Essay: Dissolution of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Near the end of World War I, several different groups, mainly Czechs and Slovaks but also including other groups of the historic Bohemia region, merged to form Czechoslovakia as a way of transitioning after the post- World War 1 collapse of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. However, just after Czechoslovakia had entered into their fated years of independence, nationalist parties emerged and gained support among minorities of the country. Adolf Hitler pressured Czechoslovakia into ceding with Studenland, following which Slovakia declared an autonomous provincial government fearing that their interests would not be protected by the Czech controlled central government. This created the short lived second republic of czechoslovakia, until the first slovak republic was established following the threat of being split due to the Munich Pact in 1938. Slovakia, now an independent state, became allied with Nazi Germany throughout World War 11, after which Czechoslovakia was reinstated under the communist influence of the USSR. This galvanized changes between both countries, while Czechs wanted tighter federations, Slovaks wanted a confederation. The issues that created the division were vast. These issues included problems for both groups during communism, superior Czech influence, and failure of Slovak lands to successfully introduce communism as well as their neighbors. Moreover, some argue there was international influence during the dissolution such as conflict between prime ministers and lack of unified media. Although their differences created conflict, the dissolution of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia was entirely peaceful, and is known as “The Velvet Revolution”.
Following World War 1 and the mistreatment by the hand of the Hungarian government, the Slovaks and the Czechs (including a strong influence from those located in other countries) pushed to break from the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary and form an independent republic. Because of their close ties, a union of the two republics was inevitable, and a hard fought victory. In the background, however, resentment sprouted between the country’s biggest national minorities: the Slovaks and Sudeten Germans. When Germany gained control over Sudetenland, Slovakia recognized that they could not trust that their interests would be upheld in the centralized government of Czechoslovakia, and thus, they formed a small government of their own. This was the first crack in the federation.
During WW11, Germany occupied the Czech Republic as well as the independent nation state of Slovakia. I say this to reiterate that the main conflict which caused Slovakia to split initially was not the threat of German influence, but the fear of being annexed into Germany, Hungary, and Poland during the Munich Pact of 1938. During the war Slovakia became allied with Nazi Germany and accepted their protection as well as the deportation of approx. 70,000 Slovak Jews and others that were deemed unfit.
After the war ended, Czechoslovakia came back together under the communist influence to the Soviet Union. The Communist Party took over Prague in 1948. Led by Klemet Gottwald, they attempted to pattern Czechoslovakia’s government and reform after the Soviet Union. This included harsh practices such as executing leaders who were believed to be disloyal. Moreover, the Communist Party prohibited opposition and influence of the churches. It soon became the only effective party.
In 1968, a  movement led by Alexander Dubcek named “socialism with a face” aimed to reform Communism, but instead drew the attention and fear of the USSR. They feared the dilution of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia after this “Prague Spring” and invaded the republic on August 21 of that year. This effectively reversed any and all reforms that Dubeck and supporters of liberalization had implemented.  The movement was eliminated, Dubcek was replaced by Gustav Husak and expelled from the party, and many other politicians lost their positions. The Husak government tightened party control and a year later granted autonomy to both republics over local affairs. However, so many years of a poor economic situation led to the growth of the dissident movement.
The Slovaks used their close ties to Catholicism to oppose the communist regime, inadvertently causing mass religious pilgrimages that paved way for national demonstrations in Slovakia.
At the end of the eighties, revolts against communist governments cropped up acorss Eastern Europe. After the Czech and Slovak led protests and resignation of the Husak government, Czechoslovakia required new leadership. The movement, Public Against Violence (PAV), brought together political leaders, intellectuals, and Catholics, who paved the way for a democratic election.  The first election in 44 years took place in June 1990. Following a surge of dissident support, Vaclav Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia.
The establishment of an economy dependent on free enterprise was the biggest hurdle for the new government of Czechoslovakia. The shift of state owned companies and land into private hands meant a greater number of unemployment and economic hardship for industrialized Slovakia who had taken on an inefficient, defense-oriented industrial base.
Slovaks were resentful over the federal government in Prague at this time, yet Mr.Mercier quieted this anger with his golden ticket of Slovak nationalism. Klaus was elected under a similar victory. However, conflict became more frequent as time wore on and both leaders held wildly different visions for the future. The new government introduced a market economy and accelerated privatization, these policies generated disputes and tensions between Czech and Slovak leaders. Because Slovakia industrialized during the Communist period, tensions rose between the two republics. Not only that, but because of their economic difference the two republics often disagreed over economic reform.These conflicts prevented a new constitution and complicated reform and process.
The following elections reflected the boiling tensions between the two republics. The liberal Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) was led by Slovak Vladimír Meciar and the conservative Civic Democratic Party was led by Czech Vaclav Klaus. They were elected to leadership by their designated republics. However, it became clear that the two parties were in diametric opposition and no form of government could satisfy both. In 1992, Slovakia became its own sovereign state. Parliament voted to dissolve the country permanently on December 31 and in January 1993, Czechoslovakia was replaced by the Czech Republic and Slovakia. For the smoothness of this transition and absence of violence, the disbanding of the federation was known as the Velvet Revolution or Velvet divorce.
The importance of keeping peaceful relations with the Czech Republic and other Eastern European countries has heightened since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Since the division, there has been little conflict. However, Merciar resigned from office after his rejection from the Slovak Parliament. Once Jozef Moravcik was elected prime minister of Slovakia, he helped to revive privatization and attract more foreign interest. Even more, he calmed tensions between Hungarians and Slovaks after Hungarians began campaigning for cultural and educational autonomy within Slovakia.
Regardless of the opposition of its nearly 15 million citizens, Czechoslovakia split into two new countries- Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The two republics overcame Nazi oppression and years of communist rule, yet fell apart after 3 years of democracy. The democratic elections reflected the troubled leadership at the time and bore two leaders who took action in dissolving the singular nation into two new countries. Although the split was peaceful, citizens of Slovakia remained anxious and wary of the new government. While citizens in the Czech republic remain mostly Czech, most Slovakia citizens are Hungarian, hence the initial distrust. Although the split will take some getting used to for its new citizens, it encouraged growth and produced an untroubled government for both countries.