“How have the democracies of Hungary and Czech Republic developed differently over the past ten years?” Focused on the reasons for democratic backsliding in these EU member states.
Portugal was the least developed country to join the European Communities before the Eastern enlargement. Its economy was characterized by weak commercial ties to Europe, a large agricultural...Show morePortugal was the least developed country to join the European Communities before the Eastern enlargement. Its economy was characterized by weak commercial ties to Europe, a large agricultural sector employing more than one fourth of the labor force, lacking infrastructure and capital-intensive industries, and having a high illiteracy rate. Integration into the Communities influenced the transformation of Portugal into a modern market economy through three different channels. Firstly, the liberalization brought about by the common market attracted important foreign investments, induced domestic investment activity, promoted the competitiveness of light industries, and consolidated trade relations with Spain. Secondly, the modernization of sectors governed by the specific national or European policies (agriculture, fisheries, banking), was largely affected by the capabilities of the Portuguese administration. Thirdly, the EC Cohesion Policy contributed largely to the convergence with other Member States, but did not eliminate the regional disparities inside of Portugal. Most of the findings regarding the effects of the European economic integration prove to be applicable also in case of the Czech Republic and Hungary, undergoing their transformation and Europeanization two decades later.Show less
Following the end of the Cold War the post-communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe experienced numerous rapid changes. The transition concerned also the sphere of migration. This thesis...Show moreFollowing the end of the Cold War the post-communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe experienced numerous rapid changes. The transition concerned also the sphere of migration. This thesis focuses on trafficking in human beings and labour exploitation of migrant workers as they gradually caught public attention in the Czech Republic in late 1990s. It researches how and why did the Czech NGOs’ approach towards trafficking change between 1998 and 2012. It focuses on the problematic understanding and punishability of labour exploitation within and outside the phenomenon of trafficking. It follows the development of trafficking in the Czech Republic after the end of Cold War and shows the interaction between governmental and nongovernmental approaches towards trafficking, labour exploitation and human rights violations of migrant workers.Show less
