Číslo 2 (2016)
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Item Zdeněk JINDRA – Ivan JAKUBEC et al. Hospodářský vzestup českých zemí od poloviny 18. století do konce monarchie Praha: Karolinum 2015, 2nd rev. ed. ISBN 978-80-246-2945-2, 524 pages(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Valkoun, Jaroslav; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, Gabriele
Item Major motives in South African art in the first decade of the 21st century(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Pawłowska, Aneta; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleThe aim of this article is to present an overview of changes which have taken place in Visual Arts in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid in 1994. The artistic issues are shown in a broader perspective of grave alterations which ocurred in South African society and culture after the termination of apartheid. One of the most important aspects concerning contemporary South African Art is the problem of dealing with South Africa’s traumatic past (this problem is the dominating theme of an artistic output of such diverse artists as Minnette Vári,William Kentridge, SueWilliamson, Judith Mason and Kendell Geers). Another extraordinary problem faced by South African present-day art is to find paths in order to construct links between South African art and modern and classical art from Europe. In order to analyze these problems, we take under scrutinous consideration such 21st century artists as Johannes Phokela,Wim Botha, Andrew Putter.Item Hungarian dissent in Romania during the Ceaus, escu era(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Šisler, Filip; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleThe article aims to show a little-known chapter in the history of the Romanian communism, the anti-regime activities of dissidents from the Hungarian minority in Transylvania. It argues that the growing repressions of the Romanian authorities against ethnic Hungarians caused the protest activities of their representatives not only within the RCP structures, but also from the intellectual environment. The particular dissidents from the Hungarian community performed their opposition attitude in the beginning mainly at the domestic level. After they did not meet any constructive reaction from the Romanian state, they tried to draw attention on their situation abroad. However, none of these activities met any real success, especially because it was almost impossible to develop any form of organized and coordinated dissent in such a harsh political environment, like the one existing in Ceaus, escu’s Romania.Item Justice, due process and the rule of law in Nigeria: the story of constable Thomas Shorunke, 1940–1946(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Rotimi, Kemi; Ogunyemi, Adetunji Ojo; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleIn 1940, Nigeria was just one of the four British West African dependencies. Her legal system was still at its infancy and its criminal justice system had just begun to unfold under the watchful but dominant eyes of imperial Britain. Still, in that year, up to 1946, an event of great import to the universally acclaimed doctrine of rule of law happened in the case of a police constable, Thomas Shorunke, who, in the face of daunting challenges and awesomeness of His Majesty, George VI’s (1936–1952) prosecutorial powers, clung to the doctrine to secure justice for himself and to chart a significant path for one of Nigeria’ most profound cases involving questions of the due process of law and substantial justice. In this paper, we show not just the history of the contest between a police officer and the King but, in addition, discuss an aspect of the history of judge-made laws under Nigeria’s criminal justice system and by so doing, document a major exercise in courage and tenacity demonstrated by a junior police officer under colonial rule.Item History of construction of the new building of the Museum of art in Łódź in the context of a political situation(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Sowińska-Heim, Julia; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleIn 1931, an international collection of modern art works was presented for the first time in Łód´z, being then the second largest city in Poland and one of the most important industrial centres. It was a world-class event, since in the 1930s, Łód´z museum was the only Polish and European museum presenting works of the most important avant-garde artists as a part of its permanent exhibition. In the post-war period considerable efforts were taken to erect a new building of the Museum of Art in Łód´z. It was going to be an event on a national scale, since it would be the first modern multifunctional museum built from scratch during the period of People’s Poland. Yet, the lack of perspective thinking and ideological entanglement of cultural institutions, as well as propaganda dictate and the lack of consistency in actions of communist authorities prevented Łód´z from taking the chance of remaining in the very centre of pioneering museum activities.Item Dominions, Great Britain and questions related to imperial foreign Policy implementation and direction in the 1920s and at the beginning of the 1930s(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Valkoun, Jaroslav; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleThe study focuses on the problems of British-Dominion relations with a special regard to the share of the Dominions in formation, execution and direction of the imperial foreign policy in the 1920s and at the beginning of the 1930s. In the post war period, it was expected that recognition of a formal independence and a new international status of the British Dominions would be take place. Concurrently with a wider conception of the Dominion autonomy, a more intensive cooperation was realised within the Empire, which gradually led to a bigger interest of the overseas autonomous units in the decision-making process concerning the direction of the imperial foreign policy. The observed problems concentrated on two main fronts, it means the measure of consultations among the mother country and the Dominions and individual foreign policy questions, crisis, incidents and events that, in reality, contributed to a discussion concerning the share of overseas autonomous units in the formation and execution of the Imperial foreign policy from the side of the British Foreign Office. Balfour Declaration adoption, increasing the importance of the Dominions, began the period that was significant with pacification of debates concerning execution of the imperial foreign policy and during which it was necessary to wait for next few years for this status legislative approval till the adoption of the Statute ofWestminster in December 1931.Item British policy in China and Russo-japanese rivalry in the Far east(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Kodet, Roman; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleBy the end of the 19th century Great Britain had to deal with new serious problems in the Far East. The position of its international rivals – especially Russia – rose considerably during the 90s. This was quite apparent in the northern part of Qing Empire – Manchuria where the Russians gained important concessions and a naval base of Port Arthur. Britain therefore tried to utilize the deepening of the Russo-Japanese rivalry, which was apparent since the second half of the 19th century. After new Russian pressure ensuing the Boxer revolution, London started direct negotiations with Tokyo. Their result was the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, which ended the era of British “Splendid Isolation”. Thanks to this development and naval and economic cooperation of both countries, Japan was able to soundly defeat Russia in the Russo-Japanese war. This was a considerable success of the British diplomacy, which was able to stop its main opponent without going to war itself. On the other hand, the rise of Japan as a Great Power meant, that the Land of the Rising Sun became a key factor in the British position in China. Britain started to be increasingly dependent on its support in next years.Item The Anglo-french rapprochement and the question of Morocco: an uneasy way to the Entente cordiale, 1898–1904(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Šubrtová, Marcela; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleThrough the signature of the Entente Cordiale, France and Great Britain settled their colonial disputes in non-European territories and started the cooperation. The entente became a milestone towards the birth of the alliances, which later clashed in the First World War. Based mainly on the non-published documents, this contribution tries to analyze the motives that permitted the Anglo-French rapprochement from 1898–1904. Attention is paid to the influences of the world diplomacy on the development of the negotiations. Furthermore, this article deals with the Moroccan points of contention between France and Great Britain, which together with the Egyptian question, were of crucial and strategic importance for the development of the Anglo-French relations.Item The emergence of a modern Pilsen and struggle of the Czech national party for the national emancipation of the czech majority in Pilsen in the latter half of the 19th century, using the Krofta family as an example(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Morávková, Naděžda; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleThis paper aims to describe the influence and fate of the prominent Pilsen family Krofta in the latter half of the 19th century and, based on his biography, show the typical process of the formation and development of national capital entrepreneurship and finance. It also attempts to illustrate the penetration of Czech influence into the city administration and local politics and capture the changes in the lifestyle of townspeople and the intelligentsia during the 19th century. The history of the Krofta family is a typical example of how the process of the National Revival reached its peak in a local setting outside Prague.Item Tracing the African origins of Obeah (Obia): some conjectures and inferences from the history of Benin kingdom(Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2016) Usuanlele, Uyilawa; Novotný, Lukáš; Clemens, GabrieleThe practice of Obeah divination among people of African descent in the Americas has long been established to originate fromWest Africa. But the place of origin has remained a subject of speculation. The earliest speculated places of origin were the Akan and the neighbouring Popo. Most recent studies using demographic size and linguistic evidence have concluded that Obeah originated from among the Igbo of the Bight of Biafra in Nigeria. This paper disputes this conclusion and shows that demographic size is least relevant and the linguistic evidence is faulty. It then argues that in spite of the marginal role of Benin Kingdom, Obeah and its early practice are most likely derived from the Edo-speaking people of Benin Kingdom, Nigeria. It substantiates this with historical evidence and etymological inferences from the practice of slavery in the kingdom and its involvement in the Trans-Atlantic trade.
