The Historical Background of Czech Euroscepticism

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 KSCˇ 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.