Thesis examines the trade development in the Visegrad countries, the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland and Hungary through the detailed analyses of their historical trends in GDP, currency and inflation, and foreign trade. The timeline of their trade development was split into two periods: during communism and after the collapse of communism. The study showed that the Visegrad countries' trade was concentrated mostly within the CMEA countries and their trade relations with the West were restricted which held them back from their earlier integration into the EU and also kept down their economic growth for several decades. Their economies were centrally planned and state held monopoly over foreign trade which caused them to be much less competitive on world markets. The period after the collapse of their communist regimes involves their transition to market economy and their full integration into the EU with the increasing share of the EU in their foreign trade. The analysis of this period emphasizes the importance of the openness of their economies in their gained economic growth. Another purpose of the study was to look into their trade perspectives with the economic projections and their future accession into the Eurozone. Visegrad countries' cooperation in attracting FDI into the region was also found important for their economic stabilization and future growth in today's competitive world.

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Social Sciences Institute of Political Studies Bc. Kenneth C. Stein Viktor Orbán's National Hungarian Identity Construct: Securitization of the 2015/2016 European Migrant Crisis as Existential Threat? Diplomová Práce Praha 2017 Autor práce: Bc. Kenneth C. Stein Vedoucí práce: PhDr. Vít Střitecký M. Phil., PhD. Oponent práce: Datum obhajoby: 2017 Hodnocení: Abstract: The current paper examines Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's speech acts based on the preface that his language communicates political will, power, and serves as an outline for potential future political avenues. Orbán has been one of the most outspoken critics of the European Union's failure to adequately address the ongoing migrant crisis, as well as Europe's immigration issues. The aim of the thesis is to examine the language tools utilized by Orbán according to securitization theory. Utilizing elements of Wodak's Critical Discourse Analysis in combination with Tajfel and Turner's Social Identity Theory, the thesis provides analysis of the texts through the lens of Orbán's creation of a national Hungarian social identity construct as referent object being securitized against the migrant threat. Moreover, the thesis provides an overall analysis of Orbán's brand of Hungarian social identity...

The diploma thesis provides an analysis of development of tax systems and tax legislation of the Visegrad Group countries during the period of global economic crisis, i.e. between the years 2008 and 2010. The thesis deals with assessment of anti-crisis measures and influence of impacts of the economic crisis on tax revenues and tax mix in the Visegrad Group countries. Within separates chapters describes the wide range of measures which were accepted in the countries during crisis. The paper covers the main characteristics of tax systems and their position within European Union and shows a comparison of dynamic development of tax systems of the Visegrad countries. The thesis tries to provide a complete view on the tax trends in the four Central European countries.

The aim of the study is to examine the effects of FDI on the four countries - Czech republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. There is a detailed description of a global flows of FDI, concentrating on specific important events that influenced the flows, also regarding the particular region of a world economy. In the main part the study examines every country of the Visegrad Group separately - its macroeconomic development, FDI flows and main events that had a major influence on the flows into each country. At the end there is also a small quantitative analysis trying to prove a relationship between FDI stock in each country and its rate of inflation, unemployment rate, GDP growth and a current account deficit of a ballance of payments.

This thesis analyzes the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s stance toward the Russian-German Nord Stream and Russian-Italian South Stream gas pipeline projects, which aimed to circumvent the traditional energy routes situated in Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The level of the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s dependency on inherited Soviet gas pipeline routes is examined alongside the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s policy setting ability within the group itself and in the European Union. The thesis also traces the evolution of energy relations between Europe and Russia and Visegrad Group&rsquo / s adaptation to the new state of affairs after the collapse of the Soviet Union, particularly with respect to energy issues. It is argued that despite all differences, Visegrad Group members are able to set a cooperation platform at times of crisis and develop common energy strategies. However, the thesis shows that the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s endeavor has encountered some setbacks at the national level and serious challenges at the European level, largely owing to the lack of a common European energy policy. The thesis concludes that the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s energy policy is both dependent on the stances of Russia and larger EU actors.

The diploma thesis aims to describe the enlargement of the Schengen area in 2007 with nine states that became members of the EU in 2004- without Cyprus. The great attention is paid to the Czech Republic. In the first chapter I explain the basic terms and mechanisms of the Schengen cooperation. The next chapter deals with the preparation course and the evaluation proces of the states preparing for the accession to the Schengen area. It was the Visegrad group (V4) which played a very important role during the preparation that is why I focused on the cooperation of this group in the third part of my diploma thesis. At the same time there is the visa harmonization cooperation within V4 mentioned there. The main part of the diploma thesis is the chapter called the Czech Republic and the Schengen area where I analyse a strategy and arrangements implemented in the Czech Republic. The enlargement of the Schengen area with nine new states was accomplished in 2007 thanks to consistent preparation of all countries that was verified by evaluation mission experts. The participation in the Schengen area has its positive and negative sides. The impacts of the Schengen enlargement and the problems rised after accession of nine states to the Schengen are more described in the last chapter.

This paper is focused on Investment Incentives. First, a historical development, a legal framework and types of Investment Incentives in the Czech Republic are described. Paper analyses positive and negative effects of the Investment Incentives. This part is followed up by a comparison of systems of the Investment Incentives in Visegrad Group countries and Ireland. The last part is devoted to an analysis of business environment in the Czech Republic.

In the first chapter the thesis describes the theoretical forms of investment and the key aspects for investment decision. In the second chapter, the support systems of individual countries are characterized. The third chapter focuses on the key sectors for investment in Visegrad four and their support. In last chapter, the thesis summarizes common and different features of the investment support systems and offers the SWOT analysis including recommendations for next steps.

My diploma thesis examines international relations of Germany and Central European states, mainly German neighbours - Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria. The topic is interesting due to deep historical roots of mutual relations among the mentioned states as well as due to their current intensive bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The thesis deals with the course and impacts of the crisis in the Visegrad Group countries. Chapter one is focused theoretically and generally. It describes monetary and fiscal expansion in two chosen models and defines the causes of the world economic crisis. In the second chapter the Visegrad Group is characterised, the course of the crisis in its member states is described and government`s anti-crisis measures are specified. Chapter three deals with the impacts of the crisis on chosen areas in the economy. Chapter four is focused on Poland, its economic development from 2000 to 2008 and during the crisis. In the last chapter the actual economic development in the Visegrad Group countries is analysed.