Dissolution of Czechoslovakia

7/29/2019 Dissolution of Czechoslovakia

1/16

The Dissolution of

Czechoslovakia

The Velvet Divorce


2/16

FOCUS Question:

Analyse the economic, social

and political factors that led tothe dissolution of

Czechoslovakia.


3/16

Background Collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Czechoslovakia

common state consisting of two equal nations Population

50% Czechs15% Slovaks35% Other (Hungarian, German, Polish)


4/16

We need Slovaks so that there ismore of us (to protect them againstRussia and Germany), and we needthem to have a corridor to the east.And the Slovaks need us to check theHungarian pressure, and theBohemian lands will be for them awindow to the west.- Tomas Masaryk


5/16

Background German Occupation of Czechoslovakia Split into

Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (Czech)First Slovak Republic (slovak)

1945 reunified 25 February 1948 CCP coup - Czechoslovak Socialist

Republic

1989 Velvet Revolution 1 Jan 1993 - The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic


6/16

Economic Factors Economic disparity Post war abolish regional discrepancies

1946 Two-Year Economic Plan to boost economy

Czech = Modern Culture; Industrial Slovaks = Rural Culture; Agricultural Czechoslovakia = metal, coal, machines, products,

and weapons


7/16

Economic Factors

1948

Czech Lands Slovakia

National Income 80.8% 19.2%

Industrial Output 86.8% 13.2%

Agricultural Output 69.3% 30.7%


8/16

Economic Factors Cold War Stopped trade with the west

Slowed economy Under communism Slovakia prospered

Economic output increased by 11 Socialism worked to close the gap between the two

states

Czech resentment and superiority


9/16

Economic Factors Immediate Factors

Czech GDP = 20% higher than SlovakiaTermination of transfer paymentsDisagreement on how to shift economy to capitalism


10/16

Social Factors Tensions go back far Post WWII reunification of Czechoslovakia

Slovakia viewed it as a step backwardsCzechs felt betrayed by the split


11/16

Social Factors Major differences between the nations:

Feelings of superiority by the CzechsCorruption in SlovakiaSlovaks more conservative; Czechs more liberalSlovaks more religious (85% with) ; Czechs more secular

(80% without)

Intrinsically different cultures with little to unitethem


12/16

Social Factors Immediate Factors

Low Standards of Living + Uncertainty = PublicDiscontent

Euphoria from Revolution wore offDecline in optimism64-79% were dissatisfied with social welfare provisions,

domestic politics, the economy and standard of living.


13/16

Political Factors Bilateral Federation Fragile Final decision = political Fall of Communism wanted to remain a federation Difficult transition Hard to agree.


14/16

Political Factors 1992 elections 300 seats in Federal Assembly

85 won by Civil Democratic Party (ODS)57 won by Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS)

LeadersVaclav Havel CzechoslovakiaVaclav Klaus ODS (Czech)Vladimir Meciar - HZDS (Slovakia)


15/16

Political Factors Klaus

FederationAvoided making changesCentralised economy

MeciarConfederationMaintain free tradeLabour for Slovakia


16/16

Political Factors July 1992

Agreed to split the federation into two separate republics a confederation.

Snowballed HZDS members wanted full sovereignty 25 November 1992 - Final Agreement to Dissolve 1 Jan 1993 Officially dissolved

Dissolution of Czechoslovakia

Documents

Transcript of Dissolution of Czechoslovakia