Czech Sociology and Transformation

This chapter analyses the role of sociology in the transformation of Czechoslovak and, subsequently, Czech society from the model of so-called real socialism to a liberal-democratic regime and market capitalism. In the first part, we reflect on the historical development of sociology, its anchoring in Czechoslovak society and with a specific emphasis on its relationship with the political system. We aim to present the fractures associated with the rise of totalitarian regimes and periods of revitalisation and liberalisation. We pay particular attention to the period of the so-called Prague Spring (1967–1969) because, in this short period, discourses and epistemic communities were already forming, which played an important role in the transition to democracy in 1989 and the following decades of transformation. The main part of the analysis then focuses on the role of sociology in the new democratic conditions, assessing, in particular, the impact on Czech politics and policy, as well as the emphasis on key priorities related to the changing characteristics of Czech society and its political and institutional culture. The analysis more or less traces the changes in governments dominated by the two key parties of the transition period and shows how centre-left governments sought to exploit the analytical and futurological potential of sociology, while centre-right governments preferred economic expertise within the social sciences. Our analysis showed little influence of sociology on Czech politics, including the formulation of public policies.