El sustrato histórico del euroescepticismo checo

Abstract

This article examines the historical background of Czech Euroscepticism, an issue rarely explored as yet. The theoretical framework examines the relationship between national identity and the Other. In this respect, identity is constructed through successive identifi cations -both symbolic and imaginary-with signifi cant Others. Identifi cations can be positive or negative. In order to classify such identifi cations towards the EU, qualitatively speaking, four basic criteria are proposed: «democracy», «economics», «security» and «national identity». Various speeches by President Václav Klaus serve as the sources along with the electoral programmes of ODS and KSČ M. One of the conclusions suggests that the negative identifi cations toward the EU, particularly on the part of Klaus, are associated with memories of traumatic relationships with previous powers, such as the USSR, Germany or the Habsburg Empire.