3 results
Sixteen - Think tanks and policy discourses
- Edited by Arnošt Veselý, Fakulta sociálních ved, Univerzity Karlovy, The Netherlands, Martin Nekola, Fakulta sociálních ved, Univerzity Karlovy, The Netherlands, Eva M. Hejzlarová, Fakulta sociálních ved, Univerzity Karlovy, The Netherlands
-
- Book:
- Policy Analysis in the Czech Republic
- Published by:
- Bristol University Press
- Published online:
- 01 September 2022
- Print publication:
- 18 May 2016, pp 273-290
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
Introduction
Although think tanks are probably most developed in the US, as is their scholarly analysis, they and various other policy-oriented research institutions have played a significant role in the political systems of many established democracies (see for example McGann and Weaver, 2000; McGann, 2009). Likewise, they have become an important part of EU politics. In general, think tanks research public policies and produce different types of both evidence-based and ideologically driven expertise, opinions and recommendations which serve several types of audiences, mostly policy makers and the media. In a developed political system, one can find different types of think tanks working in the framework of various policy discourses. In this chapter we focus on think tanks and policy discourses in the Czech Republic.
Drawing on available information, the aim of this chapter is to map out and analytically describe Czech think tanks. First we define think tanks and present their established typology; second, we introduce discursive institutionalism and define policy discourses. Further, we differentiate Czech think tanks on the basis of their belonging to these discourses, summarise the basic characteristics of the most important Czech think tanks, and pay particular attention to their connectedness to other actors in the field. Do they establish connections within their particular discourse, or do they link up across the discourses? Consequently, are they able to serve as integrative agents in the public sphere, or do they seem to contribute to the building of rather autonomous ideological currents in the Czech Republic? Which of these currents is the most developed?
Think tanks and policy discourses
Think tanks form a special type of civil society organisation or NGO, whose purpose is the production of policy-relevant expert knowledge typically offered to public institutions, state officials and the media. According to McGann (2009, p 9):
Think tanks or public policy research, analysis, and engagement institutions are organizations that generate policy oriented research, analysis, and advice on domestic and international issues that enable policymakers and the public to make informed decisions about public policy issues.
In general, think tanks research issues relevant to public policies and formulate policy recommendations. Four basic types, namely academic, contractual, advocacy and party-affiliated think tanks, can be distinguished (here and in the next two paragraphs we draw on McGann and Weaver, 2000, pp 1-36; see also Table 16.1).
The Czech Political Science: A Slow March Towards Relevance?
- from Czech Republic
-
- By Karel Kouba, University of Hradec Králové, Palacký University, Ondřej Císař, Charles University, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Jiří Navrátil, Masaryk University in Brno, Charles University in Prague
- Edited by Barbara Krauz-Mozer, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Małgorzata Kułakowska, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Piotr Borowiec, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Paweł Ścigaj, Jagiellonian University, Krakow
-
- Book:
- Political Science in Europe at the Beginning of the 21st Century
- Published by:
- Jagiellonian University Press
- Published online:
- 12 January 2018
- Print publication:
- 01 January 2015, pp 63-86
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
Summary: The chapter traces both the indisputable successes of Czech political science as well as persistent problems that have characterized the discipline since its founding in 1990. First, a descriptive overview of the discipline, its institutions, academic journals and students as well as its academic personnel is provided. Second, prevailing research practices and publication strategies of Czech political scientists are analysed. Two practices in particular are critically evaluated: academic inbreeding and publishing in domestic journals often run by the department of the author. The chapter is based on original data obtained through a survey of the heads of departments, coding of articles published in Czech political science journals, and participant observation by the authors.
Introduction
In the Czech Republic, the development of the academic discipline of political science is linked to the political changes that the country has experienced since 1989. The fall of communism resulted in the opening of academic space. With the brief exception of the 1960s during the short period of the Prague Spring, political science as such did not officially exist throughout the 41 years of the Czechoslovak communist regime. Such discontinuity has strongly impacted the development of Czech political science since 1989. The first departments were established only in 1990 at the Charles University in Prague, Palacký University of Olomouc and Masaryk University in Brno. Currently, Czech universities include fifteen departments of Political Science and/or International Relations (Kouba, 2011, p. 362) signalling a huge growth of the discipline. There are also centres of political science research unaffiliated to universities but carrying out political science research, such as the Institute of International Relations (Ústav mezinárodních vztahů) and the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Sociologický ústav AV ČR).
Although the discipline currently enjoys a higher degree of institutionalization than in its founding period (Šanc, 2009), there remain many unresolved challenges that may hinder its development. Chief among them are the small portion of high quality research that would be internationally competitive, the limited dialogue of the Czech community with international political science, and limited cooperation even among those in the Czech political science community.
The Europeanisation of Social Movements in the Czech Republic: the EU and Local Women's Groups
- from Part three - Civil Society Organisations in Central and Eastern Europe
-
- By Ondřej Císař, Masaryk University, Kateřina Vráblíková, Masaryk University
- Edited by Magdalena Góra, Katarzyna Zielińska
-
- Book:
- Democracy, State and Society
- Published by:
- Jagiellonian University Press
- Published online:
- 05 September 2014
- Print publication:
- 31 December 2011, pp 179-200
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
Abstract: The goal of this paper is to analyse the impact the EU has had on Czech women's groups since the 1990s. Drawing on both Europeanisation and social movement theories, the first section defines the theoretical framework of the paper. The second section is focused on the impact of changes in the funding of women's groups which, since the end of the 1990s, have relied more than before on European funding. The third section analyses the shift in the political context and the domestic political opportunity structure in the Czech Republic that has occurred in connection with the accession process. The fourth section looks at transnational cooperation for which new opportunities have appeared with the EU's eastward expansion. The paper concludes by summarising its main findings.
Introduction
Since the fall of communism, the East Central European countries have experienced tremendous changes in their politics and civil societies. This post-communist transformation has been at the centre of scholarly attention since then. Recently this body of literature has been accompanied by studies focusing on the consequences of yet another important transformation, this time induced by the integration of East Central European countries into the European Union (EU). Understandably, these Europeanisation studies have predominantly taken notice of the changes brought about by EU accession in the political institutions and policies of new member states. Civil society actors, interest groups, and social movements have thus far remained somewhat overlooked.