Development studies in the Czech Republic
Changes which occurred late in the 80s and have had a bold impact on the socio-economic development in the Central European region have also influenced research on development and developing countries. During this period, development studies lost importance in the Czech Republic. In the mid-90s the importance of this research was revealed again, when the Czech Republic joined the OECD and was put under pressure to step out of the position of aid recipient and become an active aid donor. New attempts to re-enter the former vivid economic and cultural relations with developing countries have appeared, but so far with little success. In the late 90s, or rather at the beginning of the new millennium, we can talk about increased interest in development issues among students, which is reflected in new study programmes introduced at several Czech universities. This article aims to summarise these still rather rare efforts and point out at some of the issues which seem to be obstacles to further development of this important study field in the Czech Republic.
The first university to be introduced in this article is the University of Economics in Prague (a collective EADI member). The Department of the World Economy at the Faculty of International Relations two years ago launched a minor study programme for MA students called Development Studies. This is the first attempt of its kind in the Czech Republic, because the study programme presents a multidisciplinary approach to development issues. Before that, until the beginning of the 90s, development economics was taught as part of International Business Studies, later as part of Comparative Economics within the World Economy Department. The new and complex study programme not only covers the problems of development economics, but also regional and gender studies, political problems of developing countries and the issue of international development assistance. More departments at the University of Economics co-operate on this programme. For BA students the Department of the World Economy prepares selected courses covering the economic regional analysis of the developing world and a course on Asian countries in transition, for MA students a course on Development Economics (a comprehensive course for International Affairs students). For PhD students no study programme has been introduced so far, only selected courses on political, economic, cultural or regional issues.
Another university dealing with development issues is the Palacky University in Olomouc. The Faculty of Sciences three years ago prepared a study programme for BA students called International Development Studies. This programme focuses mainly on geographical issues, including the ecological and environmental aspects of development. Besides that, students acquire basic knowledge of development economics, sociology, international relations and the issue of international development assistance with emphasis on the position of the Czech Republic in this field. The Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, or rather the Institute of Tropics and Subtropics, prepares study programmes for BA, MA and PhD students focusing on issues of tropical and subtropical agriculture, sustainable rural development in the tropics and subtropics, and management of wild animals and their breeding in the tropics and subtropics. Alongside the theoretical knowledge the students get a variety of opportunities to participate in development projects in tropical and subtropical countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia. These are all the study programmes in the Czech Republic tackling development issues.
As mentioned in the above, research on developing countries was substantially reduced in the late 80s and as the situation remained unchanged in 90s the biggest obstacle for further development studies enhancement in the Czech Republic seems to be the lack of experts in this field. Lack of interest from the governmental side only supports the current situation. The only research institutions which have been active are the Institute of the Integration of the Czech Republic into the European and World Economy at the Faculty of International Relations at the University of Economics in Prague and the Development Centre at the Institute of International Relations in Prague. Both institutes have joined their efforts and co-operate on projects aimed at the needs of universities, the government and the public sector. Unfortunately, the former of the two institutes was closed down at the beginning of this year. The burden has been taken over by the Department of the World Economy and the Department of Public Administration and Regional Development, both part of the University of Economics in Prague and both participating on the Development Studies programme. Isolated research projects is also being carried out at above-mentioned universities or at the Czech Academy of Sciences. The aim today is to create a Centre for Development Studies based at the University of Economics which would bring all the multidisciplinary scientists on development issues together. Hopefully the students' rising interest in development studies will help us to make this dream come true.
Tereza Nemeckova
PhD student
Department of the World Economy
University of Economics in Prague
