Comparative analysis of the political parties and the party systems: the case of the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Type :

Case study

Pages :

6 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

01/09/2009

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Political science

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Summary :

Introduction.
1. Sharing between the the two successor states of the former Czechoslovakia.
2. The aim of this paper - analyzing comparatively the party systems of the two countries.
The structuring of the political cleavages in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
1. Identifying and explaining the structure of political cleavages and ideological conflicts.
2. The social and economic difficulties faced by the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
3. Slovakia: Defining the borders as well as the citizenship.
4. The higher importance of religion in Slovakia.
Political parties and electoral competition in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
1. The major party to emerge from the 'Civic Forum'.
2. The most powerful party to emerge after the break-up.
The ambitious economic reforms triggered by Vaclav Klaus.
V. Meciar's 'Movement for Democratic Slovakia' .
Positioning of political parties in regard to the EU enlargement and the accession of Turkey.
Conclusion.

Abstract

Although sharing institutions for over seventy years, and the transition pathways from communism, the two successor states of the former Czechoslovakia have faced different challenges in the state-building process and adopted distinct economic policies over the past thirteen years since slovakia became an independent state in 1993. At first sight, the two countries share seemingly similar political context and social and economic structures. Formerly parts of the communist bloc, both countries have undergone a difficult period of economic and political transformation in the early 90s and developed, literally from scratch, new institutions and political parties. The czech republic and slovakia have also shared the same political goals in the past years ; the candidacy for the European Union and for the NATO, stabilization of the state-economy as well as shaking off the corruption have become the priorities of the countries on the long term. However, after a careful analysis we come to the conclusion that there exists a deep gap between the party systems as well as between the voters' alignment in the two states.