The Czech paradox
ALEKSANDER KACZOROWSKI
Czechs are by definition more western and European
(although not necessarily pro-European), more
democratic, more liberal, wealthier and more emancipated
than other Central Europeans. This megalomania,
to a great extent, contributed to the success of
the Czech transformation. Yet, these advantages
also represent a paradox of the Czech myth.What did the Czechs give Europe? It would be much easier to answer this
question if we knew what Europe is. If we think of it as the European Union, then
the Czechs might be seen, for instance in Timothy Snyder’s view, as simply one
of “ancient Habsburg peoples who abandoned great national projects of the 19th
century in order to embrace the European idea of the 21st century”. Similar to other
countries in the region, the Czech Republic, is a country too small to be able to
conceive the notion of a sovereign existence; too poor in resources and educated
elite to be able to survive in the times of globalisation; they aim for unification
[since today] the indication of national success is not an independent state but EU
membership, Snyder wrote in 2008.
This dainty opinion might be accurate in the case of Slovakia (or Slovenia). In
Czech terms, the fairy-tale makeover of an Eastern European dump which turned
into a Central European paradise had a slightly different objective. Here, Euro-
peanisation was not a goal in itself but rather a means to make true the greatest
dream of a few generations of patriots; a dream told for over 100 years in tales,
opera librettos, political party programmes and even in beer commercials. This
was a dream of a homogenous nation state.