Diploma thesis "The Political and Economic Relations of Spain and Morocco: interdependence or a security question? " deals with the political and economical relations of Spain and Morocco from the end of the 1950's to the present. The relationship between these two countries is based not only on mutual cooperation and support but also on mutual rivalry. The most sensitive area almost throughout the analyzed period is the fishing policy, and the territorial dispute over Western Sahara, Ceuta and Melilla, Sidi Ifni (Leila) and the island Isla de Perejil (arabic Leila). The main hypothesis of the thesis is that the relationship of Spain and Morocco corresponds to the neo-liberal theory and therefore a priority in their mutual relations is the economic objectives and to ensure the prosperity. The relation of these two countries doesn't correspond to the neo-realistic theory and the security objectives don't have high priority. We verified this hypothesis by using the Congruance Method, the comparative method of the study period and by the dependent and independent variables. Dependent variable include the political and economic relations and the independent variables include the economic reform in Morocco, mutual bilateral cooperation, fishing policy, the various Spanish governments' policies towards...

Democracy cannot exist without active and responsive citizens. However, the character of political participation of the young generation has changed. Given the decreasing willingness of young people to participate in conventional politics, a highly relevant issue is to examine the sources and motivations of their political commitment and relations to politics. Therefore, the dissertation traces the political trajectories of young Czech and German activists and focuses on the contextual and sociopsychological factors that shape them. The aim of the text is to answer the main research question: 'How and why do Czech and German university students get involved in political and civic organisations?' Firstly, the thesis examines the role of primary and secondary political socialisation in different societal contexts. It provides an understanding of the key mechanisms and narratives of family political socialisation. Attention is also paid to the influence of civic education, peers and teachers at secondary and grammar schools, as well as to the impact of the university environment on political activism. Secondly, the thesis explores the range of motivations for organisational membership and recruitment procedures, as well as the variable ways of how youth relate to politics. The dissertation also...

This diploma thesis deals with the political trials of 1950s in Czechoslovakia. It describes specific cases of poets Václav Renč and Jan Zahradníček who were accused of espionage and high treason. The group of accused were based on unfounded evidence, treated as part of an international organization called Green International. Relating with the political trials and imprisonment these thesis focuses on analyzing the prison poetry of these two catholic authors.

Since 1990s of the twentieth century to the present, the so called caretaker governments have served as a political crisis solution in the Czech Republic as well as in Italy. Caretaker government is an institute of temporary cabinets with a non-partisan prime minister. Other members of this type of government are usually non-partisan as well (but not necessarily all of them). This is the main feature that distinguishes the caretaker government from the traditional government led by political parties. The thesis aims to identify common points and circumstances leading to the establishment of caretaker governments on the example of two relatively close parliamentary republics from the institutional design's point of view. It focuses mainly on the status of political parties as it is their failure that leads to the fall of the previous cabinet and to the situation when it is impossible to form a parliamentary majority in order to establish new government led by political parties. Special attention is also paid to a role of the president of the republic. Face to face with weakened political parties, he executes his powers in a more autonomous way in accordance with a presidential accordion theory described by Mauro Tebaldi, especially his powers to appoint the prime minister which fundamentally works...

The theme of this thesis is attitude of the Communist Party and Czechoslovak totalitarian regime to Zionism in 1947-1957. The main aim of the archive research was to map gradual change of the communist regime from its position of the supporter of Zionism to that one of convinced anti-Zionism (nearly to anti-Semitism). Support of Zionism was primarily presented by help to the nascent state of Israel in 1947-1949. The evidence is given by the role of Czechoslovakia at meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in 1947 and its role as a member of United Nations Special Committee on Palestine. Furthermore, supplies of military equipment to Israel, diplomatic support, demographic support and training of Jewish brigade in Czechoslovak territory in 1948. Gradual change to anti-Zionist position at the end of 1940s and beginning of 1950s is illustrated with complicated negotiations on economic cooperation and with interfering of the regime in running of Jewish religious communities and Zionist organisations. During the first half of 1950s the support turned into downright opposition and lead in a diplomatic quarrel caused by the Slánský trial which had definitely anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist dimension. Utterly anti-Zionist position of the regime is also supported with further politically motivated trials -...

Czechoslovak society underwent a fundamental change in 1989, in which a certain portion of society, previously restricted from official intervention in politics, took crucial part. Even though this part of society (the dissent) was before 1989 restricted from participation in politics, it had been doing so. However, in illegal ways at that time, for which had been the involved often persecuted. This group of dissidents later contributed to the revolutionary changes, which is the source of certain mythology that began to appear in connection with them. During 1990s their influence decreased, and the dissent's political elite was gradually replaced by a new right- wing elite, promising economic reform and rapid transformation. The idealistic conception of politics was replaced by the pragmatic one and completely different and ambitious personalities came to the foreground. The new characters did not come from the background of fight against totalitarianism, yet they quickly gained political skills. This transformation of elites in Czech society can be expressed via comparison of Václav Havel and Václav Klaus, as both of them were among the main initiators of domestic politics. Therefore, this diploma thesis is focused on them and their media portrayal. The media reflect everyday reality and pose as...

Michal Zitek: The internal debates about the future direction of the KSČ(M) from 1989 to 1993 The aim of this thesis is to offer a comprehensive look at the debates that took place within the Communist Party and aimed to transform into a modern left- wing party. Work will familiarize you with some debates and opinion- platforms that arose in these discussions.

The thesis is about New Zealand House of Representatives electoral system. In introductory part is briefly presented the political system of New Zealand. Then is currently used electoral system, its genesis and impacts of transition from the first past the post to mixed member proportional system researched. Thesis is in its effort focusing on segments of electoral system and trying to identify its problematic points and to introduce alternative electoral system proposed to the electors in referenda. The thesis is using the electoral studies methods, especially quantitative measuring of attributes of electoral system and party structure within the House of Representatives.

Advisory Bodies and Expertise in the Czech Politics - Epistemic Communities and the Influence on the Reforms of Higher Education and Pension System Master thesis Bc. Kateřina Merklová The Master thesis Advisory Bodies and Expertise in the Czech Politics - Epistemic Communities and the Influence on the Reforms of Higher Education and Pension System concerns with the relation between politics and expertise. So-called epistemic community represents the knowledge interpreter that we consider an independent actor in the political process. In the theoretical part of the text, we have explained the original definition of the concept as well as its critics and case studies that cover various contexts. Following most of the authors, we have applied a looser definition of the concept and deconstructed its rigid criteria. The empirical part of the thesis presents a case study (N=4) based on comparative methods that analyzes variable influence of four particular epistemic communities (the authors of the White Paper on Tertiary Education, Bezdek's Committee, Bezdek's Committee II, and the National Economic Council) on policy-making process and its sources. Regarding our intention and research questions, we have chosen two qualitative methods - in-depth interviews and content analysis of relevant texts. We have...

Martin Šmejc Abstract: "Conception of reconstruction of Yugoslavia after WW II." The topic "Conception of reconstruction of Yugoslavia after WW II." covers three different phenomena. The most important factor, that determined the development of Yugoslavia during the WW II., was the coming to power of the communist Partisans led by Josip Broz Tito. Their vision of Yugoslavia's reconstruction after the war was defined during the second session of the AVNOJ in Bosnian town Jajce in November 1943. How should according to those visions reconstructed Yugoslavia look like is one of the research questions this thesis is going to answer. The second phenomenon touches upon the conceptions of Yugoslavia's reconstruction by the royal Yugoslav governments in exile. Their project was quite as important as of the Partisans. Their importance resides in the fact that until March 1945, when a united government of Royalists and Partisans based on Tito-Šubašić agreement was created, the government in exile were considered as the only legitimate representatives of Yugoslavia. The third analyzed phenomenon is the impact of the three Allied powers on the situation of Yugoslavia until 1948. The third question posed in this analysis will determine the scope of influence of the USA, UK and USSR on the development of Yugoslavia -...