Osnova témat
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Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0326
Subject: Selected Chapters of World and Czech History Form of study: full-time Subjetc´s goals: The goals of this subject are to let the students known selected historical moment of Czech and world past in period of Modern Society, i.e. since the outbreak of French Revolution. The subjects focuses on analysis of security situation of Czech Lands, Czechoslovaki, and of Czech Republic in selected moments of history. Learning outcomes: - skills:
- Student identifies milestones of development of Czech statehood, their importance in context of national and world historical development.
- abilities:
- Student is able to make independent and responsible decision in unknown and changing context or generall developing surroundings, considering wider social imapct of decision-making.
- competences:
- Student assesses context of international and internal affairs and their impact on security and defence of Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic
Subject continuity: The course precedes Security and Defence Policy of State (Bezpečnostní a obranná politika, BOP) and its subjects matter is closely related to History and Tradition of Army of Czech Republic (Historie a tradice Armády České Republiky, HTA), Politology and International Relations (Politologie a mezinárodní vztahy, PMV) a Military History (Vojenská historie, VH). Conditions for successful completion of the course: - Attendance in seminaries and presentation of paper on given topic.
Basic literature: - See study text.
Recommended readings: - See study text.
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French Revolution and Revolutionary Wars 1789 to 1815
The one of the most important event in the history of mankind with the impact until present days was the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789. French Revolution stands at the beginning of modern society of citizens who participates in political power of state. Before that this participation was privilege of closed group of the elite (royalty, nobility, clergy, and the wealthiest townsmen).
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Nationalism 1815 to 1848
After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 the European powers tried to restore the regime that existed before the outbreak of French Revolution. In Congress of Vienna the principles of international relations were settled. Among them there were measurements to enable to suppress the revolutions whenever it takes place in Europe. But the effort to stop spreading ideas of French revolution (democracy, nationalism) was in vain in 1848 and 1849 when the wave of revolutions broke up in majority of European countries at the time.
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The Rise of National States 1848 to 1914
The development in Europe since 1848 was aiming at establishing of national states. In this respect the decisive period was an era from 1859 to 1871. During this time there were unified two large states, Germany and Italy, and Hungarians gained independent state that was united with Austria only by person of Emperor and three ministries.
In the years that preceded the outbreak of First World War the core of creation of national states shifted into Balkan Peninsula. The complicated situation in this area bounded attention of European powers and became key element in development in 1914 to 1918.
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First World War 1914 to 1918
First World War was one of the most decisive military conflicts in 20th century that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. During that time 29 states entered the war, while six of them suffered defeat. Despite the fact that it is more than hundred years since the war begin, two important results still affect present-day world; those are creation of new states in Europe, among them Czech Republic, and spread of Communism.
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Interwar Period 1918 to 1939
The years that followed after First World War are called Interwar Period. Those are 21 years that are “stuck” between two world cataclysms. Despite the fact that politician in 1919 tried to receive measurements to prevent outbreak of war (League of Nations, disarmament conferences etc.) the opposite had happened. It was due to fact that world order in 1918 and 1939 suffered of lack of instruments to punish the aggressor. Moreover relations between powers were influenced by tendency to separate victorious from defeated countries. But among defeated countries were in fact not only former allies of Germany, but also vast territory of Soviet Union. The unspoken tendency of some politician in both sides to re-arrange so called Versailles System ended up in outbreak of Second World War.
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Second World War 1939 to 1945
The Second World War (or World War II) was the largest military conflict in history of mankind. Despite the fact that the war ended seventy years ago, still affects present-day world order. Possession of nuclear weapon, membership in Security Council and its privileges in United Nation organization, course of border-line, especially in middle Europe, are all the results of this world clash.
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Post-War World 1945 to 1947
The Second World War was the largest military conflict in history of mankind. That is why the impact of war was also significant in all possible aspects. The result of war led to defeat of three world powers, of Germany, Italy, and Japan. The new powers, or superpowers, became United States and Soviet Union.
The victorious states attempted to, the same as after First World War, to accept such measures that will prevent the outbreak of war once for all. The result was foundation of organization United Nations.
The course of Second World War proved that waging of war is no more only category of diplomatic relations, but real crime. That is why the trial with persons blamed for triggering the war took place in 1945 and lasted all over second half of 20th century.
Second World War, as “total war” (see T6 Second World War) meant also total destruction of economy and infrastructure that could be fatal. The destructive power of war led to necessity of recovery. Billions of dollars were expend to restore pre-war conditions.
But all attempts to avoid the war were out of success. In 1947 and 1948 the world was confronted with possibility of next conflict – Cold War.
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Cold War 1947 to 1989
In 1947, when Soviet Union refused participation in European Recovery Programme, became real, that relations between both superpowers, United States and Soviet Union, once again switched into hostile.
But after the end of Second World War situation had changed. Both countries were not “outsiders” of international relations, but key stones of world order – or even the only powers in the world. From the awaited Great Four or Four Policemen of international affairs, that should comprises United States, Soviet Union, China, and United Kingdom, two of them were not able to fulfil this task. While United Kingdom forced post-war economic depression and decay of its colonial rule, China got into chaos of civil war between Nationalists and Communists.
Both superpowers established their own bloc of dominance. But struggle of these two countries were not only struggle of political dominance, but more than that struggle of ideological dominance. Soviet Union was based on Communist ideology, referred to Marxism-Leninism, or Stalinism-Leninism, and within its bloc it was the only possible political ideology. Kremlin also attempted to export this ideology, at first into Western and Southern Europe, then into Third World.
The Cold War is supposed to be the struggle of ideology, but in fact Western World did not have any precisely formulated ideology as such. Its policy was based on ideas of representative democracy, separation of supreme powers, and of rights of citizen and of human.
During 1947 to 1989 relations undertook number of changes, from hostile in the edge of war to more or less careful co-operation. While in 1950 to 1953 representatives of both superpowers awaited that soon the war breaks out, in 1987 to 1989, when in fact the Cold War ended, Reagan witch Gorbachev were able to held friendly and useful discussion.
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Regional Conflicts 1945 to 1989
After the end of Second World War number of new states in Asia and Africa were established. Decolonization began in fact in interwar period, but after 1945 the process were accelerated. For example fourteen sovereign states were founded only in 1960.
This meant that significance of relations between European countries decreased, particularly in respect to Cold War that in fact petrified (or sometimes made impossible) these relations. Civil wars, Arab-Israeli conflicts, or fundamental Islam became new phenomena.
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Multilateral World since 1990
The end of Cold War and disintegration of Eastern Block and later on disintegration of Soviet Union meant that the one superpower ceased to exist. The decay in post-Communist region was so deep that Russia left for one decade the position of World power. But United States, despite its huge economical potential, was not able preserve position of superpower, especially after the beginning of 21sh century. Meantime in so called Third World the rapid demographic and economic development meant that significance of African and Asian countries increased.
These are the most relevant preconditions that led that once bilateral world order switched into multilateral world order. In this situation the risk of breaking out of regional conflict is higher, possibilities of power to control these conflicts smaller. In one word the multilateral world means also instable world full of security risks.
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