April 9, 2013 - The Institute for Public Affairs released its new analytical publication – the book Alternative Politics? The Rise of New Parties in Central Europe (editors Grigorij Mesežnikov, Oľga Gyárfášová, Zora Bútorová). Authors from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland address the phenomenon of new political parties, their ideological and programmatic profile, political activities, electoral support and personal background.  more»

February 14, 2013 -

In January 2013, the Czech president was directly elected for the first time. The winner of the run-off election on 25 and 26 January was former Prime Minister Miloš Zeman. His opponent was Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. What does the election mean for Czech Politics?

Eva van de Rakt more»

What the Czech Presidential Election Tells Us

- February 22, 2013 - In its own way, the first direct presidential election in history confirmed experts’ expectations as well as their warnings. First and foremost, the view was reaffirmed that a direct presidential election would lead to a polarisation of society and that the election campaign would divide it.  Vladimíra Dvořáková more»

Václav Havel and the presidential election

- January 21, 2013 -

The Czech Republic has now gone through the first round of a direct presidential election. Of the nine contenders, two advanced to the finale – former Prime Minister Miloš Zeman and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. In recent days, the media have also analysed the approaching second round from various angles. One important viewpoint must be especially accentuated, however.

Petr Janoušek more»

March 11, 2013 -

Due to the lack of equal political participation of women quotas were implemented over the last years – by developed and developing countries in order to improve women’s political participation. Empirical evidence shows that it is a powerful and successful tool.

 

Barbara Unmüßig more»

January 14, 2013 - The next regular parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic will take place in roughly a year and a half. It is thus clear that Petr Nečas’s cabinet is entering the last phase of its term of office, during which it will not implement such major reforms. The government managed to complete its greatest piece of work in 2012, however.  Petr Janoušek more»

December 4, 2012 -

Increasing storms, more wildfires, and devastating droughts: The impact of climate change is felt around the world. The U.N. climate negotiations in Doha, Qatar (COP 18) are crucial to move towards a global agreement to fight climate change. But negotiations don’t replace action on the ground. It is important that countries to decarbonizes their economies and transition to a renewable energy future.

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20 years after the first Earth Summit, the international community will gather in Rio de Janeiro from the 20th to the 22th of June 2012. Rio 2012 is a call to action and an occasion to take part in political debate over the pressing issues of our time and the search for solutions. How much growth can a finite planet tolerate? How can we end hunger in a world of abundance? How can we use our wealth of natural resources fairly and sustainably?

April 10, 2012 - Slovakia has become the second Central European country after Hungary with a one-party government in power. And although – unlike Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party in Hungary – Robert Fico’s Smer-SD party in Slovakia lacks a constitutional majority in parliament which would allow them to make fundamental changes to the political system, the strongest politicians in the two neighbouring countries are in a comparable position today. After election victories, they have both assumed exclusive responsibility for conditions in all areas of life in society under the government’s purview, especially in the area of social and economic policy. Grigorij Mesežnikov more»

Slovakia’s 2012 Election – Stakes, Results and Consequences

- March 22, 2012 -

Well – we shall see – but disaster looks very different from the results of Slovakia’s 2012 election and there appears to actually be some room for moderate optimism. The composition of the new government, the government’s program and the continuation – or not – of the Gorilla investigation by police will shed more light on these questions within few weeks.

Juraj Mesík more»

January 24, 2012 - SurVivArt has been inspired by the German Kulturstiftung’s initiative Über Lebenskunst and developed by the Heinrich Böll Foundation HQ with support from its offices around the world. By joining the “SurVivArt” initiative the Heinrich Böll Foundation Prague would like to contribute to the international mosaic with a rather different perspective. The Prague office has not approached any artists to elaborate a specific art project. The aim of the Prague project in its first phase is to provide a broader insight into contemporary artists’ practices, issues and projects in the Czech Republic and to outline whether and how they respond to current social and environmental challenges. more»