Area A

Differences, interests, stratification

Panel A1: Social policy in Central European societies after World War One

The post-war years saw a dramatic rise in the importance of social policy. In this section, we would like to open up space for discussions on the topics of (dis)continuity with war-time measures, changes both in the context of the need to tackle the population’s health (secondary social and health impacts of the war) and in the context of the general left-right political dispute on the role of the state, society and the individual in the areas of healthcare, taking care of the elderly, and unemployment. Social policies were no longer seen as mere solutions to existing problems, but also as preventive measures. This shift would also be an important topic for debate.

Jakub Rákosník (chair)

Panel A2: Housing and architecture in Central European post-war thinking

The war escalated the poor housing conditions of the pre-war times. In addition to deliveries of food and other basic consumer goods, housing became one of the key issues in the post-war years. Central European lawmakers decided on protective measures, especially in regards to the protection of tenants and rent regulation, and partly also in regards to the distribution of unused housing space, while more radical requests were rejected. There were conflicts about whether the state, regions or municipalities should be involved directly or simply stimulate building carried out by individuals and cooperatives. The building of municipal housing only achieved modest results in Central Europe at this time, with the exception of several cities. Many exceptionally interesting urban and architectural plans and visions of this era remained unimplemented. Nevertheless, this was still the first phase of society-wide thinking and discussions about housing availability and quality. This section is for critical discussion on topics connected with architecture, urbanism, housing and legal regulations and social views on housing.

Vendula Hnídková – Pavel Prouza (chair)

Panel A3: Work and disputes in labour law

The Czechoslovak Republic’s early years saw the gradual birth of modern labour law. Despite symbolic political changes such as the law on the eight-hour work day, the law on child labour and Art. 427 of the Treaty of Versailles stating that “labour should not be regarded merely as an article of commerce”, there were long-term social disputes on labour law. These issues included, for example, binding collective agreements, holiday compensation, etc. Many labour law proposals were never adopted and carried out. There were also polemics on how to approach labour law from the didactic point of view and whether it should be taught at faculties of law. Contributions from the areas of legal history, economic, social and political history, and cultural anthropology would be appreciated.

Ladislav Vojáček – Vladimír Kindl – Martin Štefko (chair)

Panel A4: Strikes, their causes, how they progressed and results

Strikes were an important tool of collective resistance at the time of the Czechoslovak Republic’s formation and early years. This section is seeking for the causes of strikes, the ways participants and supporters were recruited and mobilized, how the strikes played out and their possible results, as well as both obvious and hidden opposition to strikes. It poses the question to what extent the strikes in the era after the WWI resembled those during and before the war. It also explores the public discussion of that time about the right to strike and attempts to restrict them. It is possible to discuss methods and compare the situation with other Central European countries. Contributions from all areas of history, anthropology and philosophy would be appreciated.

Stanislav Knob (chair)

Panel A5: Quality of life and leisure

Among the important indicators of the quality of life of the general public were the amount of free time and especially opportunities for leisure activities. Quality of life as well as free time and how it is spent are closely related to the issue of consumption. The era after World War I brought with it numerous changes to the dominant consumer culture, and also many impulses to the discourse on consumerism – as opposed to the former representative consumption as seen with the high bourgeoisie and nobility and recently also the war-time nouveaux riches, now the ascetic approach and versatility of the modern democratic world were emphasized. This section will focus, among others, on the temperance (abstinence) movement, vegetarianism and other anti-consumerist trends. It also provides an opportunity to explore issues of quality of life and leisure from the perspective of the young state’s social cohesion and its (in)ability to satiate the basic needs of Czechoslovak and other Central European societies. It is also possible to look at the area of collective and community life in connection with sport and exercise, “tramp” groups, hiking and spending time in the countryside, etc.

Martin Franc (chair)

Panel A6: Religion versus secularity

The political changes of 1918 were the first opportunity in Central European history to open up space for the transformation of the (up to that time) privileged status of religion in society. This section focuses on the conflict taking place on several levels – cultural, legal, educational and others. Attention should be given to the ways this social dispute was led on the actual political level, e.g., the form of the political parties which promoted and defended the interests of the Roman Catholic church as well as the collaboration of other political parties with secularist organizations and the secularist movement (e.g., Volná myšlenka, Freidenkerbund für die Tschechoslowakische Republik) and relations of the international headquarters of the Roman Catholic church, the Vatican, and the Czechoslovak Republic. Attention should also be given to issues of everyday life such as the role and influence of religion at schools (compulsory religious lessons), the introduction of legal opportunities for cremation, disputes on marriage law, registry offices, and church funding. However, topics can also cover the establishment of new religious organizations and Central European comparison.

Jaroslav Šebek – Jan Rataj – Antonín Kudláč (chair)