INTRODUCTION
I. AN OVERVIEW.
With the growing standards of the world and the existing concepts and complexities in political, economic and socio-cultural ideologies, man has always and continuously pondered over the aspects of his nature. Unity, equality, trade and commerce are at the forefront of man 's complexities. With these thoughts in mind, man has moved through history trying to satisfy his desires in relation to others. The advent of the twenty-first century gave birth to the idea of making the world a single village, thus, globalization. Globalization is the most talk-about issues in the 21st century. However, there is the difficulty of the world to come up with a single and uniform definition. This is because, so many people doubt if the happenings in the world today are as a result of globalization. Thus, due to these global differences of what this concept actually is about, globalization has grown to involve aspects not only of economy, but politics and other socio-cultural issues. Globalization affects almost every human being, this is because the process of globalization is said to have expanded almost through out the entire world either through transport, commerce, and communication. In addition, man’s activities on the globe are all located under these sectors.
Culture, as a way of living of man, is identified by every one immediately after birth and was often seen as distinct from one another. However, with advent of the process of globalization, there is now the integration and homogenization of cultures. “Homogenization of cultures is the loss of diversity of culture between two or more cultural groups”. Thus, our topic, “globalization and its effects on cultural integration in the Czech Republic” The Czech Republic is a country with a rich cultural heritage with works of art seen in theatres, cinemas, libraries, globally recognized galleries, museums and concert halls and with well-maintained traditions especially, in the villages of the Moravian-Silesian region. These villages remain as a sign of the cultural taste of the specific areas.
II. THE PROBLEM.
Human beings with unlimited quest for wants have let to the advent of the process of globalization. This has come through a dramatic expansion in the volume and variety of cross-border transactions in goods and services. The development of new technologies used for information, communication and transportation; and the huge increase in international flow of capital, has gone a long way to affect the economic, political, environmental and socio-cultural sectors of many countries in the world, both positive and negative. Effects on globalization on cultural integration being our topic of discussion, in recent years there have been programs carried out by the government bodies, United Nations, the European Union and the Non-governmental organizations for the integration of immigrants and foreigners in the Czech Republic. As a way of encouraging integration, the ministry of culture represents intercultural dialogue within the state policy. The ministry also give support to cultural activities of members of national minorities living in the country, support for integration of members of the Roma community and immigrants. The Department of Arts, Libraries, Department of Media, and Audiovisual Policies have also supported intercultural projects. Non- governmental organizations such as: Organization for Aid to Refugees, (OPU), People in Need, and Czech Mobility Center and “Ethnic Friendly employer”.
III. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY.
The main objective of this study is to examine globalization and its effects on cultural integration in the Czech Republic.
Other objectives are to examine the effects of globalization on the economic, political and socio-cultural domains in the Czech Republic in general.
To determine how globalization has contributed to the transformation of the national sovereignty to global sovereignty.
It is also to examine the current rate of integration and the characteristics of the people in the cultural integration process.
Furthermore, the study is intended to identify and describe the techniques in which people become culturally integrated and the number of questions being raised.
It is also aimed at examining the role of government, the United Nations the World Bank, the NGOs, the Foreigners, Immigrants, in the cultural integration process.
Finally, it is to examine the constraints and consequences of cultural integration, since the long-term results are leaving a legacy positively and negatively. As we move towards the third millennium, a rational planning scheme and utilization of cultures should remain the major pre-occupation of the society.
IV. HYPOTHESES
In order to carry out the study and achieve the stated objectives, a number of hypotheses were advanced to address the problem;
i) Globalization and cultural integration form an interrelated spiral. There is, the more there the futures of globalization, the more there is cultural integration.
ii) Intensification of trade and commerce and communication is the main cause of cultural integration in the Czech Republic.
V. SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY.
The later part of the 20th century has seen a remarkable growth in the level of popular concern for environmental, political, economic and socio-cultural issues, which have come as a result of the advent of the globalization process. It is becoming increasingly clear that if the present environmental crisis is not confronted immediately, we stand the risk of having serious and irreversible effects on our world.
The Czech Republic has an interest in its cultural protection. That is why the government in order to preserve the Czech culture organizes annual cultural festivals in the country. However, there is little evidence that sufficient steps have been taken to ensure effective protection is done. This is due to the fact that the local communities, which are directly concerned with the culture, are not often considered when making policies concerning their culture, management and protection.
Hence, a study of this nature could have results, which are beneficial in a number of ways. Some of these include;
To raise awareness of the community on the significance and ways of proper management of cultural issues,
To address a number of problems, caused by globalization and its effects on the cultural integration,
To provide policy makers and research institutions with the basic data, this would help in designing new program that will be real and problem specific,
To provide citizens of not only the Czech Republic but European Union members as well on the currents effects of changes on cultural issues as a result of globalization.
VI. METHODOLOGY
VI.II Data Collection
Although the writer has interacted for some time in this area, and has grown up with a wealth of knowledge of the Czech culture, a further reading was carried out in order to further knowledge of the recent changes in the Czech culture due to the advent of globalization. The theoretical and empirical research was most based on secondary sources and official websites like the Czech Statistical Office, the Ministry of Labor Youths and Sports and Eurostat. Most of the research was mostly on secondary sources were mostly consulted. Several textbooks, journals, unpublished dissertations and other related publications on the subject were also consulted.
VI.II. Data Analysis
The descriptive techniques were used in analyzing the data collected from sources such as the Czech statistical Office, and Eurostat website. These techniques included the use of tables and graphs with the calculations of percentages, and averages. In addition to this, the data was illustrated in bar charts, and histograms. This can be seen in chapter three.
VII. Limitations of the Study
The first limitation is that even when the researcher tried to carry a review on some research in the libraries on the effects of globalization on cultural integration in the Czech Republic, there of few textbooks, which have dealt with this topic. Secondly, even with the few ones, some there were mostly in other languages like the Czech language. So due to the scarcity on text books on the topic and the hindrance to consult some of the available ones most of the materials were been extracted from official websites like the Czech Statistics Office, Eurostat, the Ministry of Youths and Sports. Another constraint on the research was that of finance. Some of materials found on the Internet were on sale, and couple with the financial constraints, the researcher was unable to reach all of the available materials.
VIII. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AREA
The study area is situated between latitude 49° 45 N of the equator and longitude 15 º 30 E of the Greenwich Meridian. Czech Republic is found in the central Europe, bordered in east by Slovakia, in the south by Austria, in the north by Poland and in the west by Germany. It has a land cover of 78,864 sq. kilometers with a population of 10.2 million inhabitants. Major cities include, Prague (the capital city), Brno, Plzen, Olomouc, Karlovy Vary, Ceske Budejovice, Cesky Krumlov, Liberec, Hradec Kralove, Bechyne, Kolin, Pelhrimov, Sumperk, Trebon , Uherske Hradiste and Bruntal.
The main ethnic groups in the Czech Republic include; the Czech who are about 9.25 million of the population, the Moravian (more than 380,000), the Slovak about (193.000), the Roma about (171.000), the Silesians (11.000), the Polish (52.000), the Germans (39.000), the Ukrainian (22.000) and the Vietnamese (18.000) Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (January 2008).
Map 1 The Map Of The Czech Republic
[pic]
Source: World Atlas.com.
CHAPTER ONE: DEFINITION OF TERMS.
Going back to the topic of our thesis, “Globalization and effects on cultural integration in the Czech Republic”, there is the need to define what globalization actually is. With the growing debate of what when the globalization phenomenon began and it actual meaning, some social science theorists have come forth with the definition of globalization both from the classical and the contemporary era.
1.1 Definition of Globalization
Walters says the Webster’s dictionary is the first major dictionary to mention the word globalization in 1961. The dictionary defines globalization as “to render global” or “the act of globalizing” cited in Malcolm Walters (2001:2). The concept globalization has now being use by many academics and there has been a debate on when the concept of globalization actually began. There are some who have perceived the concept of globalization has been in to existence before this period. Thus, the below mentioned are some of the definitions of globalization posed by various social science theorists.
Marx (1977) is considered by social theorists as the first author to focus on the dimensional approach in the explanation of the concept of globalization; He explained the globalization phenomenon, basing his argument on the economic factor. Marx in his dependency theory saw that the political-territorial boundaries remain intact and will disappear under a future proletarian supremacy. This is seen because, immediately after his death on 14th of March 1883, his ideas began to invoke a major influence on workers revolts in the world such as, Bolsheviks movement also known as the October revolution in Russia in October 25 1917. Wallerstein (1974) is another diamensionalist, who focuses on the economic view on the definition of globalization. Taking from the works of Marx’s dependence theory, in his world systems theory where he developed a theoretical framework to understand the historical changes involved in the rise of the modern world, defines globalization as, “an increasing level of interdependence between national systems by way of trade, military alliance and domination, and cultural imperialism” cited in Walters (2001:4). Robertson Roland has been considered as one of the most prominent writers of issues of globalization. He explains globalization in the cultural domain. In is text, “Globalization as a Problem” in The Globalization Reader says ‘globalization as a concept refers both to the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole” Cited in Frank Lechner and John Boli (2004:94)
For Wallerstein, the world started going compression since the beginning of the sixteenth century, but Robertson; he argues that the history of globalization is far longer. For Robertson, through an increase in world wide consciousness a person is looked at and is examined by the whole world and not just by his or her own local environment in which he/she lives. However, both Wallerstein and Robertson’s ideas of the intensification of the world wide consciousness is said to match.
According to Giddens globalization is seen as “the intensification of world wide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa” Giddens (1990:4). These local happenings were said to be may be influenced by distant events and not just the local events, which all have been influenced by the forces of globalization.
Looking at Giddens (1990) and Robertson’s (1992) definitions, Giddens believes modernity has come as a result of globalization. That is, he considers modernity to be inherently globalizing. For Giddens globalization is said to have started during the sixteenth century onwards and in Europe in particular. However, in Robertson’s opinion, the problem of globalization is not new. He believes the social compression of the world has begun before the sixteenth century as predicted by Giddens. He predicts modernity and the rise of capitalism to be the cause of the rise of globalization. That is for Robertson, modernization has an influence on globalization. In addition, because of this, it led to a high level of consciousness and the present situation where we in the present day are unable to trace the diffusion of globalization across a large number of areas in the different parts of the world.
However, what can be said is that both Giddens and Robertson have tried to show that people are now able to see and understand issues beyond their immediate environments due to the emergence of the concept of globalization. Luhmann in his explanation of globalization focuses more on communication. For him communication is the major factor of globalization. He thus defines globalization as “the transition from integration to differentiation, from territorial society to world society; from identity to difference; from ‘stratified’ differentiation to ‘functional’” Luhmann (1982:133, 229).
Armand refers globalization as “one of those tricky words, one of those instrumental notions that, under the effects of market logics and without citizens being aware of it have been naturalized to the point of becoming indispensable for establishing communication between people of different cultures” Armand (2000:97). For Armand, globalization has a dominant role in organizing and decoding the meaning of the world.
In a similar manner, Beynon John and Dunkerley David in their general introduction to globalization: the reader, made the claim that “globalization is impacting on the lives of everyone on the … globalization might justifiably be claimed to be the defining features of human society at the state of the twenty-first century” Beynon John and Dunkerley David (2000: 3).
Beck on his text, What is globalization, he says globalization is the “blanket term” and thus describe it to be “the processes through which Sovereign national states are criss-crossed and undermined by transnational actors with varying prospects of power, orientation, identities and networks” Beck (2000:11). Beck also referred globalization as the “intensification of transnational space, events, problems, conflicts and biographies” (ibid: 87). He argues that we are moving into a ‘second modernity’ that is seen through growth of the economy, the information and communication technologies, civil society communications and the changes in the environment. He sees globalization to be discontinuous, conflictual and ill reversible because for him, it not different from any other historical process.
Although Beck contributed in the explanation of modernity just like other social scientists like Giddens and Marx, he never saw any good in this process. He thus focused more of his attention on the bad side of modernity, which he called a “risk society”. That is, the new modernity is only concern with the “prevention, minimization and channeling of risk” Cited in Ritzer (2000:222).
Waters Malcolm defines globalization in a less political approach as ‘a social process in which the constraints of geography on economic, political, social, and cultural arrangements recede, in which people become increasingly aware that they are receding and in which people act accordingly’ Walters (200:15). The idea that people are conscious that they are receding (been carried away can to some how be argued. This is because; at time, some people are not always conscious of the fact that the processes globalization is affecting them. People may be moving or acting through the forces of globalization unconscious.
Held and McGrew also defines globalization as a “process (or set of processes) which embodies a transformation in the spatial organization of social relations and transactions - assessed in terms of their extensity, intensity, velocity and impact- generating transcontinental or inter-regional flows and networks of activity” Held and McGrew (1999:16).
Thus, considering the views of the above-cited authors, globalization can be defined as intensification of economic, political, and socio-cultural relations in the localities of the world. Alternatively, it can be seen as the development of equal opportunities in the political, economic, socio-cultural realms of all nations in the world. It’s also related to the spread of modernization throughout the world. Globalization indicates increase linkages between people, goods and technology. It is a process whereby, national business enterprises and markets become world wide or international. That is, a situation whereby businesses which were been carried out within a particular country are now been extended to other countries across the globe. Globalization is the process of making the village a single entity. That is with the advent of globalization there is the continuity of the homogeneity of culture, economy, social and environmental aspects of the world.
2. Glocalization.
The tem glocalization comes from a combination of two words, (globalization and localization) Robertson and Lash defines glocalization as “the process which overrides locality, including large-scale locality” Robertson and Lash (1995:26). That is glocalization is a situation where by, goods and services produced satisfy people in a local environment are also exported to countries abroad. Example of globalization involves the continuous changes in most menus of some restaurants in order to appease the customers and the use of different languages in the brochures to explain the content of the goods or services to satisfy the customers. A major importance of glocalization is that it “empowers local communities, linking them to global resources and facilitating initiatives of peace and development, while providing opportunities for the local communities to direct positive social change in the areas that most directly affect them” (Ibid: 3).[1]
1.3 Glolocalization Friedman defines glolocalization is “‘the ability of a culture’ when it encounters other strong cultures to resist those things that are truly alien and to compartmentalize those things that, while different, can nevertheless be enjoyed and celebrated as different” Friedman (2000:295). The difference between glolocalization and globalization is that, glolocalization helps to absorb “those aspects of globalization that adds to your growth and diversity without overwhelming them”[2] (ibid).
1.4 Globalism
Ritzer viewed globalism as a situation whereby “the world is dominated by economies and that we are witnessing the emergence of the hegemony of capitalist world market and the neo-liberal ideology that under pins it” Ritzer (2000:572). That is globalism involves a single economic factor, which is now taking control over the entire globe. An example is the huge multi- national corporations, which even own capitals more than some countries.
1.5 Globality.
Beck defines globality as a “no world state” or “world society without a world state and without a world government” Beck (2000:117). It means, “from now on nothing which happens in our planet is only a limited event, all inventions, victories and catastrophes affect the whole world”. (Ibid: 11). An example of this is the September 11 2001 coordinated suicide attack on the United States by al-Qaeda. This catastrophe did not affect only the United States of America. It affected the world at large in its politics economic social cultural and environmental aspects. Just like when at 12:26 pm. EST, February 20 2008 the US navy AEGIS warship shot down a decaying satellite in its final orbit before returning to earth over the Pacific Ocean. The victory was not just for the US but also to the world at large. This is because if left to fall on earth, the catastrophe could have been worldwide, affecting both man, animals and the environment.
1.6 McDonaldization
The term McDonaldization was first coined by Ritzer George in his text “the McDonaldization of Society”. Cited in Taylor Stephen and Lyon Phil (1995), he defines McDonaldization as "the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world"[3]. The dimensions of McDonaldization Ritzer noted include, efficiency, predictability, calculability (or an emphasis on quantification), and control (especially through inhuman technologies), Ritzer says McDonaldization is "a largely one-way process in which a series of American innovations are being aggressively exported too much of the rest of the world" (ibid: 8).
Beck defines McDonaldization as, “the convergence of global cultural thesis”. That is, the “resemblance of life styles, cultural systems and transnational mode of behavior Beck (2000:42) A situation whereby “a single world culture is pushed to its outer limits where local cultures die out and ever one consumes, eats, sleeps, loves, dresses, argue and dream in accordance with a single schema of (however) neatly divided by profits” (ibid: 46).
1.7 Americanization.
Americanization is a situation in the 1900’s whereby immigrants were integrated in to American society. However, today this term has a different but similar meaning, which is referred to the United States globalization of the world[4].
1.8 Modernization
The encyclopedia Britannica dictionary defines modernization as the “transformation of a society from a rural and agrarian condition to a secular, urban, and industrial one”.[5] Modernization is mostly associated to “industrialization”. This is because when there is industrialization there is division of labor and specialization. In addition, when there is division of labor and specialization, it signifies presence of modernization. Modernization is a situation whereby there is a fall in the traditional values of the people. It is also a situation whereby there is an increase in similarities between different cultural groups.
1.9 Definition of Culture.
Defining the term culture has for many years stood the test of time for many authors. This is because, culture with its very broad nature have always been without a precise definition. However, some authors have tried to come up with some definitions of what they consider the culture of a people can be.
Culture is defined by Clyde Kluckhomn as “the total way of life of a people”. “The social legacy an individual acquires from his group”, “a way of thinking, feeling and believing”. “An abstraction from behavior” or “a theory on the part of the anthropologist about the way in which a group of people in fact behave”; “a store house of pooled learning”; “a set of standardized orientations to recurrent problems”; “learned behavior”; “a mechanism for the normative regulation of behavior”; “a set of techniques for adjusting both to the external environment and to other men”; “a precipitate of history”; and turning, in desperation, to similes, as a map, as a sieve, and as a matrix (Cited in Clifford Geertz 1973)
Culture is also referred by as “an acted document” Geertz (1973:10) and so it was considered by him to be public. An example Geertz gave was wink, which is read by the public as book. Culture is said not to exist in some one’s head. That is, when we are born as we grow, through learning from either our parents or schools or the environment we grow, we know culture.
Giddens referred culture to be “the way of life of the members of the society” or “of groups within a society” Giddens (2002:22). It includes how they dress, their marriage customs and family, their patterns of work, religious ceremonies and leisure pursuits. The above definition by Clifford Geertz is considered by Giddens as a sociological definition of culture. The sociologists believe culture is only learned. That is “those aspects of human societies which are learned” (ibid). However, Giddens believes that culture is inherited and it comprises both intangible aspects of life like the beliefs, ideas and values, which form the content of culture. In addition, the tangible aspects like the objects, symbols or technology, which represents that content. Culture according to Karl Marx “is not only a code or mode of communication, is also a form of domination, an ideology at the service of the dominant classes” Cited in Jirí (2006:12). Mark considers culture as that entity that helps individuals or mankind to interact within them. He also sees culture as that act that helps to enslave the weaker communities under the stronger communities. An example of this is the present day American cultures of Americanization and McDonaldization. Described by Ritzer as the “fast food restaurants” Ritzer, (2003:220).
Thus, from the above-mentioned definitions of culture, I sum up to say, culture is either beliefs or some form of religion of a person. That is, either the environment one fines him or her self, one area of origin, how one acts and main activities carried on in the local environment. Culture is a situation whereby a particular group of people or community tends to look at certain things to have the same meanings. For example, certain cultures like the beyang culture of Mamfe Manyu Division of Cameroon, turns to see a rainbow to signify an on coming death of elite in a community. While to the scientists, a rainbow is considered an optional and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky. Greenler says, “It appeared when sunlight fell in on raindrops” Greener (1990:1). Therefore, some cultural aspects can mean something different between different groups of people.
The culture of the Czech Republic has over some years now seen some changes in its composition due to the advent of the phenomenon of globalization and for this reason a look on it changing aspects is due to be looked at in the next chapters.
CHAPTER TWO: THE HISTORY OF GLOBALIZATION AND CULTURAL INTEGRATION.
1.5 THE HISTORY OF GLOBALIZATION.
Trying to talk about the origins of globalization, I think it necessary to start with; Adam Smith in the text “the world of nations” has been considered “the father of economics”. (Smith 1776) says division of labor involves an almost endless increasing production because of free trade and unlimited desires of human wants. Considering Smith’s, it can be said that he was one of those proponents to talk about the issues relating to globalization when he mentions of the limits of the market to the world of nations.
Marx Karl taking from the perspectives of Adam Smith, he wrote The “Communist Manifesto”. He argues that is, “the need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the whole surface of the globe. It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, and establish connections everywhere”.[6] “The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world-market given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country”. This is cited in Larson Simeon and Nissen Bruce (1987:29). Marx made us to understand that due a continuously expanding market of the capitalist market, the proletariat would one day rise against the bourgeoisie
Walters also believes that, that many theories of globalization take their lead from Marx because he stressed on the economic foundations of globalization. He thus writes, “Capitalism is clearly the vehicle of economic internationalization because its peculiar spectrum of institutions-financial markets, commodities contractualized labor alienable property- are highly mobile and fluid, facilitating economic exchange over great distances” Walters (2000:27).
Marx analysis is said to be a reflection of the happenings of the world today especially when it come to the global market economy in its endless production system. This is said to be occurring because of the process of globalization.
Friedrich Engels, who is said to be the co-author of the "Communist Manifesto," he wrote with Marx Karl wrote that," “a newly “invented machine in England” has stopped “millions” of working people of their “livelihood within a year 's time”. And because of this, the big production has brought all the people of the earth into contact with each other and helping to bring together all local markets into one world market. Leading to increased development and progress everywhere, ensuring that whatever happens in civilized countries will have effects in all other countries (Mazlish Bruce 3 January 2003)[7]. It is quite amazing that most of Friedrich’s writings were seen and are now being seen in some of the forces of globalization as, science, capitalism, and technology.
The Economist also says the term “globalization” (2001:155) was probably coined in the 1980s but the idea has been around for a long time and so it not new. That globalization has been accelerating for the past three decades after the anti-trade backslash in the 1920s and 1930s. That goods, ideas and people have moved across the world for millennia. That is, even though with the present modern technologies especially the Internet, there have existed the train and steamship form the 19th century were as important global economic integration. In addition, they reduced cost of transport just as communication cost is now being reduced in the present day. Therefore, what is different now is that is it “moving in a different gear altogether” (ibid: ix). The Economist tries to talk of the existence of globalization with relation to time period. That is, in past 1920s and in the present day 1980s. He therefore assumes that the process of globalization has been in existence in the past and is just intensifying in the present day and so he considers it not to be a new phenomenon.
Tony Schirato, Jen, Webb and Ebrary says globalization is the ‘name’ that is often used to designate the power relation, practices and technologies that characterize and have helped bring into being, the contemporary world. Tony et al (2003. He makes us to understand that although the word globalization has been use only since the early 1960s, some writes see it as dating from the empires of the ancient world while of others globalization is coterminous with the modern era and the process of globalization or even the post-modernization. Therefore because of these confusion at when globalization actually began, there is also confusion in its meaning and global definition both in the general and in the academic fields.
According to Armand Mattetart (2000), globalization emerged out of enlightenment and liberalism. He argued that both “enlightenment and liberalism aimed at the construction of an unrestricted global arena to achieve universal democracy and or a universal market” Cited by Tony et al (2003:26). Mattelart located the neo-liberal project of globalization in a particular historical moment, and tied it up with historical interests, and tracing how this particularity came to universalize itself as the defining character of western society politics and culture.
One of those theorists of Marxism who tired to trace the origin of globalization is Wallerstein. According to Wallerstein, “globalization does not constitute a new phenomenon”, Wallerstein (1998:32) is the process, completed in the 20th century by which the capitalist world system spread across the actual globe, which since its development, the world system had maintained some of it features over several centuries. So according to him, globalization is the “ideological celebration of so-called globalization is in reality the swan song of our historical system”[8]. He focuses on the economic sphere. He believes the world has being going social compression since the beginning of the sixteenth century. He says the world is experiencing acceleration globalization, which is cultural and reflexive in character to an extent that it can be regarded as an accomplishment. He traces the origins of globalization starting form the human societies. He argued that the defining characteristic of all social system is the division of labor in economic of exchange. Wallerstein makes readers to understand that there are only two ways in which societies are organized. That is the mini and the world systems. The mini system he said refers where there is division of labor and economic exchange occurs only within discrete group like the traditional and isolated hunter-gathering societies. He believes those societies were rare and are now virtually in non- existence. While Giddens talks of ‘time-space distanciation’, Wallerstein talks of ‘time-space realities’.
The origins of globalization are analyzed according to Giddens under four dimensions. That is, “capitalism, military order, surveillance, and industrialization” Giddens (1990:70-78). He believes that the liberation of time and space is an entirely modernizing development and is a prerequisite for globalization. Thus, modernization according to Giddens is a direct consequence of modernization. Giddens says, ‘The concept of globalization is best understood as expressing the fundamental aspects of time-space distanciation’ Giddens (1990, 1991). In addition, time- space distanciation was believed by Giddens to be the first step towards the process of globalization. For Giddens, it has come with the advent of modernization. In addition, when there is time space distanciation and disembedding (that is the lifting of social relations out of the local environment), there is the development of complex relationships between local activities and interaction across distances. He believes globalization is directly allied to the development of modern societies to the industrialization and the accumulation of material resources, and is a continuation of modernity rather than a break with it. The contemporary period Giddens terms it high modernity, by which he means modernity has now moved into a global stage. Society has become a ‘world society’ and social institutions that have become global confront the individual. People everywhere cannot avoid coming into contact with the global through 20th century brand marketing, imagery and fashions. He defines three factors in the 20th century that in his opinion, have resulted in contemporary globalization.
Nineteenth century European nations deployment of forces to conquer tribal societies, colonize them and then establish ruling colonial communities,
The comparative peace of the 19th century allowed Britain particularly to invest resources in advancing colonies ambitions,
European bureaucratic skills allowed them to develop diplomatic network and transnational political and businesses agencies.
On the contrary, Robertson believes that the problem of globalization is not new. That it dates back modernity and the rise of capitalism. Thus, in opposition to Giddens, globalization is not equated with or seen as a direct consequence on modernity. In addition, in opposition to Wallerstein, Robertson believes the social compression of the world has begun before the sixteenth century but was not regarded as globalization and with some interruptions. He says the focus on globalization theory is a recent phenomenon. That is, became recognized in academic fields only in the early or even the middle 1980s in reaction to new forms of capitalist supremacy (Robertson, 1992).
Appradurai believes that modernization is ‘vernacularly’ called globalization. He says ‘globalization is itself a deeply historical, uneven, and localizing process. Referring him self as ‘one born of the ruling class’ understood the existence of globalization during the fifties and sixties. That is just of recent that ‘many of the working people and the poor’ are realizing its existence. He says a professional anthropologist, predisposes that ‘globalization is not the story of cultural homogenization’ Appradurai (1997:10-17). That is, globalization does not necessarily or even frequently imply homogenization of Americanization. Culture stands as the key to many practices.
Held and McGrew (2000:2) in the text “the global transformation reader…”Focusing on the economic sphere, talks of two main types of groups in the debate of the origins of globalization. That is, the ‘globalists’ (believers that globalization is real and have significant historical developments). And the ‘sceptics’, (are those who consider that what we are experiencing at the present is simply a continuation of trends that developed in the period of European colonial expansion.
Another theorist who looks at globalization similar to Held et al is Busch (2000:30-1). They agree that there are globalizing tendencies which can be identified and measured, but that they are not as all-encompassing as the literature might imply, and nor are they all operating without resistance, and without exceptions. That writers of globalization as either ‘liberal’ who start from the premises that globalization is unquestionably real, and move on to insist that it brings only benefits to all- or ‘sceptics’- for whom global tendencies necessarily have negative political and economic outcomes.
Considering the views of O 'Rourke and Williamson globalization is not a new phenomenon. They alluded that globalization refers to economic historians who attach the 'big bang ' significance of globalization back to the years 1492(when Columbus landed in the Americas in search of species) and 1498 (when Vasco da Gama journeyed around Africa). O 'Rourke and Williamson (2000:1) However, Williamson is of the opinion that the first globalization book took place in the late nineteenth century when the benefits of revolutionary breakthroughs in transportation and communication where realized. The result was a rapid growth in trade.
Michael Veseth and Louis Uchitelle have made us to understand that “globalization is both very new and surprisingly old” Veseth Michael and Uchitelle Louis (2002: Vii). This view can be taken in to consideration when looking at the origins of globalization because for example, the events occurring in the 21st century seem to reflect the events which occurred during the 20th century like the present credit crunch of the 21st century looks much like great depression during the late 1920s and 1930s. Just like the present day wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Congo, Iran are similar to war which took place in Italy, Germany, France, Russia and so on.
In my opinion, globalization refers to collapse in the borders between countries in terms of trade, education, capital, politics and culture. Globalization is said to be the process of making the world appear to be one. That is either through the development of transport and communication technology like, (air transport, television, telephone, and internet). Now is not a matter of time space distance. Through the air transport man is now able to move to far distances within a shorter time, messages can now be gotten either through the internet or the telephone and television in most parts of the world today.
Globalization may also be referred to that process that has led to a fall in the hands of the government over public service ownership to the rise of the private sector ownership. That is, through the advent of the process of globalization, there had been a fall in most planned economies to rise of unplanned economies or markets economies in most countries
Trying to actually come out with as specific meaning and origin of globalization can keep writers wanting because first, this term did not come like an eruption or earthquake which historians can keep track of its date of occurrence. Secondly, another person can see what one sees as a period of globalization as a period of modernization. Thirdly, societies continuously change and individuals are influenced by the change of their social and natural environments. However, these changes are often very difficult to be trapped in human beings even though it is easy to know that changes have taken place. Therefore, without pondering on its actual origin, a look on its effects on cultural integration in the Czech Republic is of absolute importance.
The Czech Republic after the fall of the communist government is said to have been experiencing some culture integration through the forcing of globalization that has encouraged the free movement of people and the use of information technology. However, the level of cultural integration has been very slow due to some factors that are going to look in our next chapter.
2.2 THE HISTORY OF CULTURAL INTEGRATION
Before the word integration came into existence, what existed was assimilation. Assimilation is an unreasonable course of action, in which immigrants and their offspring give up their culture and become accustomed wholly to the society they have migrated in to.[9] The policy of assimilation occurred in the United States where by, the foremost cultural group called WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) forcefully made others immigrants to adopt the language, culture, and social structure of the American people, restricting them from using their own cultural artifacts. Another example was in the French policy of assimilation in her colonies in West Africa like Senegal during the late sixteenth century. The French colonial masters made them to work and think like French men. However, with the development of spirit of nationalism, and the laws on human rights, seeking a rise in confidence and cultural dignity of minorities, the policy of assimilation was banned. Then, leading to what is now called integration today.
Farley (1982) argues, “There is no doubt that the dominant norm in the United States through nearly all our history has been cultural assimilation. That is, the prevailing cultural group in the United States has been the so-called WASPs: White Anglo Saxon Protestants.[10] This group has the influence on American culture. And many social scientists describe the cultural pattern of the United States as Anglo-conformity: All other groups in America have been expected to adopt the language, culture, and social structure of the white northern Europeans (Cited in Gordon, 1964).
It is realized that when people migrate in to a country or a city, they change the size and the composition of that country, city, or society that receives them. After that the new immigrant populations react by adapting to the institutions and policies of that host country of population like wise the host country to the immigrant population. This form of behavior is what has been termed by social scientists as integration.
The term integration is very difficult to define because of it mean many things to many different people and there is a doubt from many authors on if integration is a condition, a process or a combination of both. However, some scholars and authors have sorted some definitions to the term integration.
Integration is understood as “the process of inclusion of immigrants in the institutions and relation of the host society”[11]. Sociologically, it is the stability of relations “within a clearly defined social system“. It is “the stability of relations among parts within a system-like whole” and which “borders” are said to be “clearly separated from it environment” [12]
Heckmann and Schnapper referred integration as the insertion of new inhabitants in to existing societal structures of the immigration nation.[13] Other processes concerning integration include; the procedure of linking single elements to one another and, out of these, forming a new association; adding single elements or part of the structures to the existing structure, to form an interrelated whole; improving relations within a system or structure (Bosswick W. and Heckmann F, 2006).
Deutsch et al said “by integration we mean the attainment, within a territory, of a ’sense of community’ and of institutions and practices strong enough and widespread enough to assure, for a ‘long’ time, dependable expectations of ‘peaceful change’”[14] Deutsch et al (1966: 2). Here they considered integration to be a condition.
Meanwhile, contradicting Karl 's idea, Ernst defined integration as “the process whereby political actors in several distinct national settings are persuaded to shift their loyalties, expectations and political activities towards a new center, whose institutions process or demand jurisdiction over the pre-existing national states” Marx (1958:16) He considers integration as a process.
In addition, Wallace defines integration as “the creation and maintenance of intense and diversified patterns of interaction among previously autonomous units, the act or process of integrating, or a state of becoming integrated” Wallace (1999:9). That is, the bringing of people of different racial or ethnic groups in unrestricted and equal association, as in society or organization desegregation (Equality among all people).
Dear Michael defines integration “as mutually-agreeable contact leading to interdependencies that cause little or no change in contact partners and does not require their geographical proximity, merging, or adjacency” Dear Michael (2005).[15] He makes us to understand that even when there is integration between of different people their establishment never really changes.
Even though with above-mentioned definition of the term integration, there is no generally accepted definition of the term because it’s meaning comes with a lot of complexities from a lot of people. However, some sociological theorists instead of defining the term have to come out with an explanation of what is integration. These theorists include: Emile Durkheim (1951) and Parsons Talcott (1951)
2.3 THEORIES OF INTEGRATION
Integration is defined by Durkheim (1951) as ‘the coordination or interconnection of various parts, including the individuals and groups of social system in an effective manner”. He focuses on morality in the explanation of integration with the on set of modernity. He believes morality help in the determination of social integration. In addition, that socialization is seen as a tool for societal integration. That what keeps a society unified in the primitive days was the “non-material social facts” cited in Ritzer (2000:18) like the common morality between people. Social facts are “forces and structures that are external to and coercive of individual” (ibid: 16).
Talking on the division of labor, he makes us to understand that society is thereby integrated through conviction of the same rules, which he explained in his distinction between organic and mechanical solidarity. He says in the organic solidarity people are unified because are generalists. They are all engaged in similar activities and have similar responsibilities, which results in competition among them. While in the mechanical solidarity, people are held together because of the difference among people. They have different tasks and responsibilities. In addition, because they perform narrow range of tasks, they need many people in order to survive; there is cooperation in mechanical solidarity because of differentiation. However, Durkheim fell that the rise of the issue of division of labor in modern day has brought with it some negative consequences like suicide (Ibid: 18).
Parsons (1951) in his explanation of integration theories in the modern era, he was more interested on social order. For Parsons, a social system can only maintain its balance, if a number of basic functions are in order: That is, social goals have to be set up through the AGIL scheme. Was referred in Ritzer as, “a complex set of activities directed towards meeting a need or the need of the system” cited in Ritzer (2000:233). This scheme included adaptation goal, attainment, integration and latency for a system to survive. Thus, focusing on our topic that relates to integration, Parsons say for a system to integrate, it must “regulate the interrelationship of its component parts, It must manage the relationships among the other three functional imperatives” (ibid: 233), that is adaptation, goal attainment and latency. This means, for an individual to be integrated in to society the above mentioned AGIL scheme must be in existence in order to motivate the individual in to socialization.
However, looking at the conflicting views in the definition of integration, we as readers are been have left to consider for ourselves what actually is the meaning of the concept integration. Thus, considering our topic, “globalization and its effects on cultural integration”, there is a need to know what cultural integration is.
Just like, as there is difficulty in the definition of integration, so too it is in the definition of cultural integration. Many authors have referred cultural integration to be a “new wave of cultural imperialism brought by globalization. Kirstina Woff in the Blackwell encyclopedia agues that globalization has created a new vehicle through which cultural imperialism is occurring often with little resistance or knowledge that it is happening, Blackwell encyclopedia (2007:907). Therefore, trying to make a sense of what cultural integration is, some scholars have tried to sort some definitions for it.
Zwingie, E 1999:33) Of the National Geography of global interactions, considering multicultural society to reflect cultural integration at work, defines cultural integration as “the process where the issues of class, gender, race, and ethnicity are denoted simply by what brand of clothing we wear, by what we live, by what music we listen to and what cultural events we attend”.[16]
Heckmann and Schnapper defined cultural integration as “a precondition of participation and refers to social processes of cognitive, cultural, behavioral and attitudinal changes of persons” Heckmann and Schnapper (2003:10).
In my opinion, cultural integration may by be regarded as situation whereby, one culture willingly turns to learn the ideas of other cultures either in production or consumption aspects. It can also be said to be a situation whereby, tangible and intangible cultural aspects of people become related. Tangible culture refers to those aspects of technology in the society like, television, computers, airplanes and cars. While intangible culture includes norms and values in the society. In cultural integration, both the tangible and the intangible cultures have a great impact on each other. For example, the culture of a people influences what they wear, eat, drink or behave. Just like the way people eat, dress, drink or behave influences their culture.
Looking at the definition of cultural integration, this does not mean all cultures are brought together as one abruptly. The process of integration occurs gradually with time. Where by different cultures through time is being selected absorbed and integrated with other cultures. Thus, with the advent of globalization, influence by the development of transport, communication and trade, the Czech Republic is said to have being witnessing cultural integration. Cultural integration is occurring in the Czech Republic through two ways. That is, the Czechs are both absorbing and containing of other cultures or other cultures are absorbing and containing the Czech culture. A closer look of this is discussed in chapter three.
2.4 BARRIERS TO CULTURAL INTEGRATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
The first main difficulty of the Czech towards cultural integration is because the Czechs have had almost no personal experience from life in a multiethnic society, and so the immigrants are always seen as a threat to both by the citizens and by the state authorities. According to the public opinion surveys carried out during the 1990s, more than 75% of the respondents were of the opinion that “there are too many foreigners” in the Czech Republic. In addition, these views were among older people, less educated people, working class and among left-oriented people from smaller towns and Villages (The ministry of interior of the Czech Republic).[17]
A close look at the Czechs when it comes to their regards to national and ethnic minorities, they turn to accept Slovaks, Jews and Poles than the Gypsies, Vietnamese and Chinese whom they look at them to be a threat to their lives. This is because there will be an increase of criminality, fear of job loss due to increased unemployment and fear of “inadaptability” of and national minorities which would lead to loss of traditional character of the Czech culture[18] (Public opinion survey from December 2001).
Public opinion surveys also revealed that more then 48% Czechs perceive immigrants and refugees negatively and more than 65% of the respondents support a harder immigration policy and restrictions of immigration in the Czech Republic. "More than 55% of Czechs are of the opinion that a “refuge camp” should not constructed closer to their residences. (Havlova Radka)[19]. Which all these hinder integration. However, at the same time more than 60% of the respondents are against racism and over 65% of the respondents consider themselves tolerant towards national and ethnic minorities “if they are able to adapt to our life style.” This attitude is also seen even in the state authorities who very strict to immigrants and asylum seekers in the country.
The Czech official structure defines national minorities in the Act No. 273/2001 Coll.[20] With regards to this Act; a group of people must fulfill the following characteristics to be considered a national minority: • Permanent residence and citizenship in the Czech Republic; • Common ethnic, cultural and language characteristics different from the majority of the state; • Common wish to be considered a national minority to protect and develop their own identity, cultural traditions and language and • Long-term, firm and permanent relation to the territory of the Czech Republic and the people who live here. All these hinder cultural integration not just to the new comers but also to those who have settled in the country for some time. This is because most often than the immigrants see the conditions as an exam, which they need to pass before, they can be considered Czech national minorities. Therefore, they turn to be lukewarm about the whole process and therefore isolate themselves from things that will make them to come together.
Another problem of integration is when it comes to discrimination. For example, the Slovaks are preferred more than other national minorities. Even though in the past 2001 census proof most Gypsies prefer to be regarded “Czechs” or “Moravians” the Czech still do not have a good notion about them because of their “inadaptable” life styles, high crime rate and their generally passive attitude to work and dependence on the state social security system. Slovaks are allowed to use their language in education than other national minorities like the gypsies language. The gypsy children where sent to schools called ‘special schools’ separate from the Czech children. This hinders cultural integration.
Lack of a common language or common concept of world images lead to the misinterpretation of each other’s action or message, misunderstanding and unintended action consequences, hampers in coordination or efficiency by force perception and belief of the actors (Staffan 1994: 3).
In addition, matters concerning foreigners are always handled by a foreign police officer in a very strict manner. In addition, because of the language barrier between the foreigner and police officers and the unreliability of information, their approach to the foreign at times ends up so harshly and thus discouraging any integration.
Access to work permit is very complicated, the possibility to get a trade license, in the contrary, is not quite easy. High social insurance and minimum or the absence of social benefits discourages the foreigners from any legal participation in the labor market. All these factors act as a hindering integration.
In addition, because it takes a long time usually ten years for an alien to be granted a permanent residence in the Czech Republic, it makes the foreigners to feel still as stranger and so discourages integration with the host community.
The absence of good terms in the Alien Act for the settlement of families, makes it difficult for children to take part any health insurance system. Moreover, makes them to scare from the other children because of their vulnerability and thus, hindering any cultural mix.
Another problem realized in cultural integration in the Czech Republic is that even when the asylum holders, that is, those who have already been granted refugee status and process the same rights and obligations as Czechs, they are still discriminated when it comes to voting. (The asylum holders are exempted from voting in to the parliament). Therefore, the effort of the process of globalization to influence cultural integration is still with some doubts within in the Czech Republic.
Another difficulty of integration of foreigners in the country is that of the insufficient mastery of the Czech language and finding a job. In addition, this problem has made some foreigners to think the future ahead of them is quite bleak. Moreover, because of this, some are forced to do either mind jobs or fake deals just to accommodate themselves.
The presence of some obstacles in the integration of the Czech society with other national minorities like the refugees, immigrants and foreigners had led to the opening up of some institutions by the government and non-governmental organizations to help influence the integration of the Czech society to other nationalities living in the country. Below are some institutions of integration.
2.5 INSTITUTIONS ENCOURAGING CULTURAL INTEGRATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
The role of the state in overcoming cultural differences and in promoting intercultural awareness and tolerance in the Czech Republic is of paramount importance. This is because the presence of cultural integration contributes towards the economic growth of the country. Immediately after the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and the fall of the communist government in 1992, there was a big change in the composition of the Czech population because of the coming the first immigrants and asylum seekers. By the year 2004 immigrants came from different countries like Ukrainian, Slovak, Vietnam, Poland, Russia, German, Bulgaria, Moldavia, China, America, Byelorussia, Rumania, Kazakhstan Austria and others like the Romany population which have existed for many years during the communist regime.[21] Seen from these diversities in cultures and nationalities, is there going to be any unity between those called the foreigners and the Czechs? The answer will obviously be no to some extend. Thus, trying to resolve this problem, the country under government resolution number 5 of 5 January 2005, the following ministries were actively involved in implementing the strategy in the integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic. And these included; the Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA), the Ministry of the Interior (MoI), the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry for Regional Development, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance. Other bodies and institutions (for example the Czech Statistical Office, social partners of the Council of Economic and Social Agreement, and non-profit making – non-governmental organizations, the Association of Regions, the Union of Municipalities, the Academy of Sciences), the British council and the French alliance are all involved in the integration of foreigners in the country as well.
2.2.1 The Role of the Government.
The ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA)[22] is one of those ministries, which is helping to encourage integration in the Czech Republic. The ministry seeing from experience that integration is mostly carried out at the local level, it in the year 2005 entered into contact with representatives from individual regions and some municipalities with the aim of involving foreigners in integration programs. The Ministry in the year 2007 included “an amendment to Act No. 117/1995 Coll.,[23] on State Social Support, And a draft act which talk of equal treatment and official solutions for the protection of the foreigners against discrimination. There also programs carried out to teach the foreigners on issues regarding of the Czech Republic, and “Act No. 108/2006 Coll., on the provision of Social Services”. The year 2008 also saw the amendment of “Act No. 435/2004 Coll., on Employment (Act No. 306/2008 Coll)”.[24]
There is also the ease in the treatment of foreigners’ residence with the armament Act No. 326/1999 Coll., on the Residence of Foreigners in the country. This act allows, “Foreigners whose employment is terminated, without their fault, before the expiration of the work permit to stay on the territory of the Czech Republic and use the protection period (of 60 days) to look for a new job, provided they comply with applicable requirements. For foreigners who have worked in the Czech Republic for a certain period of time and lost their job without their fault, their long-term residence permit for work purposes can be withdrawn only if no new work permit is issued to them within 60 days after the day following after the employment termination date”[25] In addition, as a way of encouraging foreigners to live in the country, the government extends the validity of work permits. “With the adoption of the amendment to Act No. 435/2004 Coll. on Employment (Act No. 306/2008 Coll.), work permits can be issued or renewed, as appropriate, for a period of up to two years, effective as of 1 January 2009 (the current regulation provides for issuance of permits for a period of not more than 1 year)”.[26]
As a way of encouraging foreigners to learn the Czech language for easy communication and integration, the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs (MoLSA) in year 2006 and during 2007, cooperated with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Interior (MoI) “in order to define the conditions for teaching and testing the knowledge of the Czech language. Pursuant to Act No. 326/1999 Coll., on the Residence of Foreigners in the Czech Republic, a foreigner is – from 1 January 2009 – required to submit a permanent residence application accompanied also by a certificate proving that he/she has successfully passed a Czech language test”[27]
As a way of encouraging foreigners, the government is developing and “regularly updating local lists of jobs or professions, as appropriate”.[28] But this is however, not gainful to the foreigners because most often than not the jobs and forms are listed in the Czech Language which makes it difficult for the foreigners to either read or fill in their details.
The government has also tried as much as possible to make things easy in the acquisition of work permit for foreigners. Under “the amendment to Act No. 435/2004 Coll, on Employment (Act No. 306/2008 Coll), no longer requires a medical certificate on the foreigner’s health condition to be attached to the work permit application form. In addition, this amendment facilitates the employment of foreigners-graduates of secondary schools and universities in the Czech Republic, who no longer need work permits. The amendment includes also certain simplifications as regards the arrangements for posting foreigners-employees to work outside of the work location specified in the work permit”.[29]
Another institute encouraging integration is the Research Institute for Labor and Social Affairs (RILSA), which is in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Studies at the Masaryk University in Brno. This institute is “implementing a project on ‘Migrants in the Czech Republic - Position on Labor Market and Social Integration’ – the completion date has been set for June 2010”[30].
The Commission of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs (which was after referred to as “the Commission”) was established within the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs as an advisory body to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. The Commission assists the Minister with creating conditions for preparing and implementing governmental policy in the field of integration of foreigners and meeting tasks resulting from Government Resolutions adopted in the respective areas. In the year 2005, the Commission members or members of its expert consulting groups discussed important materials regarding the issue of the integration of foreigners.
As a form of encouragement, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has operated since 2004 its web site called www.cizinci.cz, updated in 2005, which this information is useful to the civil servants, NGOs and foreigners. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs also, as a coordinator of integration of foreigners, concentrated its work both at the national and international level. In 2005, it entered, within its competencies, into contact with European Union institutions, namely with the European Commission in expert working groups known as National Contact Points on Integration. The Ministries also try to gives assistance for employment to Ukrainian citizens in the country letting them to know the risk of being employed illegally.[31]
Under the program coordinated by the ministry of interior, “non-governmental and non-profit organizations provide Czech language courses to the asylum seekers, free of charge, and develop teaching materials in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports”[32]
The Ministry of the Interior paid attention in 2005 to meeting strategic ministerial tasks in the field of promoting the integration of foreigners. In this context, the Integration Policy Plan of the Ministry of the Interior (2004 – 2006)[33] was updated with the aim of expanding coordination and implementation of strategic and practical measures adopted by the Ministry in order to support the integration of foreigners and to continuously removing legislative obstacles preventing the integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic.
Advisory services were provided in other relevant areas, for example in the area of social and health security and labor-law relations, and it also aimed at assisting foreigners when dealing with authorities. Activities funded by the Ministry of the Interior also focused on analyzing the most frequent problems of foreigners, on overall support for increasing information for and the orientation of foreigners in the Czech legal framework, and on providing foreign nationals with information regarding basic societal and cultural standards.
Additional activities of the Ministry of the Interior concentrated on supporting curricula at secondary police schools aimed at improving the education of police officers in the field of relations with foreigners, gathering data and findings for implementing further measures to eliminate the illegal employment of foreigners in possession of illegal residence permits.[34]
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS) is the central authority of state administration for overall strategy, educational policy and the preparation of appropriate legislative standards and also executive and operational activities. It as way of encouraging integration opens up “upper-secondary and special schools and appoints their school heads).[35] It deals with, on an ongoing basis, the issue of education of foreigners, since the preparedness of the education system and its ability to respond to changing conditions ranks unambiguously among the principal prerequisites for the successful integration of foreigners. In conformity with Government Resolution No. 5 of 5 January 2005, the Plan of Integration Policy of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports for the Years 2004-2006 was updated[36]. The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MEYS) every year calls for projects to support activities in the field of integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic. The topics of which focus on promoting the multicultural education of children and youth, teaching and learning the Czech language as a foreign language, and studies relating to the issue of the education of migrating foreigners as well as on organizing seminars dealing with education of foreigners. The implementation of projects contributes to removing communication barriers and facilitates the integration of child foreign nationals in every day life whilst respecting differences between individual ethnic groups, their culture, religion, customs, and so on.
Another objective of the project is to assist teachers in acquiring skills necessary for their work with foreign children, especially for teaching them Czech, integrating such children in out-of-the school activities, or solving respective conflicts arising from mutual misunderstanding. On 5 April 2005 the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports approved the allocation of subsidies to the projects organized within the Program on Promoting Activities in the Field of Foreigners’ Integration in the Czech Republic in 2005. Altogether, sixteen projects were selected and these were subsidized with amount two million Czech crowns (Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, 2005)[37].
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Physical education in the No. 6/1995 bulleting also published arrangement of Czech language courses for persons with status of a refugee in the territory of the country. This was to break the communication barrier and easy integration of foreigners. [38]
2.2.2 The Role of the United Nations.
The United Nations as an international organization seeks to protect refugees in the world. As a result of this, the Czech Republic as a member of the UN is bound to respect the UN refugee act. The Czech Republic thus amended the status of asylum seekers, their rights duties and adjusted problems of asylum facilities. All these have helped in the integration of the refugees to the Czech society.[39]
2.2.3 The Role of the European Union.
Walzer, focusing his attention upon cultural differences as a source of objection and resistance to integrating processes argues, “the citizen’s point of reference is the political community, but as a man he has other memberships other references and these he sometimes sets against the state”. Walzer (1970:194) can be readily extended to the European Union and the context of the different attachments of citizens here, to the European Union as well as to member states, regions, family, and other sources of identity such as ethnic and linguistic group, and class (Cited in Field 2007).[40]
After the fall of the “Iron Curtain in 1991 and the communist government in 1989, the European Union took several symbolic as well as practical measures to promote cultural integration in the Czech Republic. However, the development of EU involvement in cultural policy has also been a slow process. Reduction of differences in culture and identity and the promotion and creation of a common European culture being her main objectives, the European Union has carried its role in the integration of the Czech Republic in some ways. The first is that, it has funded some cultural programs. The European Union between 1993 and 1999 created the article 128 of the Maastricht treaty mentioned that: “The Community and the Member States shall” promote collaboration “with third world countries. The experienced worldwide organizations in the sphere of culture, in particular “the group of people shall donate to the blossoming of cultures of the “Member States”, “while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore”[41]Cited in Torbisco Neus Casals, Joint International Law Program (2006:143). “ Action by the society shall be intended at encouraging cooperation between Member States”, and, if necessary, supporting and supplementing their action in the following areas Council of Europe, The Community shall take cultural aspects into account in its action under other provisions of this Treaty” Cited in Torbisco Neus Casals, Joint International Law Program (2006:143).
The European Union gave financial support to the Czech Republic. In addition, the country has been very successful in participating in Culture 2000, as shown by the number of applications and grant awards. The year 2001 was the first year Czech organizations participated in international cultural projects of Culture 2000 Program. When compared to other countries, the Czech Republic took a greater part in the “selected projects of 2001 cultural activity”[42] Cited in Eliška Tomalová (June 2006:4). There was also support received by the project “leaders and co-organizers”[43]
The European Union has supported the adoption of initiatives, which include a European Union (EU) passport, a EU driving license, a EU emergency health card, EC border signs and a EU flag, and the financing of a EU TV channel to promote ‘the European message’. These have all influence cultural integration in the Czech Republic a member of the European Union (Field 2007).
2.2.4 The Role of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Non-profit making governmental organizations have also helped in improving the provision of information to foreigners, as well as the provision of public service officers. There is also the continuous development of social and legal advisory services for foreigners. This includes the provision of assistance in communication with authorities, supporting education, language skills and other qualifications of foreigners. They also help in the Promotion of competition of foreigners in the labor market, developing the cultural and social life of foreigners by promoting relationships of foreigners and their communities with Czech citizens, psychological assistance concerning the integration of foreigners, building and developing the activities of community and multicultural centers, and supporting tolerance and human co-existence. In 2005, 12 million Czech crowns were earmarked from the state budget for the implementation of these projects. This amount was divided among the ministries concerned. In 2005, several tens of projects were supported. Some ministries allocated to projects determined for foreigners’ integration more resources from their respective budgets.
As non-profit making non-governmental organization, People in Need 's educational program “Variants” are focuses on implementing principles of intercultural (IE) and global development education (GDE) into the Czech educational system. The current curriculum requires that these topics be presented in classes and lessons; however, they are not yet represented well enough. Really, intercultural (IE) and global development education (GDE) topics exceed the field of school education and are viewed as crucial and interesting for professionals in many other areas[44].
The Variants program is another nongovernmental organization, which provides professional training to teachers, students of pedagogy and academic professionals, and professional groups interested in IE and GDE. The educational activities performed under the Variants program caters for the needs of employees in public administration, Labor Offices, children 's homes and reformatories, asylum and refugee camps, school inspectors, policemen and journalists[45]
The familiarity and understanding of experts from other projects and activities of People enrich the IE and GDE topics in Need, especially in the field social workers and coordinators of development and humanitarian projects abroad. The Variants program also involve in other projects for People in Need such as Polis, One World in Schools, conducting sociological research, preparing a book of memories of Roma holocaust survivors, and partnering in projects with other organizations. [46]
The Ethnic Friendly Employers is a non-governmental organization that was developed under the auspices of first deputy governor of the south Moravian region, Ign. Milan Venclik, and the mayor of the statutory city Brno, Mr. Roman Onderka. The European Union Transition Faculty Program finances this program[47]. As a principle objective of the program, it tries as much as possible in the equal treatment of ethnically different citizens. It also contributes in the creation of a non-discriminatory working environment, helping to deconstruct prejudices against other ethnics or groups such as the gypsies.
The Czech Mobility Center (CMC) is also an organization that belongs to the European Network of more than 200 Mobility Centers at the service of mobile researchers in 32 European countries. As one of it objectives, it provides information for visas and other requirements to settle in the Czech Republic.[48]
Another innovation project, which started in May 2007, is the Organization for Aid for Refugees, European Contact Group and Sofia[49]. This project is funded by Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Czech Republic as a part of program for the “support of integration of foreigners”. The target groups are female foreigners and migrants living in Czech Republic, coming from different social and cultural backgrounds. The main activities of these projects are sociological in-depth interviews, autobiography diaries and multi-cultural groups as well as self-experienced workshops. The project is focused on the integration of foreigners and migrants issue in relation to gender perspective. The main goal is to find out about female migrant’s daily experiences and their attitudes and Czech women as well: gender roles, position of nowadays women in private and public spheres, to get know their experiences from their own country of origin as well as from host country that is the Czech Republic. As a way of encouraging integration, the project supports “free time activities of young children. Like, sport, culture, music, art, language etc. Following the courses for adults up (requalification or qualification courses”), helping in “translations and validations of diplomas or other documents” (birth certificate, marriage certificate etc.), giving “information about legal”, administration”, the socio-cultural system of Czech society, giving “personal assistance to foreigners when assisting in negotiations with Czech authorities in individual cases, supporting when moving and furnishing integration or rental flats’.[50]
Staša Závitkovská, director of the British Council’s for Partnership and Projects says, “The British Council’s function throughout the 1990s was to promote and support the English language”[51]. Cited in Brožová Lucie (Thursday 03.January 2008) that in the year 2000 its project activities in areas other than English language and British studies began and that after some time they stopped supporting English Language teaching and “mainly concerned with the administration of British language examinations and language courses for the public and companies”,[52]
France has traditionally rich cultural and social ties with the Czech Republic for so many years today. In addition, these ties have existed for more than 120 years. In 1883, the France Alliance was established in Paris with the aim of developing and propagating French Language and culture. Three years later, its first branch in Central European was established in Prague. The French Alliance increased its importance in the Czech Republic. In addition, by 1938, it had 72 branches throughout the country. The branch of the French Alliance in Prague was later renamed the French Institute in 1990 and today represent a central crossroads for Czech-French cultural exchange. “The French Institute in Prague offers a good number of courses “for more than 4000 people interested in studying one of the principal languages used by the European Union administration in Brussels”[53] cited Lucie Brožová, (Thursday 03. January 2008) like, the 20th century art literature, and French film. Students also carry out theatre projects as well as writing dramas and acting out the dramas themselves. The French also, provides combines language course with a cookery class taught by a French chef from one Prague’s best restaurants, making the students to have an imaginary trip to France and its culture not just being on paper, the screen or on stage but practical.[54]
From the work of the above mentioned institutions in the integration of the population there have being some significant of the integration of both the Czech society with the immigrant and the refugee population, seen form the next chapter.
CHAPTER THREE
DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Giddens makes us to understand that that even though the dimensions of globalization “are connected in various ways, neither of them can be explained exhaustively in terms of the other” Giddens (1990:70). So, from this perspective, the different dimensions of globalization in the Czech Republic would be discussed independently; but keeping in mind that the cause of one dimension leads to the cause another dimension. The following dimensions of globalization are said to be present in the Czech Republic.
3.1 CULTURAL DIMENSIONS.
Ritzer defines globalization of culture “ as the transnational expansion common codes and practices (heterogeneity) or as a process in which many global and local cultural inputs interact to create a kind of pastiche or blend, leading to a variety of cultural hybrids (homogeneity)” Ritzer (2003:539). Cultural homogeneity according to Ritzer is some form of cultural imperialism. That is, when there is the growing of the national influence of a particular culture a given area. Taking the Czech Republic as our case study, where do put the effects of globalization on our culture? Is the culture growing in a homogenous or heterogeneous character? In addition, if the culture the culture is growing in a homogeneous character, is it a form of cultural imperialism or not? The first answer to the question is that; yes, the Czech culture is growing in a homogenous character. And secondly, the Czech cultural homogeneity is not a form of cultural imperialism because of the various liberal ways the government is trying to encourage the integration of foreigners, and the use of other languages in public places like trams and buses and the introduction of other cultural inputs like different language courses in the school curriculum for the Czechs. On the other hand, the Czech culture can be said to be growing a form of cultural imperialism. This is because, when a foreigner who appears in the country in just few days and is asked with force to speak the Czech language in the foreign police that deals with foreigners, then, it can be assumed to be a form of cultural imperialism.
On Values and Identity.
Globalization has led to changes in cultural values and norms in the Czech Republic. Giddens makes us to understand that “a society’s cultures constitutes both tangible aspects- the belief, ideas and values which form the context of culture and tangible aspects-the objects, symbols or technology which represent the content”. “Values and norms work together to shape how members of a culture behave within their surroundings” Giddens (2001:22-23). Many norms such as premarital sex, abortion, cohabitation that were looked with a negative eye are now being taken for granted in the lives of some Czechs. Van de Kaa (1987: 5) makes us to understand that there have been interrelated demographic changes and essential mechanisms in cultural integration in the Czech Republic. That there has been a decline in fertility due to four factors, which include; A change from the golden age of marriage to the dawn of cohabitation. Also, change from an era of the king-child with parents, to that of the king pair with a child, a change from preventive contraception. to self-fulfilling conception. And finally, a change from single families towards pluralistic families and households (ibid: 11).
There is a change in the self-identity of most Czechs with the advent of the phenomenon of globalization. Giddens (1991) says that in the post-traditional order, self-identity is not inherited or static; rather, it is becoming a reflexive project – an endeavor that we are continuously working and reflecting on. What is Giddens saying here? He tells us that with the advance in modernity there is a change in self-identity. Today in the Czech Republic, the way some people look or identify them selves is different when compared to the past generations. “Identity relates to the understandings people hold about who they are and what is meaningful to them; like gender, sexual, orientation, nationality or ethnicity and social class” Giddens (2002:29). For Giddens, tracing the changes in self-identity from traditional to modern societies, we can see a shift away from the fixed inherited factors that previously guided identity formation. The Czech Republic is experiencing this identity shift because of the factors of globalization like migration, communication and trade. Before the era of globalization, the existed, local independent distinctive, well defined, strong and culturally sustaining connections between geographical place and cultural experience like one’s own community, gender, sexual orientation and social class. This is because of it fragile nature, people always tried to preserve it from being destroyed. Moreover, with the advent of the phenomenon of globalization these identities are constantly being disappearing. Today some Czechs feel good as European Union members not as before when they had to think more as Czechs[55]. Lukeš also mentioned that a survey carried by the Center for Research of Public Opinion in the October 2007 showed that almost a half of all Czechs (49%) are proud to be citizens of the Czech Republic. Moreover, the level of pride decreases with the level of wealth[56]
The president of the Czech Republic mentioned that the period of post socialism has come like a dream to the Czech citizens because this period has brought with it “both surprises and mistrust” Vaclav Havel (September 11, 2000).[57] He also mentioned that when they had a split in “politics” problems where not seen as they are seen today. These problems are now having effects on the “politics, values and ideas” (ibid)[58] of the people. The president also added that, the creation of large supermarkets have led to the lost of identity in the Czech Republic. “In the early days of post-Communism, small stores emerged on the streets, which developed into ‘crossroads of life and human contact’. Huge supermarkets have created a loss of identity” (ibid) and local ties between the Czechs.
Simmel states that there is now “the propondence of objective over [individual] subjective culture that developed during the nineteenth century … and from all states. That the wealth of objective culture increases, but the individual mind can reach the forms and content of its own development only distancing itself still further from that culture and developing its own much slower pace” Simmel (1907/1978). Simmel is talking about the dying of subject individual culture over objective culture. Examples of objective culture include; means of transport, product of science, technology, language, arts, legal system, moral codes and ideas. Today, due to the advent of globalization, there is a suppression of the Czech culture over other cultures in many respects likes,
3.1.2 On Eating Habits.
The Czech by their tradition prepared their meals at home and so going to eat out in restaurants was not common among them and was considered something of a threat. However, with the coming up of fast food restaurants like the McDonald, the KFCs, there is now a rapid change in the Czech eating habits especially among the young generations. However, this is slowly changing as a more western life-style is adopted by the younger generation (Dominik Lukeš 2003).
Ritzer (2000) talks of the rise of new means of consumption like McDonalds and other shopping malls like mega malls cyber, super malls, and cruise lines theme parks, have changed the eating habits of people. Weber referred rationalization as the organization of social and economic life according to the principles of efficiency and on the basis of technical knowledge (cited in Ritzer 2003:132-142). He saw rationality to be a necessary tool for competent operation of organizations. But he however feared that increased rationalization could result in increased control over individual action, stifling charisma and tradition, and giving man just few alternatives to chose what, how and when a person can carry out duties. The features of rationality are seen in the Czech Republic when trying to look at the fast-food restaurants. Now instead of people to be served on the tables by the front-of- house staff, the customers find themselves standing in cues to have their food from tills. In addition, they even go as far as cleaning their tables after meals. The development of fast food restaurants has turned to include the customers in the line of production. This is because, the customers have no other alternatives rather than making sure, they fill their stomachs. Here, they are held to rules applied by the fast-food restaurants. 3. On Language.
Scheff (1965) mentioned that change in language usage is usually considered an indicator of cultural integration if the principal language in the community differs from that of the immigrants’ native language. Language is able to become “the objective repository” of huge “accumulations of meaning and experience, which it can then preserve in time and transmit to following generations…” Language also helps in typifying “experiences, allowing people to” consider them under wide range of “categories in terms of which they have meaning not only to themselves but also to fellowmen” cited in Berger and Luckmann (1966:35-39). Cultural integration has been achieved to a certain degree in the Czech Republic because presently, there are many refugees and immigrants able to speak the Czech language. Just like some Czechs who are also interested in studying other languages apart from the Czech language like English language, French, German and others.
3.1.4 On Family And Family Life
Globalization has led to a change in the family life of some Czechs. The most noticeable of it is the change in family formation. There is the intensive postponement of family formation. Fertility rates have fallen to very low levels, in particular among young women and between 1995 and 2005 the total fertility rates dropped below the ‘lowest-low’ threshold of 1.3. Less traditional union forms, especially unmarried cohabitation, have become widespread and marriages have been progressively delayed or even foregone by many younger men and women. Consequently, the proportion of extra-marital births has increased rapidly, surpassing 33% in 2006. Divorce rates, which were high during the socialist era, have further increased. The rapid diffusion of modern contraception, particularly the pill, has contributed to a more careful and cautious planning of family formation and to a steady fall in the number of induced abortions (Eurostat, 2007).[59]
Giddens (1984) makes us to understand that system integration is a “face to face” [60] contact while social integration is the integration with people physically absent. This is cited in Barbara A. Misztal (2000). That is, the integration of people either through the telephones or Internet. This aspect I believe is true because the Czechs through the use of televisions and the internet they are able to see how other nations (for example Americans) are integrating and so have influence them to integrate to with other nationalities living in the country and even out of the country. Prominent areas were social integration witnessed in the Czech Republic is in the universities. Through the formation of exchange programs between universities, each year students from many nationalities come in to the country with varied cultures, and but by the end of the semester, some of the Czech students make new friends with these foreign students. This is a form of integration. The increase in the number of churches has also led to an increase in the level of integration in the Czech. This is because, here there is no limit to the type of national or culture to visit or attend these churches. Moreover, when people come together, they are forced to share some ideas that make integration a bit possible. 5. On Dressing.
The Czechs before 1850 had traditional costumes called “kroje” in Czech. These costumes are elaborately decorated with bright, lively colors and symbols such as hearts, bluebirds, doves, daisies, tulips, and poppies, and were worn in the villages for festive occasions such as Sundays, weddings and holidays, and sometimes for ordinary days as well. Many costume designs originated from feudal ages, when oppressed peasants created elaborate costumes to express their individuality. These costumes were signs of status and nationality, since differences in geographic location influenced differences in costume design and decoration. With the coming up of the globalization, there is now a change in the way of dressing. Some of the Czechs now dress very casually. What we now see is where people turn to copy other cultures. This is because the Czechs normally frown on shabby or unruly clothing and disregard for appearance. But presently, many Czech have turned to copy other cultures like for example the American culture where jeans and sports shoes are wore often than their usual traditional costumes. Consequently, there is now a disappearance of the Czech culture dominated by other cultures like the American culture. However, even though with the advancement of different dressing attires, many Czechs still own a set of traditional clothing that they wear on special days Pat (1989: 37).
3.1.6 On Civil Society
In addition, the building of civil society has helped in building back the minds of some Czechs who lost their trust and interest in public life during the communist era. The growth of civil society in the country has also provided opportunities for a broad segment of the population to participate in governmental elections and to watch government at work at close quarters Rueschemeyer (1998:53). An example of civil society is the feminist movement. True (2003) says after the fall of the communist government in the Czech Republic there has been an expression of new national identities including feminist identities. In their desires to ‘return to Europe’ in 1989 and 1990, the Czechs citizens did not identify themselves with an undifferentiated ‘west’. Rather, they identified themselves specifically with a set of western masculinities femininities. Their selective adoption of these gendered identities has brought both new opportunities and forms of empowerment as well as widespread new inequalities and insecurities like, crime.
Giddens also say the modern world with it growth of abstract system in everyday life has led to the “sequestration of experiences”. That is a situation where by people are force to see repeated experiences in their lives like either “madness, criminality, sickness and death; sexuality; and nature” Giddens (1991:149,156).
Today in the Czech Republic, there has been an increase in the rate of criminality in the country. There has also been an increase in the rate of sexual immorality in the country.
A great number of youths who have either received wrong ideas from friends or the internet have fallen in to drugs and the eventual out come has been frustrated, sickness and deaths. The Czech statistical office shows that there has been an increase crime
The table below shows the figures for crime rates in the Czech Republic between the periods of 2003-2006.
Table 1. Justice and Crime.
|Crimes Committed |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 |
|Persons prosecuted) (incl. cases settled in | | | | |
|shortened preparatory Proceedings) | | | | |
|Persons accused |110 808 |108 061 |108100 |110 339 |
|Persons convicted, total) |95920 |94430 |95767 |97880 |
|Females |66131 |68442 |67561 |69445 |
|Juveniles |8100 |8229 |8937 |9938 |
|Sentence to |3558 |3293 |3069 |2773 |
|Imprisonment | | | | |
|Probation order |9797 |10 192 |10078 |9997 |
| |35676 |36161 |36006 |38657 |
Source: Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic(2006).[61]
From the table above, it shows there has been an increase in the crime rates between the year 2003 and 2006 from 110808 to 110339. Showing an increase of 531 in the number of people prosecuted in cases settled in shortened preparatory proceedings. The number of persons sentenced to imprisonment has also increased between the periods of 2003 to 2006 from 9797 to 9997.There has also been an increase in crimes committed by females within the year 2003 to 2006 from 8100 to 9938, showing a very high number of number females involve in crime within this period. 1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS
3.2.1 on Labor
Globalization has had a significant impact in the labor market in the Czech Republic. The increase in trade and technological change has led to a fall in the number of low skilled or unskilled workers in the labor department in the country. In addition, this is causing wage inequality between workers. There is also a fall in the bargaining power of labor due to its free mobility and has led to an increase of taxes. In 2007, foreigners took up nearly 40% of the new jobs created in the Czech Republic[62]. In the last five years alone, the number of immigrant workers has however doubled to nearly 362,000 by the end of 2008.This has made most of the Czech to be some how negative about the increase in the number of immigrant workers in the country. The survey carried out by SCC agency for MF DNES That only about 29% of Czechs are satisfied with their job and their salary while 82% of Czech people like their job but not satisfied with this pay.[63]
3.2.2 on Tourism.
Ritzer says, “Mobility means an unending string of choices, and each choice has a measure of uncertainty associated with it” Ritzer (2003:574). There is actually uncertainty on most tourists who come to the Czech Republic because, most often than not, some tourists who come in to the country do not know what lies ahead of them. As a fact, most of them are often involved in either accidents or being reaped off by pickpockets.
However, globalization has let to the growth of the tourism industry in the Czech Republic. From the year 2006 survey carried out by the Czech statistical Office showed the tourism industry employed 240,000 workers. The industry raised a total gross domestic product of 98.964 billion crowns, which added a 3.0% to the country’s GDP. In 2006, foreign tourists spent 118.594 billion crowns. Giving a 24% increase when compared to the year 2003.while traveling within the country, the Czechs spent 98.2 billion crowns and this led to a 5% in the GDP. Income from incoming and domestic tourism in 2006, that is money spent within the country, totaled 216.8 billion crowns
Bauman (1998) sees globalization terms of a “space air”. That globalization has an influence in the movement of people. In addition, this movement has led to the formation of “vagabonds”. This explanation can be related to the Czech Republic. There are so many foreigners who left their countries to the Czech Republic either because of political crisis or for the search of greener pastures. In addition, coming to the Czech Republic either because of the lack of required skills or language barrier, some of them have become jobless, frustrated and wayward. Bauman also makes us to understand that there are some people who “cannot be quite sure where… they stand at the moment and even less can be sure their present standing will see the light of the next day” Cited in Ritzer (2003:574).
Ritzer says, “Globalization is bringing with it the world spread of nothingness”. Ritzer (2003:576) He defines nothing as “centrally (generally) conceived and controlled forms (largely) devoid of most distinctive content” Ritzer (2003:575). Here he refers to present day globalization processes to be inherently homogenizing, with the lack of generic content, lack of personal or local ties, timeless, dehumanizing and unenchanted.
From the above-mentioned understanding of the term globalization according to Ritzer, it can be said that there is the lack a generic of content in the Czech Republic. This is because, in the past, there was the presence of human relationship between people at home, jobsites and either at either public place. For example trying to have a loan implied meeting with a banker. However, with today’s world, a computer program can easily award a loan. Also, in the past, there was the presence of enchantment, quality and magic in the way food was being prepared but today, with the growth of technology and the development of fast food restaurants and the use of microwaves, there is a gradual lost of enchantment, quality and magic in food preparation in the Czech Republic.
There has been a fall in uniqueness in departmental stores in the Czech Republic. In the past, during the communist era supermarkets or departmental stores like the GUM departmental shop had local shores and goods, which kept customers at heart and made close to their traditional roots by selling to them this local commodities. However, after the fall of the communist government and the eventual collapse of the Gum department shop, there has been a change in the uniqueness of departmental stores. There is now a fall of local ties between the super markets and the customers. Now what most super markets offer to the public is not what the consumers actually want be what the supermarkets believe will yield them more profits.
3.2.2 On Foreign Investment.
There has been a growth in the economy as a result of higher foreign trade investment, industrial production and household spending.
Also, the coming of foreign industries has not only helped the Czech Republic to increase investment but had also led to capital flight by foreign investors back to their home countries. Often instead of ploughing back the profits to the companies, the investors decide to flight the profits to their home countries.
The entry of the Czech Republic to the European Union has increased pressure on the ability of the Czech population in the face of increased competition from multinational European countries. The Czech Republic is now faced with the pressure of increasing its internal capacity in the field of education, cultural openness and amenities so as to meet the EU standard
3.2.3 On Global Financial Market
Globalization has led to the development of knowledge in the economy of the Czech Republic. Castells (2001:52) mentioned that, when there is productivity and competition, there is the possibility of the production of knowledge and information for production purposes. For example, the Czech after the fall of the communist government and the rise of the democratic government, faced with competition from the west and rest of the world, she was forced to develop the knowledge of knowing that to privatize the state owned companies will profit the country. In addition, trying to liberate both prices and trade will help to encourage foreign investment and growth in the economy. Naomi Klein (2001: 196) has suggested that, 'brand builders are the new primary producers in our so-called knowledge economy '[64](Cited in Smith, M.K and Smith, M. 2002). “One of the key elements that keep companies as multinationals rather than trans-national is the extent to which they look to 'outsource ' products, components and services” (ibid).
In addition, due to the price and trade liberalization of price and trade in the Czech Republic in on January 1991, many companies have now been able to locate in the Czech Republic. Minister Dyba said, two years ago there were no private shops in the Czech lands, but now, about 60-70 percent of retail, trade, and services are back in the hands of private entrepreneurs (Dyba in charter 77, February 19th 1993)[65]. This shows there has been a growth in trade.
After the fall of the Communism in 1989, the minister of finance of the federal government Vaclav Klaus became president. Under his economic policy, he privatized the state-owned industries and the country became a modern-free economy, regulating the stock exchange. “By the end of 1995 over 80 percent of the economy was privatized” (Zuzowski1998: 99). Privatization process has gone to shambles because there has been an insignificant regulation. In addition, unscrupulous individuals have stolen most of the state-owned property. Many banks have shut down, the loss of peoples’ savings causing deep disenchantment. However, it is one of the greatest benefits of globalization in the Czech Republic. This is because there has been an increase in the international flow of capital income.
Kijlstra says, “The Czech Republic has taken the mantle as the premier transition economy of the new democracies. Over the pass three years of intense economic reforms, the Czech has created the largest market economy in the region… By setting the example for their neighbors the Czech republic has enjoyed increasing foreign investment in a region which is highly competitive for these critical capital infusions” (Kijlstra 1995).
In addition, as a result of privatization, the Czechs were able to own shares in the companies if and only if they were able to afford as little as a thousand Czech crowns. Kijlstra said privatization has come in the country first “through one time vouchers” offered to the Czech people for came primarily through one-time vouchers given to Czech citizens at an insignificant cost. More than two third of the citizens entrusted their vouchers to newly created investment fund, that grew to over six hundred during the process” (Kijlstra 1995).[66]
As a result of this economic boom, the Czech Republic has been able to pay its prior debts and thus has more surpluses though this gained momentum from the high tax rate in the country. The Czech national bank has followed a tight monetary polices that has tied the Czech crown to foreign currency which today has been a success. For example in 2006, 1 Great British pound was equal to 40 Czech crowns but today one Great British crown is equal to 29 or 30 Czech crowns. The Czech banking sector has grown extremely during the past five years. For example, during the communist era, the Czech Republic had four banks employing 19000 workers. Today there are over 50 banks (of which 40 percent are foreign owned) and 56000 employers. This dramatic increase has been influenced by globalization (US department of treasury report 30th June 1994).
Globalization has led to growing competition between firms in the Czech Republic. This is good because it has helped to increase production, efficiency and profits. In addition, increase Czech markets like Germany has led to the specialization and improvement in the division of labor within the corporations. All these have led to an increase in wages and living standards among the workers. 4. On Education
Globalization has led to secularization, increasing numbers of young people enrolled in secondary and tertiary education and growing emancipation and labor participation of women in the Czech Republic (Lesthaeghe1995: 21–22). The Human Development (UNDR) report for a survey conducted between the year 2003 and 2005 shows that 99% of the adult population (that is, percentage of population over 15 years of age) is literate; this, showing a fall in the illiteracy rate. It has also helped to make education more work oriented. That is there is now a guarantee of a person having a job after school completion. The state is also assuming more power in education governance. There has been an increase in educational standards, increase in public expenditure on education than in any government activity. In addition, the extension of university studies by the creation of exchange programs between universities. The table and graph below shows some figures on the increase in the rate of literate persons as the years pass by. Table 3.2.The Educational Levels between Years 1994 –2005
|Years |Education |Percentages |
|2005 |10.4 |10 |
|2004 |9.9 |9.5 |
|2003 |9.6 |9.2 |
|2002 |9.5 |9.1 |
|2001 |8.7 |8.3 |
|2000 |8.6 |8.26 |
|1999 |8.4 |8.07 |
|1998 |7.9 |7.59 |
|1997 |7.9 |7.59 |
|1996 |7.8 |7.5 |
|1995 |7.5 |7.2 |
|1994 |7.8 |7.5 |
|Total |104 |99.81 |
Source: The Czech statistical office (2006)[67]
As seen from the table and graph above there has been a mark increase in the level of education in the Czech Republic from 7.8 percent in 1994 to 10 percent in the year 2005.
5. On Standards Of Living
According to the statistics carried out by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of European Communities, the Czech Republic was seen getting closer to the standard of living of the older member states of the European Union.
Eurostat made a comparison of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per inhabitant expressed in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS) in the EU countries. From the average of the European Union, 27 are considered to be 100 Purchasing Power Standards (PPS). And when the figures were calculated, it showed that the Czech Republic has improve its rank from 74 PPS (that is 26% below the average) in 2005 to 79 PPS (21% below the average) in 2006.[68]
However, globalization has let to a mark distinction between the rich and the poor in the Czech Republic. This is what called the “winners” and the “losers” by Bauman (1998:88). He said what is acclaimed as “globalization” (ibid) is geared to the tourists dreams and desires. In addition, that globalization is leading to “the transformation of many others in to vagabonds” cited in Ritzer (2003:574). The Czech Statistical Office Survey between the years 2000 and 2008 shows that there has been an increase in the number of worthless people or lunatics in the Czech Republic. This numbers have increased as a result to poverty, frustration drug and insanity.
3.2.6 On Health
There has been an improvement health in the Czech Republic. This is because, the government imposition of a must-have health insurance policy for every o worker in the in the country it has helped to increase easy treatment. Even though this policy has not included the unemployed, the government is trying to make it becomes beneficial to all. The Ministry of health is always improving but however, the pace of improvement is quite slow in the area of non-communicable diseases[69] like circulatory system, neoplasm diseases that leads to high rate of deaths.
The lifestyle-related risk factors common in the country are particularly, smoking, unhealthy diet and inadequate physical activity. The long-term health program adopted by the government has helped in the reduction of the total rate of smoking in the country, even though the youths are still more involved in it. There has also been a decrease in the number of communicable diseases (outbreaks diseases) because of compulsory vaccination programs carried out by the government
Also with the help the provision of new opportunities as well as challenges by the European Union to the Czech Republic, has helped in the improvement of the health situation. 7. On Technology
There has also been an expansion of the transport system in the country and there is now a shrinking of distances between the Czech Republic and the world at large. This shrinking distance was referred to Marx Karl (1973) in the text Grundrise as the “annihilation of space and time”. Havery (1989) called it “time space compression”. Meanwhile Giddens (1990) decided to contradict it by referring it to be “time space distanciation”. Through the use of use of the Internet and televisions, distant images are now brought right close to the most immediate restricted places (that is, the interiors) in the Czech and out of the Czech Republic. As a result, this has created increase in employment and the living standard of the people.
According to the connectivity scorecard of Waverman 2008, it shows that the Czech Republic has significantly higher levels of business hardware and software spending per capita and broadband penetration. She is in the lists of 16 countries of 'innovation-driven ' economies, achieving a score of 3.71, and it has been included in the innovation-driven economies as a consequence of its membership in the European Union. Connectivity is explained by Professor Leonard Waverman, of the London Business School as the bunch of road and rail network, corresponding skills, software and up to date usage that makes communications networks the key driver of production and economic growth, is the center of attention of a distinctive study.[70]
3.2.8 On Transport and Communication.
Giddens (1990) says globalization has led to an increase in permeability of people in the national borders through trade, tourism or electronically systems. This aspect is seen in the Czech Republic. On the part of transport, there has also been an expansion of the land and air transport system. According to the ministry of transport yearbook of 2007, there has been an increase in the total length of the state and regional roads form 54,909 kilometers in the year 2002 to 54,599 kilo meters in the year 2006. That is, an increase of 50 kilo meters in the total length of the state and regional roads constructed within this period.
The Czech statistical office 2007 alludes there has been an increase in communications. For example, there has been an increase in the number of telephone lines in use. The new lines increased from 3,217,300 in the year 2005 to 12.15 million in the year 2006 for mobile cellular, an increase of radio broadcast stations of AM 31, FM 304 and 17 short waves and about 150 television broadcast stations plus 1,434 repeaters, 1.7 million Internet hosts and 3.5 million Internet users.
3.2.9 On Women.
Due to the development of the computer system, it has led to an increase in the number of women in the work force. Giving them the opportunity to grow to top positions and this leading to the old traditional system where women where exploited and giving them the idea that a woman’s place was limited to the house. Now women are able to arrange themselves at home as mothers and housewives and at jobsites as workers. The Czech statistical Office for the year 2008 shows that 46.5 percent of women are employed as against the men with 60.0 percent[71] this number shows a large increase in the number of employed women.
Globalization has let to the involvement of the Czech Republic with other international communities. During the communist regime, the Czech Republic was blocked from other countries through restriction to migration. Nevertheless, after the fall of the communist government, the country has come out of the isolation problem. The Czechs “are no longer isolated from the global communist; but are becoming integrated within it” Giddens (2006:57). 2. ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS.
It is known that, almost two third of the Czech population, live in areas of intense air and water pollution.[72]The northwest Bohemia and northern Moravia are area more affect by pollution and this is leading to some many health diseases like cancer.
Giddens (1990) sees globalization to be more associated with risk. Risk like the “manufactured” ones we cannot control. Therefore, he termed the present era a “juggernaut”’. A juggernaut was described as; a large swift “vehicle” with a big engine, which collectively, there is the possible of man to control it, but after a certain level, man will be unable to run this “vehicle”. In addition, any attempt by man to force his control on this “vehicle” will lead man to be crushed by this “vehicle”. That there are some times the vehicle seems to be ok; but there are times when it bring some problems man cannot see before hand or control and these problems are often very undesirable and damaging. In addition, he therefore concludes that; as long as man lives in the modern era, he shall never be able to live, a secured life because the area man is now occupying is full of risky elements Giddens (1990:139). Today in the Czech Republic, there is there development of both institutionalized risks and environmental risks, which are both unknown and unknown. An increase in the number of number of industrial plants, transport network, housing infrastructures have in the country has led to the destruction of the natural vegetation and an increase in the level of green house gases in the atmosphere. The table below shows the level of greenhouse gases produced from the industries.
Table 3.3
Potential Emissions of Industrial Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases
|Gg CO2 equivalent |
|Type of compound |2000 |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 |
|Fluorinated compounds, total |889.79 |1,322.17 |1,711.84 |1,443.98 |1,451.20 |2,766.21 |
|Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) |674.32 |1,092.41 |1,343.94 |1,215.00 |1,280.55 |2,573.99 |
|Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) |9.45 |17.91 |28.64 |20.98 |13.77 |30.33 |
|Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) |206.02 |211.85 |339.26 |208.00 |156.88 |161.90 |
Source: The Czech statistical Office[73]
From the table above it shows that there has been an increase the level of in the level of fluorinated compounds in the atmosphere from 889.79 in the year 2000 to 2766.21 in the year 2007. The increase in the number of fluorinated compounds has come as a result of the increase in the use of hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) elements like refrigerators, and air conditioning equipment. The presence of hydrogen in the appliances leads to the emission of green houses gases in to the atmosphere even though of a less harmful effect. PFCs, compounds contain carbon, fluorine, and are very volatile. These gases have come mostly from the industries are helping in the depletion of the ozone.
3.4. POLITICAL DIMENSIONS
3.4.1 Interstates Connections.
Lash and Urry (1987, 1994) said the feature of globalization is that it helps in bringing more inter-state connections and a decrease in effects of the state policy, the development of increase trans-national communication, and activities, an increase in a huge flow of commodities and cultural products and the world wide spread of western-style consumerism. The reference point of this intense interstate connection can be said to be the Czech Republic. Immediately after the fall of the Berlin wall, there has been an increase in inter-state connections between the Czech Republic and other western countries like Germany France, United Kingdom. The Czechs have now started consuming the western products which in the past where some how restricted due to socialist policy.
3.4.2 On State Sovereignty.
Giddens makes readers to understand that “there is no the earth’s surface, except of the polar region” Giddens (1990:71) that stands to attest that it is not been ruled by either “one state or another” (ibid). In addition, that the present day countries “have a more or less successful monopoly control of the means of violence within their own territories” (ibid) That is, countries now matter how big they are, cannot totally control the means of violence in their own countries. In addition, no matter how a big a country’s “economic power”, and “industrial corporation are they cannot establish themselves as political entities which rule a given territorial area” (ibid).
Politically, the Czechs have lost some of their sovereign powers as a result of the influence of globalization. This is, because the Czechs can no longer take any strong decisions on their own because there is now a common European foreign policy that they need to follow. For example, during the Iraq war, the Czech Republic could not decide on her own to support the United States of America or to oppose the war. Everything was left in the hands of the European Union to decide. And when Czech Republic finally decided to support the US, she received great criticisms from the pioneer members of the European Union like Germany and France who even jeopardized Czech’s entry in to the in 2004. The Czech Republic entered the EU on the 1st of May 2004. With its features of a “common market and free movement of workers, union citizens and their family members”, the free search for job, free access to “public employment services and procedures relating to remuneration and redundancy” (ibid). There was a change in the employment act. Within this act, “workers and union citizens” are free to move with their families. This act has brought much pressure on the Czech citizens who are now face with much competition from multinational corporations and the huge immigrant labor coming in to the country. The Czech Republic is now faced with the pressure of increasing its internal capacity in the field of education, cultural openness and amenities so as to meet the EU standards
Barber (1995) talking on globalization he based his thought on a single political entity which he called the “Mc-world” or the growth of a single political orientation that is increasingly pervasive throughout the world” cited in Ritzer (2003:570). The thoughts of Barber may be of relevant to the Czech political democracy which told is trying by all means to meet same standards of other political democratic countries in the world like the United States of America.
CHAPTER FOUR
FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
This chapter summarizes the major findings of the study. It represents the current ways used to influence cultural integration in the Czech Republic. That is, the role of the United Nations, the government, the European Union, the Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO), and other international bodies like the British Council and the French Alliance. Conclusions are then drawn from the findings. It further reveals the constraints and consequences of globalization on cultural integration on the Czech Republic, as well as advance proposals, which if implemented would encourage cultural integration in the Czech Republic in a greater degree.
4.1 FINDINGS.
The finding reveals the extent to which the objectives of the study have been achieved. Culture forms the basis of every human society in the world and the Czech Republic is no exception because culture helps in the display of identity. When different cultural groups come together, there is always a need for the cultural groups to have a common focus such as, working together for the development of the economy. And this focus can only be achieved through the process of cultural integration. This confirms the assertion that cultural integration is one of the basis through which the Czechs as a nation can live in harmony with other nationalities in the country. The culture of the Czech Republic includes; acts, food and dance festivals. These cultural products provide fertile ground for the integration of other cultures. However, this process has been hindered because of some reasons.
The first problem the Czechs face towards cultural integration is that the Czechs have had almost no personal experience from life in a multiethnic society, and so the immigrants are always seen as a threat to both the citizens and the state authorities. According to the public opinion surveys carried out during the 1990s by the ministry of interior of the Czech Republic, more than 75% of the respondents were of the opinion that “there are too many foreigners”[74] in the Czech Republic. In addition, these views were among older people, less educated people, working class and among less-oriented people from smaller towns and Villages.
A close look at the Czechs when it comes to their regards to national and ethnic minorities, they turn to accept Slovaks, Jews and Poles than the Gypsies, Vietnamese and Chinese. They look at them to be a threat to their lives. This is because there will be an increase of criminality, fear of job loss due to increased unemployment and fear that they will not be able to adapt into their culture. Furthermore, an increase in the number of the national minorities will mean a loss of traditional behavior of the Czech culture (Ibid,)[75].
This survey also revealed that more then 48% Czechs perceive immigrants and refugees negatively and more than 65% of the respondents support a harder immigration policy and restrictions of immigrants in the Czech Republic. More than 55% of Czechs refuse the building of a refugee camps close to their homes. All these hinder integration. However, the same survey reveals that at the same time more than 60% of the respondents were against racism and over 65% of the respondents considered themselves tolerant towards national and ethnic minorities “if they are able to adapt to their life style.”[76] This attitude is also seen even in the state authorities. There are very strict to immigrants and asylum seekers in the country.
Another hindrance to cultural integration on the part of the immigrants, foreigners and the refugees is that the Czech legal system defines national minorities in the Act No. 273/2001 Coll. With reference to this Act, an assemblage of people must accomplish some characteristics to be considered a national minority. That is, having permanent residence and citizenship in the Czech Republic. Also, having common ethnic and cultural language, which is different from the majority of the state.[77] Having a common wish to be considered a national minority to protect and develop their own identity, cultural traditions and language. And a long-term, firm and permanent relation to the territory of the Czech Republic and the people who live her” All these hinder cultural integration not just to the new comers but also to those who have settled in the country for some time. This is because most often than not, the immigrants see the conditions as an exam they need to pass before they can be considered Czech national minorities. Therefore, they turn to be luke-warm about the whole process and therefore isolate themselves from things that will make them to come together.
Even though integration has been taking place in the Czech Republic, there have been some ethnic groups that have been facing some discrimination. For example, the Slovaks are preferred more by the Czechs than other national minorities. There is also a good integration process between the Czechs and the Vietnamese who own street vendors and sell very cheap and low quality goods. Here the Czech society considers them to be hard working and so, have a good relation with them. Even though in the past, 2001 census proof most Gypsies prefer to be regarded as “Czechs” or “Moravians” but the Czechs still do not have a good conception about them because of their “inadaptable” life styles, high crime rate and their generally passive attitude to work and dependence on the state social security system. Slovaks are allowed to use their language in education than other national minorities like the gypsies language. The gypsy children where sent to schools called ‘special schools’ separate from the Czech children. This, problem has greatly hindered integration between the Czech children and the gypsy children.
There are numerous intercultural problems in the Czech Republic that come mainly from lack of knowledge and interest of the general public as well as media and politicians in the situation of ethnic and national minorities in the Czech Republic. Most of the Czechs are not concerned about national minorities and because of this, the Czechs turn to be intolerance, xenophobia and racist towards foreigners thus hindering cultural integration.
Staffan Z. says the lack of a common language or common concept of world images has led to the misinterpretation of each other’s action or message, misunderstanding and unintended action consequences and it is hampering coordination or efficiency by force perception and belief of the actors. Staffan Z (1994:3)
What is realized is that what ever techniques the European Union want to develop in reducing cultural and national identities will most often prove to be not rewarding. This is because, as stated by Soeters “The impact of cultural policies in reducing national attachments and furthering a sense of EU or European identity necessarily takes time. Core cultural differences are developed during childhood, and change only very slowly”.[78]
Another fact is that, even though with the presence of organizations involved in integration between the Czech and the immigrants’ societies, they still do not have any special methodology of dealing with this vulnerable group intended for their integration and participation in the new democratic society. This is because they use only basic social work methodology to influence integration.
4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS.
The result of the study indicates vividly that culture forms the backbone of most countries in the world and the Czech Republic is no exemption. Culture provides subsistence goods and services, and items of trade as well as other cultural benefits, food and medicinal plants to human beings. However, the advent of globalization has led to destruction or unsustainable management and gradual extinction of some cultural products in the Czech Republic. It is therefore of vital importance that some measures be taken to improve on the present situation of cultural integration in the country. To achieve this goal, co-operation is needed from the government, the Czechs, the immigrants, foreign institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations interested in cultural integration.
Abderrahman, Hassi, and Giovanna and Storti say, “With the advent of the information technology, teaching seems to be one of the factors that determine development and prosperity in modern day societies. Teaching is also one of those important factors, which help in for maintaining togetherness between people and countries (Abderrahman et al 2007).[79] So in order to encourage cultural integration in the Czech Republic, the government can decide to increase the number of international students coming in to the country each year for exchange programs. This is because the presence of international students on university campuses is profitable for both the host institution and the domestic students. Here there will be a great diversity of culture and integration will be realized within a short period.
In addition, in order to reduce the rate of lost of cultural products between cultures, the government can through the ministry of culture organize some policies like language training; support for immigrants’ culture; negotiating support for religious practices, support for sporting activities that will help to facilitate cultural integration. The government can organize training in the host country’s language for the young and adults’ populations of the immigrants. For mutual integration, the government can also facilitate the native population in learning the language(s) of immigrant communities.
The Czechs in order to cooperate with the, immigrants and the refugee populations, they can be educated on having a community spirit. That is, trying to work together with other nationalities either at their job sites or in public places. They can also be trained on aspects of cultural tolerance.
Religion as an aspect of cultural identity helps in promoting cultural integration. Thus, in order to encourage cultural integration in the Czech Republic, the country can try to talk with immigrants living in the country, provide them with sites of places of worship, and accept their special religious practices. This is because when these places of worship are set up, there is a greater possibility of integration because religion does not discriminate when it comes to race. Therefore, there will be the easy conveyance of diverged cultural groups, which will come together very easily. It should coordinate the different country’s cultures found in the country in order to eliminate the barriers in leadership styles, communication models, personnel system, performance appraisals, and social security benefits.
As a way of encouraging exchange of views and integration, the ministry of culture, can occasionally send invitations to different cultural groups for competition and prize giving ceremonies for creativity. In addition, if the host country’s culture is effectively integrated with cultures of other minorities within the country, it could help in the development of other sectors of the country like the economy and politics. That is, there could be an increase in the sale of cultural products, which will help to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product of the country. And also an increase in the strength of the military through the recruitment of the foreigners in the army
4.3 Conclusion.
The Czech society in the 20th century by is very nature is so complex. Even though there is the a lower level of interactive integration, (a situation whereby the host country accepts, tolerate and include the immigrant population in the primary relationships and social networks of the society), trying to acknowledge the absence of cultural integration in the Czech Republic will some how not be true to a greater extend. Cultural integration here does not only mean a face- to- face contacts like in schools, the labor market venues for public events. Cultural integration also involves the media and the Internet.
After all said and done, the question that needs to be asked is; is cultural integration visible in the Czech Republic? If yes, it is of any importance to the Czech Republic? If we try to answer this question by making reference to the 1970s and 1980s the answer will obviously be no, there was there absence of cultural integration in the Czech Republic. However, taking a close look at the Czech Republic in the 1990s and the present day, the answer will virtually be yes; cultural integration is a necessary characteristic in the Czech society and of importance. The most visible element of cultural integration in the Czech Republic is seen with the growth of positive perception of the Czechs towards foreigners, the increase in intercultural cooperation through the opening of the borders under the European Union and the schengen.
Mindful of all governmental and other non-government organizational efforts to encourage integration, there has not really been a greater success in this field between the Czech society and foreigners. However, today cultural integration is visible in some particular fields and has brought so much development in the country as alluded in afore mentioned chapters.
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International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics Yearbook 1999.
Jane R. Elgass September 11, 2000. Symposium focuses on globalization issues Further reading http://www.ur.umich.edu/0001/Sep11_00/9.htm URL: http://www.ur.umich.edu/0001/Sep11_00/9.htm
Jitka Dvoøáková Volume 6, Number 1, 2005, 1 - 106:76 Journal of Health Sciences Management and Public Health National Institute of Health and Social Affairs, Georgia The University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA Further reading http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2439653/Journal-HealtH-ScienceS-ManageMent-Public-HealtH
Jiří,Šafr. 2006. Social Standing, and Life Style in the Czech Republic. Further reading http://studie.soc.cas.cz/index.php3?lang=eng&shw=270 (Retrieved May 2009)
Karel Dyba February 19, 1993 An Update on Privatization in the Czech Republic: The Economic Transformation After the Split Further reading http://www.cceia.org/resources/publications/privatization_project
Kees KIJLSTRA .May 1995.Czech Republic: A Case Mode Draft. Special Report Mr. (Netherlands). Further reading http://www.friends-partners.org/oldfriends/economics/czech.rep.case.study.html (Retrieved December 28. 2008)
Kijlstra, Kees.1995. Privatization in the East Europe: Czech Republic, a case model.
Larson Simeon and Nissen Bruce. (1987:29) Theories of the labor movement. Published by Wayne State University Press, 395 pages. http://books.google.com/books?id=VOOtjT464CMC&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=%22constantly+expanding+market+for+its+products+chases+the+bourgeoisie+over%22&source=bl&ots=GFK4kGbkSk&sig=4wN1sFulw11N5dIZKtYITsCQucc&hl=en&ei=bbv6SfOSFYU_QalxrHJBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 (Retrieved 12 April 2009)
Loots, Elsabe. 2002. Globalization Emerging Markets and the South African Economy: The South African Journal of Economies. Volume70. Issue2. P. 123-132.
Lucie Brožová, (Thursday 03 January 2008). Foreign institutes in the Czech Republic Further reading http://www.czech.cz/en/current-affairs/work-and-study/foreign-institutes-in-the-czech-republic Further reading. www.britishcouncil.org/czechrepublic.
Dominik Lukeš January 28, 2009 Most Czechs feel EU allegiance http://bohemica.com/czechupdate/2009/jan/3142
Michael Dear (2005) Cultural Integration And Hybridization At The U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. vol. 49, n° 138, 2005, p. 301-318.
http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/history/historylab/LA_Osaka/en/reports/Transnational%20Symposium/Abstract-Dear.htm (Retrieved 29 April 2009)
Millet, Frederick C. “Americanization” Further reading https://www.msu.edu/~millettf/americanization.html (Retrieved 2/05/2009)
Miroslav Kostic(26.06.2007) Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic Further reading http://www.msmt.cz/index.php?lchan=1&lred=1
Nye, J.S. 1968. Central American Regional Integration, International Regionalism, Regionalism. J. S. Nye. Boston, Little Brown & Co.
OPU (2005) Integration of disadvantaged groups of migrants Further reading http://www.opu.cz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=183&Itemid=25&lang=en
Organization for Aid to Refugees, European Contact Group and Sofia (2005) Further reading http://www.opu.cz/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=2&Itemid25&ng=en.
Radka Havlova .The Role of Civil Society in Overcoming Cultural Differences and Promoting Intercultural Awareness and Tolerance in the Czech Republic (P: 3)(born Langhammerova) University of Economics Prague, Czech Republic (accessed on 21/03/2009). Further reading http://www.istr.org/conferences/capetown/volume/havlova.pdf , www.mvcr.cz. http://www.publiceye.org/pdfs/UNdoing_Reproductive_Freedoms.pdf ( Retrieved 14 March 2009)
Scheff (1965) Project title: Promoting Reconciliation through Youth: Inter-ethnic 2007-10-26 http://www.prayic.co.uk/reports/State_of_Art_Report.pdf
Stephen Taylor, Phil Lyon 1995 international Journal of contemporary hospitality management. Volume: 7 Issue: 2/3 page 64-68. Further reading http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/09596119510080024 (Assessed 21/04/2009)
The Britannica encyclopedia definition of modernization. Further reading. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/387301/modernization (Accessed 27/04/2009)
The Czech Republic. Health and Development http://www.who.int/entity/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_czech_republic_en.pdf
The Czech Republic’s Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) 31/1/2009 by INFO-Bulletin 1/90 Further reading http://bulletin.czechtourism.cz/index.php?action=show&id=10564
The Czech statistical Office 8 October 2008. Potential emissions of industrial fluorinated greenhouse gases. http://www.czso.cz/csu/2008edicniplan.nsf/engkapitola/10n1-08-2008-0300
The Czech Mobility Center (CMC) (27/04/2009) Further reading http://www.avcr.cz/en/ostatni.php?ID=126&m=4 http://www.euraxess.cz
Target group and measures of integration (2008) Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic
Further reading http://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/article/integration-of-foreigners.aspx?q=Y2hudW09Mg%3D%3D (Assessed 24/04/2009)
The Glocalization Manifesto (September 2004:3). http://www.glocalforum.org/mediagallery/mediaDownload.php? mm=/warehouse/documents/the_glocalization_manifesto.pdf.http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:fVUoYmcxhzEJ: www.glocalforum.org/mediagallery/mediaDownload.php%3Fmm%3D/warehouse/documents/the_glocalization_manifesto.pdf+glocalization&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnkhttp://www.glocalforum.org/mediagallery/mediaDownload.php? mm=/warehouse/documents/ the glocalization manifesto.pdf(Assessed 24/04/2009).
The Ethnic Friendly Employers (29/ 05/2008) Further reading http://www.ethnic-friendly.eu/view.php?nazevclanku=how-to-obtain-the-ethnic-friedly-employerbrand&cisloclanku=2008050004
The Social Construction of Reality Further reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ (Retrieved 23 March 2009)
The standard of living in the Czech Republic grows Jun 29, 2007 http://www.abcprague.com/2007/06/29/the-standard-of-living-in-the-czech-republic-grows(Assessed 2/05/2009).
Tomalová, Eliška. 2006. The cultural integration of CEE countries: The impact of European cultural programs and cultural networks on cultural cooperation in the new member states. Further reading https://aplikace.isvav.cvut.cz/resultDetail.do?rowId=RIV%2F48546054%3A (Retrieved 23 Jan 2009)
Thomas L. Friedman. 2000. The Lexus and the Olive Tree. Anchor books. Further reading http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:xacQgy1AnLgJ:www.cob.sjsu.edu/fruin_m/fruinnew/Lexus%26olive.doc+glolocaliation.&cd=3&hl=cs&ct=clnk&gl=czhttp://www.cob.sjsu.edu/fru n_m/fruinnew/Lexus&olive.doc
Torbisco Neus Casals, Joint International Law Program. (2006:143) Group rights as human rights: a liberal approach to multiculturalism. Published by Springer.
Further reading http://books.google.com/books?id=Mi0ESdyAGS0C&pg=PA143&lpg=PA143&dq=%22Community+shall+contribute+to+the+flowering+of+cultures+of+the%22&source=bl&ots=Rw5HFZFGjO&sig=lxEFzKxOEIB6eG2eKWPqMt3GJxw&hl=en&ei=uev6Se3sKoaK_QaP4cnJBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
Van de Kaa, Dirk J. 1987. Europe 's second demographic transition: Population Bulletin, Vol. 42, No. 1. Further reading http://www.demogr.mpg.de/Papers/workshops/010623_paper19.pdf(Retrieved March 23. 2009)
Variant project: Mission Statement 2009-03-30 Further reading http://www.varianty.cz/indexEn.php , http://www.varianty.cz/english/activities.php(Retrieved 16th May 2009)
[80]Wallerstein’s (1998:32) thoughts on globalization Further reading http://www.sociology.emory.edu/globalization/theories01.htm (Retrieved 16th May 2009)
Waverman, Leonard. 2008.Connectivity Scorecard: London Business School and economic consulting firm LECG, commissioned by Nokia, Siemens Networks. Further reading http://www.connectivityscorecard.org/ (Retrieved 16th May 2009)
Wolfgang Bosswick and Friedrich Heckmann (2006:1)Integration of migrants: Contribution of local and regional authorities European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions Further reading http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2006/22/en/1/ef0622en.pdf
World atlas http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/cz.htm.
Zwingie. 9August 1999:33). National Geography http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:r_kRZ-Z526kJ:www.hi.com.au/geogglobal1/pdf/global1_2_4.pdf+The+National+Geography+of+Global+interaction.+(August+1999&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk http://www.hi.com.au/geogglobal1/pdf/global1_2_4.pdf
http://cordis.europa.eu/erawatch/index.cfm?fuseaction=org.document&uuid=7D87CA63-
ABBREVIATIONS.
• CMC- (The Czech Mobility Center).
• KFC- (Kentucky Fried Chicken).
• EU- (European Union).
• FCO- (Foreign and Common Wealth Office).
• GDE- (Global Development Education).
• IE- (Intercultural).
• MEYS– (Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports)
• MEYPE- (Ministry of Education, Youth and Physical Education)
NATO- (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
NGOs- (Non-Governmental Organizations)
• OPU – (Organization for Aid to Refugees). • UNDR- (Human Development Report).
• UN- (United Nations).
-----------------------
[1] The Glocalization Manifesto (September 2004:3). (Accessed 24/04/2009). http://www.glocalforum.org/mediagallery/mediaDownload.php? mm=/warehouse/documents/the_glocalization_manifesto.pdf.http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:fVUoYmcxhzEJ: www.glocalforum.org/mediagallery/mediaDownload.php%3Fmm%3D/warehouse/documents/the_glocalization_manifesto.pdf+glocalization&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk http://www.glocalforum.org/mediagallery/mediaDownload.php? mm=/warehouse/documents/ the_glocalization_manifesto.pdf.
[2] Further Reading Thomas L. Friedman. The Lexus and the Olive Tree. Anchor books, 2000. http://209.85.129.132/search? q=cache:xacQgy1AnLgJ:www.cob.sjsu.edu/fruin_m/fruinnew/Lexus%26olive.doc+glolocalization.&cd=3&hl=cs&ct=clnk&gl=cz http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/fruin_m/fruinnew/Lexus&olive.doc
[3] Stephen Taylor, Phil Lyon 1995 international Journal of contemporary hospitality management. Volume: 7 Issue: 2/3 page 64-68.
URL: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/09596119510080024 (Accessed 21/04/2009)
[4] Millet, Frederick C. “Americanization”
Further reading https://www.msu.edu/~millettf/americanization.html (Accessed 2/05/2009)
[5]The Britannica encyclopedia definition of modernization http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/387301/modernization (Accessed 27/04/2009)
[6] Larson Simeon and Nissen Bruce. (1987:29). Theories of the labor movement
Published by Wayne State University Press, 395 pages. http://books.google.com/books?id=VOOtjT464CMC&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=%22constantly+expanding+market+for+its+products+chases+the+bourgeoisie+over%22&source=bl&ots=GFK4kGbkSk&sig=4wN1sFulw11N5dIZKtYITsCQucc&hl=en&ei=bbv6SfOSFYU_QalxrHJBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 [7] Mazlish Bruce 3 January 2003. Yale Global. Looking at History in the Light of Globalization http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=702 [8]Wallerstein’s (1998:32) thoughts on globalization Further reading.ttp://www.sociology.emory.edu/globalization/theories01.htm
[9] MacDonald Kevin ( 2002) The culture of critique: An Evolutionary Analysis of Jewish Involvement in Twentieth-Century intellectual and Political Movements. Published by Praeger in 1994; reissued by 1st books in 2002.
Further reading. http://www.scribd.com/doc/4051924/Culture-Of-Critique-An-Evolutionary-Analysis-of-Jewish-Involvement-in-20th-Century-Intellectual-and-#document_metadata ( Retrieved 25April 2009)
[10] Wolfgang Bosswick and Friedrich Heckmann (2206:4) Integration of migrants: Contribution of local and regional authorities. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2006/22/en/1/ef0622en.pdf. [11] Wolfgang Bosswick and Friedrich Heckmann (2006:1) Integration of migrants: Contribution of local and regional authorities
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2006/22/en/1/ef0622en.pdf [12](ibid).
[13] Heckmann and Schnapper (2003:10) The Integration of Immigrants in European Societies. http://books.google.com/books? id=l9yTtCAnQWwC&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=adding+single+elements+or+partial+structures+to+an+existing+structure&source=web&ots=KLPigf5vR3&sig=HY_zTXEqjJoJZSbn_PZmfzOpSB4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result
[14]European Social Integration. February 2004.Bestell-Nr./Oder No 201. www.wz-berlin.de or http://skylla.wzb.eu/pdf/2004/i04-201.pdf.
[15] Michael Dear (2005) Cultural Integration And Hybridization At The U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/history/historylab/LA_Osaka/en/reports/Transnational%20Symposium/Abstract-Dear.htm [16]Zwingie, E. August 1999:33. National Geography http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:r_kRZ- 526kJ:www.hi.com.au/geogglobal1/pdf/global1_2_4.pdf+The+National+Geography+of+Global+interaction.+(August+1999&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk http://www.hi.com.au/geogglobal1/pdf/global1_2_4.pdf.
[17] Radka Havlova .The Role of Civil Society in Overcoming Cultural Differences and Promoting Intercultural Awareness and Tolerance in the Czech Republic (P: 3) (born Langhammerova) University of Economics Prague, Czech Republic (accessed on 21/03/2009). http://www.istr.org/conferences/capetown/volume/havlova.pdf Further reading www.mvcr.cz.
[18] (ibid:2)
[19] (ibid: 4)
[20] (ibid:5)
[21] Jitka Dvoøáková Volume 6, Number 1,2005, 1 - 106 :76 Journal of Health Sciences Management and Public Health National Institute of Health and Social Affairs, Georgia The University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA
[22] http://www.mpsv.cz/en/1608
[23] System of Integration in the Czech Republic, in the Denmark and in the Netherlands http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:X0k6Q2OqHYcJ:medportal.ge/eml/publichealth/2005/n1/vol_06_n1.pdf+the+journal+for+health+sciences,+management,+and+public+health+2005+in+the+Czech+republic&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk http://medportal.ge/eml/publichealth/2005/n1/vol_06_n1.pdf [24]Czech presidency of the council of the EU. Integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic (2009:2)
Further readings www.eu2009.cz http://www.czso.cz/csu/cizinci.nsf/kapitola/ciz_pocet_cizincu http://www.mpsv.cz/search.php
[25] (ibid:2)
[26] (ibid:2)
[27] (ibid:2)
[28] (ibid:2) Url: http://www.mpsv.cz/files/clanky/6601/integration_foreigners.pdf
[29] (ibid:2)
[30] (ibid:(9)
[31] Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. Integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic (2009:4)
Further readings www.eu2009.cz http://www.czso.cz/csu/cizinci.nsf/kapitola/ciz_pocet_cizincu http://www.mpsv.cz/search.php
[32] (ibid:2)
[33]Dusan Drbohlav, Milada Horakova, Eva Janska (September 2005:1). Current Immigration Debates in Europe: A Publication of the European Migration Dialogue http://www.migpolgroup.com/multiattachments/2961/DocumentName/EMD_Czech_2005.pdf
[34] Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, 2005
[35]Miroslav Kostic(26.06.2007) Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic http://www.msmt.cz/index.php?lchan=1&lred=1
[36]Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. Integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic (2009:6)
Further readings www.eu2009.cz http://www.czso.cz/csu/cizinci.nsf/kapitola/ciz_pocet_cizincu http://www.mpsv.cz/search.php http://cordis.europa.eu/erawatch/index.cfm?fuseaction=org.document&uuid=7D87CA63-9A0B-D253-2FA9CB9EB0C9A070): [37] Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. Integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic (2009:8)
Further readings www.eu2009.cz http://www.czso.cz/csu/cizinci.nsf/kapitola/ciz_pocet_cizincu http://www.mpsv.cz/search.php http://cordis.europa.eu/erawatch/index.cfm?fuseaction=org.document&uuid=7D87CA63- 9A0B-D253-2FA9CB9EB0C9A070
[38] Jitka Dvoráková (2005:77) System of integration in the Czech Republic, Denmark and the Netherlands. Journal of health sciences, management and public health http://www.healthministry.ge/eml/publichealth/2005/n1/9.pdf [39] Asylum Act (Amendment of the Act No. 325/1999 Coll., on Asylum and Amendment to Act No. 283/1991 Coll., on the Police of the Czech Republic, as amended by Act No. 2/2002 Coll., Act No. 217/2002 Coll., Act No. 320/2002 Coll. and Act No. 519/2002) [Czech Republic]. 1 January 2003, available online in UNHCR Refworld at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3ae6b6100.html [accessed 1 May 2009]
[40]Field Heather(2007:246) EU Cultural Policy And The Creation of a Common European Identity Contemporary European Studies Griffith University http://www.eusanz.org/pdf/conf98/Field.pdf
[41] Torbisco Neus Casals, Joint International Law Program. (2006:143) Group rights as human rights: a liberal approach to multiculturalism. Published by Springer.
http://books.google.com/books?id=Mi0ESdyAGS0C&pg=PA143&lpg=PA143&dq=%22Community+shall+contribute+to+the+flowering+of+cultures+of+the%22&source=bl&ots=Rw5HFZFGjO&sig=lxEFzKxOEIB6eG2eKWPqMt3GJxw&hl=en&ei=uev6Se3sKoaK_QaP4cnJBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
[42] Eliška Tomalová (June 2006:4) The cultural integration of CEE countries. The impact of European cultural programs and cultural networks on cultural cooperation in the new member states http://www.ceeisaconf.ut.ee/orb.aw/class=file/action=preview/id=166494/tomalova.doc
[43] (ibid:4)
[44] Variant project: Mission Statement 2009-03-30
Url:http://www.varianty.cz/indexEn.php
http://www.varianty.cz/english/activities.php
[45] . (Ibid)
[46] (Ibid)
United Nations International Human Rights Instruments HRI/CORE/1/Add.71/Rev.2 18 July 2003
[47] The Ethnic Friendly Employers (29/ 05/2008) http://www.ethnic-friendly.eu/view.php?nazevclanku=how-to-obtain-the-ethnic-friedly-employer brand&cisloclanku=2008050004
[48] The Czech Mobility Center (CMC) (27/04/2009) http://www.avcr.cz/en/ostatni.php?ID=126&m=4 Further readings http://www.euraxess.cz
[49]Organization for Aid to Refugees, European Contact Group and Sofia (2005) http://www.opu.cz/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=2&Itemid25&ng=en.
[50] OPU (2005) Integration of disadvantaged groups of migrants http://www.opu.cz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=183&Itemid=25&lang=en [51] Bro~[pic]ová Lucie January 3 2008. Foreign institutes in the Czech Republic.
Lucie Bro~[pic]ová, (k=view&id=183&Itemid=25&lang=en
[52] Brožová Lucie January 3 2008. Foreign institutes in the Czech Republic.
Lucie Brožová, (Thursday 03. January 2008).Foreign institutes in the Czech Republic http://www.czech.cz/en/current-affairs/work-and-study/foreign-institutes-in-the-czech-republic Further reading. www.britishcouncil.org/czechrepublic .(Retrieved March 20 2009).
[53] (ibid)
[54] Brožová Lucie Thursday 03. January 2008 Foreign institutes in the Czech Republic http://www.czech.cz/en/current-affairs/work-and-study/foreign-institutes-in-the-czech-republic Further reading. www.ifp.cz .
[55] (ibid) http://www.czech.cz/en/current-affairs/work-and-study/foreign-institutes-in-the-czech-republic Further reading. www.britishcouncil.org/czechrepublic.
[56] Dominik Lukeš January 28th, 2009 Most Czechs feel EU allegiance http://bohemica.com/czechupdate/2009/jan/3142
[57] (ibid) January 2nd, 2008 Half of Czechs are proud to be Czechs
[58] Jane R. Elgass September 11, 2000. Symposium focuses on globalization issues http://www.ur.umich.edu/0001/Sep11_00/9.htm URL: http://www.ur.umich.edu/0001/Sep11_00/9.htm
[59](ibid)
[60] http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/52/54/39598796.ppt
[61] Barbara A. Misztal (2000) Barbara A. Misztal.2000.Informality: social theory and contemporary practice Published by Routledge
Url: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/book-of-a-lifetime-the-poetics-of-space-by-gaston-bachelard-1673212.html
Published: 2009-04-24
[62] Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic – www.justice.cz.
[63]Joellen Perry April 28, 2009 The Czech Republic Pays for Immigrants to Go Home
Unemployed Guest Workers and Their Kids Receive Cash and a One-Way Ticket as the Country Fights http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124087660297361511.html
[64]ABC Prague Statistics.2004-2009 Most Czech people like their job September 4 http://www.abcprague.com/category/statistics/
[65] Smith, M. K. and Smith, M. (2002) 'Globalization ' the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/biblio/globalization.htm.
[66] Karel Dyba February 19, 1993
An Update on Privatization in the Czech Republic: The Economic Transformation After the Split
Url: http://www.cceia.org/resources/publications/privatization_project
[67] Czech Republic: A Case Mode Draft. Special Report Mr. Kees ZIJLSTRA (Netherland) May 1995.
Url: http://www.friends-partners.org/oldfriends/economics/czech.rep.case.study.html
[68] The Czech statistical office (2006) The Educational Levels between Years 1994 –2005 http://www.czso.cz/csu/2008edicniplan.nsf/engkapitola/1413-08--13 [69] The standard of living in the Czech Republic grows Jun 29, 2007 http://www.abcprague.com/2007/06/29/the-standard-of-living-in-the-czech-republic-grows [70] The Czech Republic. Health and Development http://www.who.int/entity/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_czech_republic_en.pdf.
[71] Alma Buelva February 14, 2009 Connectivity Scorecard 2009 sees ICT as tool for battling recession http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=440063&publicationSubCategoryId=73 (Retrieved May 1.2009)
[72] Employment rate 3rd quarter 2008 Labor Force Survey http://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo/en/tabdetail.jsp?cislotab=VSPS%20509_1 (Retrieved 2 May 2009)
[73] http://www.who.int/entity/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_czech_republic_en.pdf.
[74] The Czech statistical Office 8 October 2008. Potential emissions of industrial fluorinated greenhouse gases. http://www.czso.cz/csu/2008edicniplan.nsf/engkapitola/10n1-08-2008-0300 [75] Radka Havlova. The Role of Civil Society in Overcoming Cultural Differences and Promoting Intercultural Awareness and Tolerance in the Czech Republic. (Born Langhammerova) University of Economics Prague, Czech Republic. (Accessed 24/04/2009) http://209.85.129.132/search? q=cache: DRy9PJBkLk0J: www.istr.org/conferences/capetown/volume/havlova.pdf+public+opinion+survey, +1990,+by+the+ministry+of+interior+of+the+czech+republic.&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk
[76] (ibid)
[77] (ibid)
[78] Radka Havlova .The Role of Civil Society in Overcoming Cultural Differences and Promoting Intercultural Awareness and Tolerance in the Czech Republic P: 5(born Langhammerova) University of Economics Prague, Czech Republic (accessed on 21/03/2009). http://www.czso.cz:8005/sldbrwin/owa/gt02?xjazyk=CZ&xuzemi=1&xtyp=1. Further readings. www.mvcr.cz.
[79] Field Heather. (2000:245). EU Cultural Policy And The Creation of a Common European Identity. http://www.eusanz.org/pdf/conf98/Field.pdf [80] Hassi ,Abderrahman,, and, Storti Giovanna. Encouraging Cultural Diversity in the Saguenay Region of Quebec. Published by, the International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations. Volume 7, Issue 4, pp.51-58
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