This paper aims to answer the question: Why are there no significant cultural conflicts between Germany and the Czech Republic given their historical context? The relations of neighboring countries with each other are almost always more complicated compared to countries that do not share any borders. As such, the case at hand is of similar origin: the relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic. As they have been co-existing in the same region for ages, the two relatively new democracies have had complications in their relations in the past.
Nevertheless, their policies have been peaceful and cooperationfriendly in the era after the Cold War. Therefore, the re-establishment of the relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic is short from reaching its thirty-year mark. Seeing that the latest era of stable relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic was only realized in the last three decades, it is clear that the older generations may not share the same openmindedness as they have other recollections of the past in comparison to the younger generations. The generation that has witnessed the horrors of the Second World War and its aftermath is sure to have darker recollections than those born in their country after it was unified.
This has been an issue that the cultural studies have been taking into consideration in the past decades, which has ultimately resulted in the concept called the culture of remembrance. This newly developing field has multiple subsections to define and describe the place of remembrance and memory in each culture. Therefore, culture of remembrance constitutes a significant part of the approach that will be used throughout this paper.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Culture of Remembrance
3. Analysis
3.1 Database and Experiment Design
3.2 Descriptive Statistics and Graphic Representation
3.3 Hypothesis Testing
4. Conclusion
Objective and Research Topics
The research examines the historical and cultural relationship between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic, specifically investigating why significant cultural conflicts are largely absent despite their complex past. It analyzes how individual, collective, and cultural memories influence the current perception and social interaction between the two nations.
- Theoretical exploration of "Culture of Remembrance" and memory studies
- Empirical analysis of cross-border attitudes and perceptions
- Evaluation of the influence of national and European identity on international relations
- Assessment of the role of education, language knowledge, and personal contact in mitigating potential conflicts
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
The relations of neighboring countries with each other are almost always more complicated compared to countries that do not share any borders. As such, the case at hand is of similar origin: the relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic. As they have been co-existing in the same region for ages, the two relatively new democracies have had complications in their relations in the past. Nevertheless, their policies have been peaceful and cooperation-friendly in the era after the Cold War. Therefore, the re-establishment of the relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic is short from reaching its thirty-year mark.
A treaty of friendship was signed on the 27th of February in 1992 titled the Treaty of Good Neighbourhood, Friendly Cooperation (Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí České republiky 2000: 98) by the German Chancellor of the time, Helmut Kohl, and the Czech president Václav Havel. Furthermore, the Czech-German Declaration on Mutual Relations and their Future Development, which was signed on the 21st of January 1997 (Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí České republiky 2000: 98), was another step towards forming an alliance, which was ultimately cemented with the Czech Republic joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1999, as Germany also was a member of the said organization (Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí České republiky 2000: 98). The relations of both countries have been stable since then, even more so if the fact that both countries being in the European Union is taken into account. Thus, the beneficial agreements resulting from being in the European Union can be considered a further step in the German-Czech relations.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter provides the historical and political background of German-Czech relations and introduces the research objective regarding the lack of current cultural conflict.
2. Culture of Remembrance: This section defines the theoretical framework, detailing concepts of individual, collective, and cultural memory as well as their role in shaping identities and stereotypes.
3. Analysis: This chapter outlines the methodology of the empirical study, utilizing surveys to analyze correlations between various variables like identity, memory type, and cross-border perception.
3.1 Database and Experiment Design: This section describes the data collection process, including the questionnaire structure and the demographic characteristics of the survey participants.
3.2 Descriptive Statistics and Graphic Representation: This part provides a detailed visual and statistical breakdown of participant responses regarding national identity, image perception, and interaction patterns.
3.3 Hypothesis Testing: This section empirically evaluates the eight formulated hypotheses to determine if they can be corroborated or falsified based on the gathered data.
4. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the findings, addressing the primary research question and discussing the influence of different memory types on the lack of current cultural conflict.
Keywords
Culture of remembrance, Germany, Czech Republic, Memory studies, Collective memory, National identity, European identity, Cultural conflict, Stereotypes, Empirical analysis, Cross-border relations, Social interaction, Generation, International relations, Questionnaire
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the relationship between Germany and the Czech Republic, specifically aiming to explain why there are no significant cultural conflicts between them despite a troubled historical background.
What are the central thematic fields covered in this study?
The study centers on the "culture of remembrance," memory studies (individual vs. collective memory), national and European identity, and the empirical analysis of social perceptions between two neighboring countries.
What is the primary research question?
The research question asks: "Why are there no significant cultural conflicts between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic given their historical context?"
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a quantitative approach, utilizing online questionnaires distributed in both countries to gather data, which is then analyzed using descriptive statistics, histograms, boxplots, and correlation testing.
What topics are discussed in the main analysis?
The main analysis evaluates correlations between variables such as national identity, level of education, frequency of travel to the other country, language knowledge, and the "type of memory" (individual, communicative, or cultural) against the perception of the other country.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
The work is defined by terms such as culture of remembrance, collective memory, bilateral relations, empirical social research, and identity formation.
How does the author define "collective memory"?
Drawing on Maurice Halbwachs and Jan Assmann, the author describes collective memory as memories constructed within a group that serve as a bridge to unite individuals and create a shared group identity.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding older vs. younger generations?
The analysis suggests that while individual memory is more common among older generations, cultural memory is more prevalent among younger generations, contributing to more positive and institutionalized perceptions of the neighboring country.
Does the data support a strong link between national identity and negative image perception?
No, the analysis finds low or insignificant correlations between strong national identity and a negative image of the neighboring country, suggesting that national identity does not necessarily foster hostility in this context.
- Quote paper
- Daniela Forero Nuñez (Author), 2020, The relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic. Culture of remembrance to prevent cultural conflicts, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1134686
