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.

Employs an interdisciplinary foreign policy analysis to address the Czech Republic's international policies Presents a conceptual framework of geopolitical connectedness between two states formed by an analysis of internal political actors Incorporates a historical, linguistic, and cultural analysis of Czech-Russian relations

Autorentext

**Jan Holzer **is Professor of Political Science and Principal Researcher in the International Institute of Political Science at Masaryk University, Czech Republic.

Miroslav Mare is Professor of Political Science and Principal Researcher in the International Institute of Political Science at Masaryk University, Czech Republic.

Inhalt

1. Chapter 1 Russia as a Czech Security Enigma: Introductory Remarks.- 2. Chapter 2 The Hybrid Campaign Concept and Contemporary Czech-Russian Relations.- 3. Chapter 3: Russia as Viewed by the Main Czech Political Actors.- 4. Chapter 4: The Big Partner with a Small Turnover: Czech-Russian Economic Relations and their Dynamics.- 5. Chapter 5: Business as usual or geopolitical games? Russian activities in energy sector of the Czech Republic.- 6. Chapter 6: The Russian and North Caucasus Diaspora in the Czech Republic: Between Loyalty, Crime and Extremism.- 7. Chapter 7: Slavonic Brothers? Current Language, Literature and Cultural Interaction between Russia and the Czech Republic in Light of the Security Issue.- 8. Chapter 8: Czech Images of Russian History as a Societal Security Issue.- 9. Chapter 9: In the shadow of Russia: the Czech Republic as a small Central European state.