Developing Mature National Security Systems in Post-Communist States: The Czech Republic and Slovakia

Abstract

This article links underdeveloped national security systems with poor defense capabilities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The problems highlighted in the Czech and Slovak cases are indicative of the struggle across the postcommunist political space to grow mature national security systems. National security professionals' ability to participate collaboratively in the national security process is limited by the lack of professionals with specific and overlapping areas of political-military expertise. The article spells out specific deficiencies within the Czech and Slovak national security systems. Unfocused governmental leadership and guidance, the absence of involved and informed parliaments, the lack of professionally mature media capable of facilitating a national debate on defense issues, and defense ministries and general staffs resistant to reform all contribute to the underperformance of national security institutions. The current efforts to fundamentally transform the Czech and Slovak militaries are also addressed with an eye toward analyzing and predicting the obstacles to their implementation.