One Hundred Years of the Czech Question

Abstract

In Ceska otazka (The Czech Question [1895]), Tomas G. Masaryk attempted to grasp the meaning of Czech history, to determine the essence of Czech culture, & to identify the Czech nation with Europeanness. Integral to his message was the concept of democracy & the Czeck struggle to realize it. Masaryk's efforts brought about the first Czechoslovak Republic, the initial link between Czech national life & European & world democracy. Democrats were divided from opponents of democracy within the republic's borders, but the Czech nation was not divided from other national groups. Moreover, the democratic political culture of the republic was exceptional in its ability to bridge the many deficits in the construction of its political system.