Is Czech Republic the utopian version of Eastern Europe, or at least an ideal role model for all of Eastern Europe? (people, characteristics)
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According to the UN, Czech Republic is the 26th most developed country in the world (just one spot below the UK and Luxembourg), while Slovakia is 35th. But now consider the fact that when the two countries dissolved the difference was much higher, and ever since Slovakia was created it has been doing much better economically than the Czech Republic, every year that is. Now, to add to that, consider that Slovakia's rural population is 43%, compared to 26% of the Czech Republic. If that is not enough, Slovakia also has about 4 times as big Roma minority as the Czech Republic, making a huge burden on their welfare. So if you put Czech Republic in contrast with Slovakia, it is anything but a role model for other countries...
First of all: For more than thousand years, Czechs were part of western civilization. For merely forty one years, they were vassals of one non-western dictatorship. Do you really think that forty years long unhappy episode could erase thousand years long history.
For Ariete: Czech republic has higher GDP than Slovakia and far more higher GDP than Estonia. So I do not know why do you say that these countries outran Czech republic long time ago. Of course, Slovenia has higher GDP, but this country was never part of Soviet bloc.
I do not think that Czech republic is any kind of Utopia. But contrary to many other former communist countries, Czech republic is quite normal civilized country. According to Economist Intelligence Unit, Czech republic is the only full democracy of former communist countries. Czech republic also never experienced demographic collapse (which was case of Russia, Baltic states, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria or Hungary). Actually, there are many economic emigrants from Ukraine, Vietnam or Mongolia.
So definitely not Utopia, but surely normal civilized country. Period.
Multicultural? You're kidding, right? The population is 95% ethnic Czech and the remaining five percent Roma and from neighboring countries like Slovakia and Poland.
In fact Slovakia and Slovenia are best off the former Soviet satellites in Central Europe. Estonia of course overall the most developed. The Czech Republic was in a good position in the 90's, but neighboring Slovakia and Slovenia have surpassed the Czech long ago.
This was obvious I was referring to Czech Republic in relative terms compared the rest of Eastern Europe, and obviously not comparing the same country to a place such as Canada or Australia, and not about ethnic demographics. This was more about foreign international tourists visiting Czech Republic, or amount of people from other countries foreigners living in Czech Republic, and the level of international attention towards Czech Republic compared to most Eastern European countries.
Most people would prefer living in Czech Republic compared to Estonia, or Slovakia. I got over the anomaly of Estonia a long time ago.lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by jiri
The Czech Republic is not multicultural at all. I mean there are a a lot of foreigners living in Prague, but it does not make the Czech Republic multicultural. As for tourism, most people think of Prague as Kafka´s Prague but it is not true anymore, at least since 1989. Prague is an open-air museum full of tourists. I mean it is OK, but that spirit is gone.
By the way if you are in the Czech Republic, do not ever say anything about "Eastern Europe". Historically, we have always been a part of Central Europe (whatever you imagine when I say that) with exception of 1945 - 1989.
There is multiple sources of information, and maps saying there is at least some Eastern European culture, and connections to Eastern Europe in Czech Republic, and people feeling this is mostly in the same region. Maybe there is ambivalence and a division in opinions about this in the population of Czech Republic or some people just in denial about this event?
The majority of people in the world would say Czech Republic is closer, more familiar, and more connected to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, etc. compared to Austria, and Germany.
Last edited by Thepastpresentandfuture; 10-13-2013 at 04:02 PM..
There is multiple sources of information, and maps saying there is at least some Eastern European culture, and connections to Eastern Europe in Czech Republic, and people feeling this is mostly in the same region. Maybe there is ambivalence and a division in opinions about this in the population of Czech Republic or some people just in denial about this event?
Well, it's just one of the ways to overcome the Czechoslovakian past. The maps you posted throw all the former Warsaw Pact members in a basket. If you look on a map of all of Europe, from Portugal to the Ural Mountains, you'll notice that the Czech Republic is smack in the middle. That's why the term Central Europe is used now. Otherwise, you could also group Austria with the Eastern European countries. Strictly geographical speaking.
Well, it's just one of the ways to overcome the Czechoslovakian past. The maps you posted throw all the former Warsaw Pact members in a basket. If you look on a map of all of Europe, from Portugal to the Ural Mountains, you'll notice that the Czech Republic is smack in the middle. That's why the term Central Europe is used now. Otherwise, you could also group Austria with the Eastern European countries. Strictly geographical speaking.
It is way to overcome forty years long totalitarian past, which was totally contradictory to previous thousand years long history. As for Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovak First republic was quite normal civilized WESTERN country!
For all of ignorants: Czechs have belonged to western civilization for more than thousand years. In this period, they had faaaar more common whit Austrians or Bavarians than with any of Eastern European countries. Do you really think that forty years of unhappy episode could destroy this thousand years long history?!!
i dont see Czech republic being any more advanced than Poland or Slovakia is. ive been to them all and visually they all look very similar. Quality of life in Poland or Czech Rep is also almost on pair with few small differences, dont forget Czech Republic borders rich countries like Germany and Austria and places like Moldova are surrounded by poor countries and not even in EU.
So, you think that Czech republic is some kind of poor backward sh*thole?!!!
Based on some or most measures, Czech Republic is the most amazing, prominent, and attractive country for international tourism in all of Eastern Europe. This country might also be the most multicultural, cosmopolitan, highest amount of economic wealth in average annual income, and offering the best architecture, and cultural scene compared to all of Eastern Europe.
In direct reference, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Russia are the other good Eastern European countries offering tourism attractions, and some positive characteristics. I would include Croatia, but it is categorized being more Southern Europe than Eastern Europe.
Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova are the especially poor, not inviting countries and don’t compare well to those wealthier, more inviting countries in the region.
Czech republic is considered Central Europe, not Eastern Europe.
Romania and Bulgaria are poorer than Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia, and not much better off compared to Ukraine.
According to the UN, Czech Republic is the 26th most developed country in the world (just one spot below the UK and Luxembourg), while Slovakia is 35th. But now consider the fact that when the two countries dissolved the difference was much higher, and ever since Slovakia was created it has been doing much better economically than the Czech Republic, every year that is. Now, to add to that, consider that Slovakia's rural population is 43%, compared to 26% of the Czech Republic. If that is not enough, Slovakia also has about 4 times as big Roma minority as the Czech Republic, making a huge burden on their welfare. So if you put Czech Republic in contrast with Slovakia, it is anything but a role model for other countries...
Also, salaries in Czech republic are still way below the ones in Germany or Austria, maybe half or so.
Czech might think of themselves as being as "western" as Germans or Austrians, the latter have a different opinion about that. And that was even the case during the Austrian empire, Czechs were never seen as completely equal as the German-speaking people.
Also, salaries in Czech republic are still way below the ones in Germany or Austria, maybe half or so.
Czech might think of themselves as being as "western" as Germans or Austrians, the latter have a different opinion about that. And that was even the case during the Austrian empire, Czechs were never seen as completely equal as the German-speaking people.
So you think that for more than thousand years we were economically and socially eastern european nation?!!! What a nonsense! Do you know which nation had highest literacy rate in Hapsburg monarchy? Czechs! Believe or not, we have never been any kind of Astrian ******s! Yes Czech liberals and German liberals (both were in fact fierce nationalists) hated each other. But within Austria in 19th century, there was nothing like state sponsored discrimination on the base of nationality. Why do you think that we are not worthy to be part of Western civilization. I am just sick of all ignorants who throw as on the same pile as Romanians or Ukrainians and who think that Prague is east of Vienna. Do you really think that we are not just normal civilized country???
Czech republic is considered Central Europe, not Eastern Europe.
Romania and Bulgaria are poorer than Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia, and not much better off compared to Ukraine.
Per capita GDP:
World Bank 2012
Romania 16,518
Bulgaria 15,933
Ukraine 7,421
IMF 2012
Bulgaria 14,103
Romania 12,722
Ukraine 7,295
CIA 2012
Bulgaria 14,500
Romania 13,000
Ukraine 7,500
One of these things is not like the others.
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