Formation of Czech-Slovak Relations during the 25 years after the division of the federation

Abstract

As a result of the First World War and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the independence of Czechoslovakia was proclaimed in 1918. October 28, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Czechoslovak Republic (první Československá republika). The anniversary date was celebrated separately in the two countries, since as a result of the «velvet divorce» in 1993, instead of a single federal state, two independent republics appeared – the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Both states maintain the continuity of the previous democratic experience, follow the basic constitutional principles of the internal structure and foreign policy. Bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and Slovakia are distinguished by their peacefulness and the absence of any conflicts. Both states are connected by a common historical past, a single unit in the first, second and third republics. Previous constitutional experience influenced the emerging state institutions and the new constitution of Czechoslovakia after the events of the velvet revolution of 1989. Systemic breakdown of social and political relations was carried out in a restless atmosphere, and led to the division of the country in a «soft» and legitimate way. Neither the regime change, nor the complicated process of divorce of the country could not abolish the former constitutional basis of Czechoslovakia; only a few amendments were made, separate laws were passed. The article analyzes the constitutional mechanism for maintaining the political and legal order established by the tradition of the Czechoslovak state in the 20th century. Today, Czech-Slovak connections are characterized by a high level of relations, they are distinguished by a commitment to the European tradition of democracy and relatively soft integration into the European Union. Against the background of unresolved conflicts in Europe, the process of state «divorce» of the former Czechoslovakia, the exit from one bloc system and, following this, the entry into another integration union deserves research attention.
Key words: Czech Republic, Slovakia, constitutional tradition, peaceful partition of Czechoslovakia, EU.