Velvet Divorce: Perpisahan Damai Cekoslowakia

Anggi Mariatulkubtia Lubis, Muhadi Sugiono

2011 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

Within a year and a half, from the summer of 1991 to January 1993, all three former socialist federations in Europe collapsed. Unlike Yugoslavia and the USSR, the Czechoslovak federation broke up through peaceful negotiations, which later known as ‘Velvet Divorce’. Czechoslovakia, a bi- federation constituted by Czech Republic and Slovakia Republic, finally dissolved in January 1993 after series of transformation since it first established in 1918. Post-Communist Czechoslovakia (1990-1992) was a transition period characterized by democratization, repluralization, identity reconfiguration achieved by conforming to ‘western’ ideas and organizations, and shifted political spectrum due to distinct experiences of both countries during the communist era. Two main tasks of the transition government were to find a new model for the common Czech and Slovak state and to reform the common economic system. Two political figures rose as prime ministers as the result of 1992 election, Czech Vaclav Klaus and his Slovakian counterpart Vladimir Meciar, both held quite different perspectives and preferences concerning political and economical problems. The dissolution of Czechoslovakia is a unique case based on three characteristics. First, no referendum ever been held prior to the dissolution; Second, the peaceful characteristic of the dissolution itself. Third, the dissolution proved to be a centrifugal process centering political elites as main actors. This composition tries to address why Czechoslovakia federation dissolved and specifically, why the dissolution took place in a peaceful manner. Shortly, the result is that a peaceful dissolution of the country is considered as the best alternative to meet the demands of both political elites who were also responding their constituents, took place under the slogan ‘Return to Europe’ as a context. Keyword: Vaclav Klaus, Vladimir Meciar, Rational Choice, Two-Level Game, Return to Europe.

Kata Kunci : Politik - Cekoslowakia