This thesis starts with the introduction of the general historic moments of postwar Czechoslovakia. Attention is paid to the February 1948, Prague Spring and the events of August 1968. These dates established two waves of emigration from Czechoslovakia. In this context, there are presented personalities of Jiri Pelikan and Pavel Tigrid as leading personalities of exile. The analytical part focuses on the comparison of Tigrid's Svedectvi and Listy published by Jiri Pelikan. Analysis is based on important events in postwar history. The thesis is mainly focused on the different perceptions of the Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution in 1989.

This thesis starts with the introduction of the general historic moments of postwar Czechoslovakia. Attention is paid to the February 1948, Prague Spring and the events of August 1968. These dates established two waves of emigration from Czechoslovakia. In this context, there are presented personalities of Jiří Pelikán and Pavel Tigrid as leading personalities of exile. The analytical part focuses on the comparison of Tigrid's Svědectví and Listy published by Jiří Pelikán. Analysis is based on important events in postwar history. The thesis is mainly focused on the different perceptions of the Prague Spring and Charta 77.

Abstract For most of the Cold War, the United States attempted to maintain friendly relations with the Communist nations comprising the Eastern Bloc, but with no other Soviet satellite was the relationship as close as it was with Romania. No other member nation of the Warsaw Pact took to the United States’ overtures so eagerly. Diplomatic relations between the United States and the Romanian Communist government were established relatively early, almost immediately following the end of the Second World War. However, it was not until 1968, when Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu denounced the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, that the Romanians finally gained the Americans’ trust. Ceauşescu’s 1968 speech attacking the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, and the diplomatic maneuverings surrounding it, was the pivotal moment in the relationship between the two nations, fostering an amicable relationship that would last well into the 1980s.

This magister thesis is focused on relationships between mass media, political power and society in Czechoslovakia in the late 60' and in the beginning of 70' in 20th century and desribe the transformation of media atmosphere during the era of political changes in Czechoslovakia, that means the transformation from "liberalized" 60' due to the normalization. I find answers to these questions: What were the most important changes in medial atmosphere in the Czechoslovakia in late 60' and beginning of 70'? Were media and politics connected? How important was the influence of mass media due to the political changes and normalization? Did comunists mass medias have such great power to influence society and persuade people about the rightness of intervention? As a main hypothesis there is the claim, that mass media under the comunists influence wanted to and actually managed to manipulate with people and their opinions. The answers for questions and hypotesis are verified on the basis of a general theory of media history and studies and then specifically analyzed on the concete historical example -- Munich Treaty. Methodologically this work come out of the new political history and discussion that lead to the role of mass media in modern sotieties, and also from the latest scientific literature and archival materials.

This diploma thesis named Media image of the Prague Spring and beginning of normalization in selected East Bohemian print media shows the impact of Prague spring and beginning of normalization on chosen East Bohemian print media. Those are regional newspaper Pochoden, district newspaper Zar and magazine Spiritus, which was created and published by students of University of Chemical Technology in Pardubice city. Both regional newspaper Pochoden and district newspaper Zar were organs of Communist party of Czechoslovakia. For better understanding how big the change was I also worked with these three newspapers during the years 1967 and 1969 (beginning of normalization), so readers can understand how much the writing and content of media evolved during the year 1968. When possible (signed article) I tried to focuse on each journalist and his or hers evolve during analysed years. I was focusing not only on articles written by journalists, but during this time the newspapers published letters from readers, so I can compare which letters were published in 1967, 1968 and 1969. I have chosen this theme because I was born and raised at East Bohemia and my bachelor thesis worked with similar topic (Media image of the Velvet Revolution in Pardubice city), only this time I do not focus solely on Pardubice city....

This diploma thesis aims to demarcate the term "exile" and its conditions, further the thesis explores the impacts this experience has on a writer's work, especially the problem of writing in a foreign language and the character of translation. Concretely the present thesis is based on the literary work of Libuše Moníková and Milan Kundera. The first chapter examines the general research field in detail and the occurrence of related themes in the production of both authors. The following two chapters treat individual aspects of work created under the condition of exile - language and translation on the one hand, the correlations of text and history on the other. The findings of all analyses performed within this diploma thesis relate not only to the individual authors, but can be employed to specify and supplement the over-all picture of Czech literature of the second half of the 20th century, as the phenomenon of exile is essential for the understanding of this specific period. Keywords Literature in exile, Milan Kundera, Libuše Moníkové, Prague Spring, translation.

Bc. Daniel Samek Abstrakt The diploma thesis "The august invasion of Soviet troops in 1968 in Brno and the reaction of local law enforcement agency, government, media and general public" aims for more complex and multiple perspectives approach the invasion and the subsequent occupation of Brno with the units of Sowiet Union. Klíčová slova : Brno, 1968, Pražské jaro, Sovětský svaz, invaze, okupace

The dissertation examines the Student Construction Brigade Movement (SCBM) in the context of Soviet internationalism and the Cold War and portrays it as one of the most unique youth movements in the world at that time. Under the umbrella of the SCBM and in the name of internationalism, students from both socialist and non-socialist countries voluntarily expressed a desire to engage in construction and agricultural work activities as well as cultural exchange. While examining these interactions, I argue that during the Cold War, global youth emerged as one key agent of internationalism through cooperative economic, political, and cultural activities on construction sites around the world. My research not only identifies the Soviet state’s goals in the SCBM (such as ideological indoctrination and demonstration of Soviet influence in beyond the country’s borders), but also reveals that the lived experience of the student exchange went far beyond politics or economics. Students of different nationalities and cultures directly communicated with each other, shared their worldviews, and created a positive basis for expanding their professional and personal contacts.

American Geopolitical Culture strongly rejects the concept of spheres of influence, but great power competition often dictates a tacit acceptance of rival powers' privileged zones of control. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union sought to maintain a sphere of influence along its border, and on multiple occasions resorted to the use of force to maintain control over foreign states. How did the United States react to the Soviet use of force in sovereign territory that fell within the Soviet privileged spheres of influence? This paper looks at three case studies, the Hungarian Revolution, the Prague Spring, and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, and provides an analysis of the American foreign policy response, and the geopolitical and cultural values that informed policymakers' decision-making. Despite the limited interventions pursued by the United States, the United States constantly sought to undermine Soviet efforts to maintain a sphere of influence. In Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the United States prioritized long-term strategies on a global scale to weaken the Soviet Union in lieu of tactical interventions in opposition to the Soviet use of force. In Afghanistan, the United States continued to maintain its long-term strategies, while taking advantage of unique local factors to place additional strain on the Soviet Union. Across all three case studies the United States consistently pursued strategies that sought to weaken the Soviet Union as a whole, rather than just target individual spheres of influence. / Doctor of Philosophy / This dissertation examines the American response to the Soviet use of force within its spheres of influence during the Cold War. American politicians have strongly rejected the validity of spheres of influence and consider them to be a form of imperialism that undermines a state's sovereign right to govern its own affairs. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union used military force to exert control over spheres of influence in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Afghanistan. The American response to each of these case studies varied. In Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the United States actively avoided intervening against the Soviet invasion, while in Afghanistan the United States provided extensive aid in the form of weapons, training, and intelligence. What explains the difference in the American approach to each of these case studies? This dissertation argues Soviet sphere of influence dynamics were stronger in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, which acted as a deterrent to any American intervention. Rather than engaging the USSR in its established spheres of influence, the United States prioritized opposing Soviet expansion elsewhere while propagandizing Soviet brutality to sway world opinion away from the Soviet Block. In Afghanistan, Soviet influence was considerably weaker, allowing the United States greater opportunities to contest the Soviet invasion directly.

This master's thesis introduces the essential biographical sources for the research of the great personality of European German studies, journalism and politics, Prof. Eduard Goldstücker (1913- 2000): Prozesse: Erfahrungen eines Mitteleuropäers (1989), Vzpomínky 1913-1945 (2003), Vzpomínky 1945-1968 (2005) and Von der Stunde der Hoffnung zur Stunde des Nichts: Gespräche (2009). As the coordinate axis for understanding of the development and extensive areas of operation of this unique type of germanist serve the massive social and historical transformations in the 20th century Europe: The Great Depression, the World Wars, anti-Semitism, fascism, the Cold War, Stalinism, the Prague Spring and the period after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The focus of this thesis are Goldstücker's professional, editorial and journalistic activities and interconnected efforts in the field of diplomacy, politics and current affairs, which make him a scientific and social personality of exceptional importance.