Komparace české a švédské zahraniční politiky se zaměřením na Afghánistán

Jana ROŽNOVSKÁ

Master's thesis

Comparation of the Czech and Swedish Foreign Policy focusing on Afghanistan

Abstract:

The thesis investigates the Czech and Swedish presence in Afghanistan with a special attention to motives for intervention, priorities and character of their activities, in form of multilateral cooperation with NATO, EU and the UN, and in other ways (development assistance, contributions to Afghan funds etc.). All this information is confronted with their foreign policy nature, respectively, the security and strategy culture. For this purpose a detailed analysis of the Czech and Swedish foreign policy is involved, examining core attributes and approaches, and key factors, which influenced its current character - ideologies, prejudices and discourses. Additionally analysis of major threats to the countries and strategies, how Sweden and the CZ address the threats is included. Studies developed by various foreign policy research centres serve as a theoretical background, which is set against statements presented in the official governmental documents or representatives? speeches. Some similarities have been found in the Czech and Sweden approach to Afghanistan such as stressing security as the most important motive for their presence and consequently NATO as a crucial actor in their engagement, which is surprising in the case of Sweden regarding neutrality as an important feature of its foreign policy. On the contrary several basic differences have been discovered in the Czech and Swedish involvement in Afghanistan, although similar priorities and strategies can be found in the official governmental documents. To sum up, no essential disagreements have been found between the Czech and Swedish strategy culture and their presence in Afghanistan, although the engagement in Afghanistan brought a new impulse to their foreign politics ? a further shift from neutrality to solidarity and international responsibility in the Swedish case and move towards development and reconstruction activities in case of the Czech Republic.

Abstract:

The thesis investigates the Czech and Swedish presence in Afghanistan with a special attention to motives for intervention, priorities and character of their activities, in form of multilateral cooperation with NATO, EU and the UN, and in other ways (development assistance, contributions to Afghan funds etc.). All this information is confronted with their foreign policy nature, respectively, the security and strategy culture. For this purpose a detailed analysis of the Czech and Swedish foreign policy is involved, examining core attributes and approaches, and key factors, which influenced its current character - ideologies, prejudices and discourses. Additionally analysis of major threats to the countries and strategies, how Sweden and the CZ address the threats is included. Studies developed by various foreign policy research centres serve as a theoretical background, which is set against statements presented in the official governmental documents or representatives? speeches. Some similarities have been found in the Czech and Sweden approach to Afghanistan such as stressing security as the most important motive for their presence and consequently NATO as a crucial actor in their engagement, which is surprising in the case of Sweden regarding neutrality as an important feature of its foreign policy. On the contrary several basic differences have been discovered in the Czech and Swedish involvement in Afghanistan, although similar priorities and strategies can be found in the official governmental documents. To sum up, no essential disagreements have been found between the Czech and Swedish strategy culture and their presence in Afghanistan, although the engagement in Afghanistan brought a new impulse to their foreign politics ? a further shift from neutrality to solidarity and international responsibility in the Swedish case and move towards development and reconstruction activities in case of the Czech Republic.

Keywords

Aghanistan, Czech Republic, Sweden, foreign policy, strategy culture, security culture, NATO, EU, UN, ISAF, PRT

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 1. 8. 2011

Accessible from:: 1. 8. 2011

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: RNDr. Miloš Fňukal, Ph.D.

PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY IN OLOMOUC

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography / International Development Studies