Sovereignty, Integrity, Political Independence

Abstract:

This leading article deals with the sphere of strategy and defence policy. The essay is an output of scholarly work and therefore it is summarizing and evaluating problems in question with professional recommendations. First, the author draws our attention to various concepts of security and underlines national differences backed by national histories. Security concepts have their sources in deep analyses of potential threats and corresponding scenarios, with specific bias to Czech environment. He openly expresses his critical opinions on contemporary security documents, for lack of political security directions, as politicians in general have little knowledge of security and defence problems. In his opinion, the possible outcome lies in a partnership and cooperation with academics outside military and government structures, experts and members of security community, whose expert opinions could help namely to form long-term security concepts.

PhDr. Antonín Rašek, Major General, (Ret.), born in 1935; he graduated from the Military School of Jan Žižka (VŠJŽ) and the Infantry School (PU). He served with the Air Force, studied the Faculty of Arts, Charles University (FF UK) Prague, philosophy, history (concluded in 1961). After that he became a military journalist and worked in various army institutions. In postgraduate studies he specialized in sociology. After the September 21, 1968, he was separated from the army and started a new career as research worker, lecturer and advisor in the field of industrial sociology. After the Velvet Revolution, from 1990 till 1992, he was a civilian deputy defence minister for humanitarian affairs, in 1993 director of the Institute for Strategic Studies. He cooperates with the Centre for Social and Economic Strategies, Charles University Prague. Joint member of authors´ team that compiled the following publications: Vision of Development of the Czech Republic till 2015 (CESES 2001), Guide to the Landscape of Priorities for the Czech Republic" (CESES 2002),Wandering through the Czech future (CESES 2003). Author of nineteen novels. For his successful literary activities he was praised by many awards.

Country: Czech Republic

07/09/2015

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