Czech Security Dilemma: Russia as a Friend or Enemy? (New Security Challenges)

This volume examines the future directions of Czech international policy through an interdisciplinary analysis of both historical and current Russian-Czech relations. It analyses Czech relations with Russia based on their historical heritage underpinned by the superpower's behaviour and interests in the Central European region. The book's central theme is the current Czech security dilemma in which the Czech political community perceives Russia as a security threat, but also would prefer to cooperate with Russia to ensure its security. The authors give a full overview and explanation of Czech-Russian relations, while also explaining the current dilemmas within the Czech Republic's political, cultural and economic community. Jan Holzer is Professor of Political Science and Principal Researcher in the International Institute of Political Science at Masaryk University, Czech Republic. Miroslav MareS is Professor of Political Science and Principal Researcher in the International Institute of Political Science at Masaryk University, Czech Republic. 1. Chapter 1 Russia as a Czech Security Enigma: Introductory Remarks Jan Holzer and Miroslav MareS 2. Chapter 2 The Hybrid Campaign Concept and Contemporary Czech-Russian Relations Miroslav MareS, Jan Holzer and TomS smd 3. Chapter 3: Russia as Viewed by the Main Czech Political Actors Jan Holzer, Martin JiruSek and Petra Kuchynkov 4. Chapter 4: The Big Partner with a Small Turnover: Czech-Russian Economic Relations and their Dynamics Lucie Coufalov and Libor Zdek 5. Chapter 5: Business as usual or geopolitical games? Russian activities in energy sector of the Czech Republic Martin JiruSek, Petra Kuchynkov, TomS Vlcek 6. Chapter 6: The Russian and North Caucasus Diaspora in the Czech Republic: Between Loyalty, Crime and Extremism Miroslav MareS and TomS smd 7. Chapter 7: Slavonic Brothers? Current Language, Literature and Cultural Interaction between Russia and the Czech Republic in Light of the Security Issue Jir Gazda and Josef saur 8. Chapter 8: Czech Images of Russian History as a Societal Security Issue Pavel Bocek, Jan Holzer and Radomr Vlcek 9. Chapter 9: In the shadow of Russia: the Czech Republic as a small Central European state Jan Holzer and Miroslav MareS