Development of Left-wing Parties in Czech Republic and Slovakia

• Main Author: Minárik, Pavol
• Other Authors: Just, Petr
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: Slovak
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-279002

This paper, entitled "Development of Left-Wing Parties in Czech Republic and Slovakia (Comparison)", deals with the topic o f great importance for post-communist regimes. Aim of the paper is comparison of the situation in this field in both countries. After brief introduction (Chapter 1), the theoretical concepts o f used in analysis are described (Chapter 2). These include theory o f transitions to democracy and concepts for classification of political parties, namely theory o f cleavages and theory o f ideological families. These theoretical parts are followed by analysis of situation in each country, first the Czech Republic in Chapter 3 and then Slovakia in Chapter 4. For both countries, overall evolution of party system is described. Then, development of each party is examined more closely. Comparison is given in Chapter 5. The comparison showed that there are some similarities in development of Czech and Slovak left-wing political parties. Especially in the first period after the fall of Communist regime, both party systems were alike. However, differences emerged later. In the Czech Republic, party system developed standard western-like structure by the election o f 1998. On the contrary, development of Slovak party system was complicated and it is not finished yet. There are differences in...