPB. Anders stellt sich die Situation in der strukturschwachen Region dar, wo Kleinbauern Rizinus als neue Fruchtart in ihre Produktion aufgenommen haben. Diese Bauern waren die eigentliche Zielgruppe des PNPB. Tatsächlich profitieren sie aber weit weniger davon. Zwar konnten die Rizinusbauern durch das PNPB kurzfristig einen Einkommenszuwachs erzielen, aufgrund verschiedener Widrigkeiten war dieser jedoch nicht von Dauer. Insgesamt ist die Struktur des Agrarsystems der Rizinusbauern sehr fragil. Das bedeutet, dass sich externe Störungen selbst verstärken und das System aus dem Gleichgewicht bringen können. Dies und die genannten Schwierigkeiten führen zu einer Schwächung der Resilienz des Gesamtsystems durch das PNPB. Der Kern des Agrarsystems mit seiner ursprünglichen Produktion von Rindfleisch und Produkten zur Selbstversorgung, deren Überschüsse verkauft werden, kann jedoch als resilient eingestuft werden. Alternativ zur Teilnahme am PNPB könnte eine auf Diversität, Agrarökologie, traditionelles Wissen, regionale Vernetzung und Autonomie der Kleinbauern gegenüber Abnehmern ausgelegte Produktionsweise zu mehr Resilienz führen. / Rural areas in Brazil face various problems. In order to simultaneously promote sustainable, affordable biodiesel production and to address the social problems in the countryside, the Brazilian biodiesel program PNPB was approved in 2004. This thesis examines the changes induced by the production of oil crops under the PNPB for family farmers, and whether this contributes to the resilience of family farming in the north of Minas Gerais. Agricultural systems were studied in two regions. In the already market-oriented region with a well-functioning cooperative the cultivation of soybeans for biodiesel provides a small additional income and little implementation problems. However, neither the agricultural system itself becomes more resilient nor do the farmers depend on the PNPB. The situation is different in the structurally weak region where small farmers have included castor as a new crop in their production. These farmers were the actual target group of the PNPB. In fact, they benefit far less. Although the castor bean farmers were able to increase their income in the short term by the PNPB, this was not permanent due to various adversities. Overall, the structure of the agricultural system is very fragile. This means that external disturbances can intensify themselves and can bring the system out of balance. This and the difficulties mentioned led to a weakening of the resilience of the overall system by the PNPB. However, the core agricultural system, with its production of beef and products for self-sufficiency and the surplus being sold to the market can be classified as resilient. As an alternative to the participation in the PNPB, a more diversified farming approach, such as using methods of agricultural ecology and traditional knowledge and the establishment of cooperatives to strengthen the autonomy of small-scale farmers and their power towards contract partners, could lead to more resilience.

The Development of Spatial Differentiation of Unemployment in Czechia through the Lens of Evolutionary Geography The diploma thesis aims to analyze the development of spatial differentiation of unemployment on the municipality level in Czechia between the years 2003 and 2016. The theoretical framework is based on the evolutionary approaches in geography which emphasize the role of heredity, continuity and the local specifics in economic and social regional development. The first, extensive part of the research analyses the development of spatial differentiation of unemployment using statistical and spatial methods and identifies two adjacent localities which underwent significantly different unemployment development, specifically the Karviná and Jablunkov regions. The second, intensive part of the research discusses and evaluates possible causes of these different dynamics of unemployment development. An analysis of historical development, information gathered through semi- structured interviews as well as data confirm that the different unemployment development is caused by different population structure, different local customs, and norms stemming from different historical development. The historical heritage also influences locating of new investors who provide new job opportunities. Key words:...

Medková, E. (2012): Constructivism in geography education. Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Charles University in Prague. The thesis deals with a constructivist model used in Geography classes. The theoretical part focuses on the characteristic of this model and compares it with the traditional transmissive model. It describes the methods used in the constructivist teaching. Part of the practical section was the pedagogical experiment that compared the efficiency of constructivist and transmissive teaching. Experiment was realized in the Primary school in two parallel 7th grade classes. There were two geographical topics tought - monsoons and the development of the Asian states. The development of the Asian states topic was tought transmissively in one class and in a constructivist manner in the second class. As a second step the other topic of monsoons was tought and the teaching method in the classes was interchanged. The efficiency of the teaching was determined by the help of the didactic test and then statistically evaluated.

Regional administration in Bohemia originated already in the Middle Ages and has survived till these days as an basic constituent of the state administration. Cartographical material, especially maps of provinces, which has been so far rather neglected, is very interesting and important source for the cognition of the development of Czech provinces. These maps have been issued since the 18th century and especially in the earlier period had been widely used by general public. The only list of these documents "Soupis map českých zemí" compiled by František Roubík provides outdated and inconsistent informations. The primary aim of this work is to provide a more detailed list of these maps in the form of a catalog and bring more informations on the various creators and publishers of the maps.

Proefschrift--Amsterdam. / "Lijst der geciteerde litteratuur": p. 126-127.