Číslo 2 (2010)

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    Metternich Staatsmann zwischen Restauration und Moderne
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Šedivý, Miroslav
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    Jánošíci s těžkou hlavou Mýty a realita Slovenska očima českého reportéra
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Rosůlek, Přemysl
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    Teorie nevzdělanosti Omyly společnosti vědění
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Fenclová, Marie
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    Rozhovor s Mawatle Jerry Mojalefa a Philemon Buti Skhosana
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Mildnerová, Kateřina
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    Lekgothoane's praise poetry: an aesthetic discourse
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Mojalefa, Mawatle Jerry
    In this article, Shika Kgomedi Lekgothoane's artistic poetic works collected in ‘Praises of Animals in Northern Sotho’ (Van Warmelo, 1937) are assessed on three parts: a biographical sketch, a text and a reader in order to give a map to negotiate his creative skills. Lekgothoane is a traditional praise poet. His praise poetry falls within the delimitation of nature, which is not associated with leadership as is expected in this type of poetic work. The article proposes that nature as recited by him, enables the reader to understand fully the whole universe including its living things (animals). This indicates that Lekgothoane's environment is the place where cultural and traditional behaviour, customs and humanity are taught. His poems thus evoke a spirit of nationality.
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    The (ama)Ndebele of Africa and their name ‘(ama)Ndebele’
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Skhosana, Philemon Buti
    Some scholars still continue to confuse or to misunderstand the relationship within the (ama)Ndebele of Africa as a result of the divergent opinions propounded by scholars regarding the historical origin these ethnic groups. First, historians, anthropologists and linguists such as Fourie (1921), Van Warmelo (1930), Van Vuuren (1983) and others regard the (ama)Ndebele of the Republic of South Africa (which are divided into Southern and Northern (ama)Ndebele) to be historically related. Others regard them as distinct ethnic groups. Secondly, while some consider the South African (ama)Ndebele and those of Zimbabwe to be distinct from each other, others regard them as related. What makes matters more confusing regarding the relationship of these (ama)Ndebele ethnic groups of Africa, is the fact that they share the same ethnic name ‘(ama)Ndebele’ and the same language ‘isiNdebele’. The aim of this article is, therefore, twofold a) to investigate and discuss the historical background of (ama)Ndebele found within the borders of the Republic of South Africa and those of Zimbabwe and b) to examine and discuss the origin of the ethnic name ‘Ndebele’ or ‘amaNdebele’. The name ‘amaNdebele’ or simply ‘Ndebele’ is a generic name used to refer to the Nguni groups found in and outside the borders of the Republic of South Africa. The historical origin of the name ‘(ama)Ndebele’ is also re-visited, evaluated and discussed. In conclusion, the article shows that the (ama)Ndebele people of the Republic of Africa (i.e., Southern and Northern (ama)Ndebele) are historically related but neither is related to those of Zimbabwe despite the fact that they share the same ethnic name ‘(ama)Ndebele’ and the same language ‘(isiNdebele)’.
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    The concept of an owl depicted in ‘Makxothlo’ [The Owls]
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Mojalefa, Mawatle Jerry
    This article, argues that in his poem, ‘Makxothlo’ [The Owls] which is one of the shortest praise poems in Sepedi*, Lekgothoane praises nature more than traditional leaders and tribes. He praises the importance of birds in the lives of people, focusing more on the owl's nature than on culture and tradition. According to Bapedi (a nation speaking Sepedi) tradition and culture, people associate the owls with the concept of death. Notwithstanding this, Lekgothoane confirms that the owl concept can also symbolize life. Therefore this concept is meaningful and significant in the lives of Bapedi. Lekgothoane tries to explain the term, the owls, so that it becomes a concept that surprises readers. The concept becomes alien in the minds of readers for the owls are no longer defined according to their custom and habit; they have been transformed into a species of living beings. Therefore readers start to observe Lekgothoane's intention about these owls. They are distinct from the owls the reader is familiar with. The poet employs paradox to interpret the symbolic meaning of the owls.
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    Etiopie na cestě k diktatuře: jak hodnotit vládu Melese Zenawiho?
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Záhořík, Jan
    Ethiopia is probably the most important country in the Horn of Africa as we can suggest according to the renewed Czech interests as well as economic presence of mainly Asian countries. Moreover, Ethiopia is a country whose stability directly influences neighboring areas and that is why it has been chosen by the US administration as the major partner in the ‘war on terror’. Internal political life has been shaped by elimination of democratic elements and strengthening of the position of the dominant party, Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), and its head, the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. In the past decade Ethiopians witnessed systematic abuse of state power, physical elimination of political rivals and opposition leaders, and emigration of hundreds of others. Ethiopia has thus become the target of criticism coming from the West. The rule of Meles Zenawi is labeled by journalists as well as scholars as a “Stalinist”, “authoritarian” type of rule, or “dictatorship”, and in this sense it is often compared to the Mengistu Haile Mariam Marxist regime (1977–1991). In this study I attempt to discuss major features of the contemporary regime and show some concrete examples of TPLF policy in Ethiopia. The study is based on recent literature, Ethiopian newspapers, and interviews with scholars and informants and generally on my own research I have been conducting in Ethiopia since 2008.
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    Britská zahraniční politika a Egypt v 80. letech 19. století
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Valkoun, Jaroslav
    The opening of the Suez Canal and the bargain of the share in the Suez Canal Company were important moments for British imperial policy, which also considerably increased Britain's interest in Egypt. In 1882, following the instability of the Khedivate, Great Britain decided to occupy Egypt for strategic and imperial reasons. The occupation set the fur flying, in particular between Britain and France. Her Majesty's Government considered two alternative solutions – withdrawal, or a reform policy and modernization of Egypt. The economic depression, due mainly to Arabi's revolt and an expensive and failed military expedition to Suakin, forced the British Consul-General in Cairo, Sir Evelyn Baring, to open negotiations about Egyptian financial affairs, in which France had pronounced influence. The subsequently summoned conference (summer 1884) of Great Powers in London did not lead to an agreement, as the conferees did not concur on when Britain should abandon Egypt. In June 1885, the new British Prime Minister, Marquis of Salisbury, looking at the occupation as a “milestone of the British foreign policy”, and an “unbearable burden” at the same time, decided for a quick withdrawal from Egypt in order to relieve the British diplomatic position in Europe. For this purpose, he despatched the diplomat Sir Henry Drummond- Wolff to Constantinople to reach an agreement with the Sublime Porte on the British presence in Egypt. The preliminary treaty was signed almost immediately, the ensuing negotiations in Cairo, however, led rather to idle talks than stark facts.In May 1887, Sir Henry succeeded in his effort to conclude a British-Ottoman convention on Egypt, which solved up to the time's the problematic position of the British troops in the country. Great Britain promised that in case of the agreement's ratification their army would be withdrawn within three years. Joint French-Russian pressure and threats to the Sultan and his empire gave rise the decline of the agreement. Thus, the Drummond-Wolff's mission fell short of expectation. Despite Sir Henry's failure, the British diplomacy managed to push through the passage of the British-Ottoman convention on the Suez Canal. In October 1888, following complicated British-French talks, the representatives of European Powers and the Ottoman Empire signed an extensive document ensuring free navigation in the Suez Canal in periods of peace and war.
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    Dětští vojáci: oběti nebo kati?
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Strnad, Štěpán
    The article studies questions relating to the dilema of the child soldiers' criminal responsibility. Firstly, it presents the conceptualisation process of childhood in the European societies and impacts of colonialism on African childhood. Further, there is a brief analysis of the international law rules which prohibit child recruiting and child participation in armed conflicts. The main interest focuses on the individual criminal responsibility codified by the international law in the sphere of the abuse of child soldiers and the dilemma of child's responsibility for crimes against the international law. In the last part there is a presentation of several cases of application of criminal responsibility on former child soldiers during the post-conflict process in the countries which passed civil armed conflicts. Examples are chosen from Liberia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.
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    Knižní paratextová strategie českých překladů Raymonda Queneaua
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Müllerová, Lenka
    The paper deals with paratexts of the books of Raymond Queneau (French novelist), which are formed for the purpose, to inform future recipient (the audience) on the primary text, provide instruction for the reception, entice and call potential reader (eventually owner) of to the reception of the work or buy the physical object of the book. Paratexts are the important elements that denote a possible reader the way of the interpretation and guide much his future receptive activities. These aspects form czech reader's awareness writting of the Raymond Queneau: author's text, publishing strategy, description, form and authorship of the peritexts.
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    Egyptská mušáhara/kabsa aneb potýkání se s ženskou neplodností
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Písařová, Petra
    This paper focuses on infertility within an Islamic context and proves that it is rather a cultural than a physiological issue. It mostly refers to Marcia C. Inhorn and her research in Egypt and Lebanon that she has conducted over the past 20 years. Female infertility (mushahara or kabsa) is here analyzed as a rich ritual comlex with features typical of rites of passage. Finally, the social impact of assisted reproductive technologies and psychological stigmatization of infertile Muslim men are discussed.
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    Postava velekněze v Izraeli a Mezopotámii
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Moulis, David Rafael; Žouželková, Eva
    Everyday life of all peoples of the Near East was influenced by religion. We have abundant evidence of persons connected with the cult and thereby gaining great influence not only socially, but also in the political way of life. The position of high-priest was one of these. This article deals with this position in ancient Israel and Mesopotamia through the years.
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    Kemalism and Modern Turkey
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Adamczyk, Andrzej
    The paper is devoted to internal contradictions of Kemalism, resulting from two tendencies which were distinct visible in Turkey during the life of Kemal Atatürk: a democratic one, represented by the constitutional acts from the years 1920–1924, and an authoritarian one, which was connected with the ideology of Kemalism. The institutional changes in Turkey in the 1920s had been directed towards introduction of a democratic constitutional order, but lack of proper social and economic premises made application of democratic constitutional norms difficult, facilitating transition to the single-party system contradictory to democratic principles. In the first part of the paper the author describes the most important constitutional acts, beginning from the 1876 Ottoman Constitution till the 1924 Turkish Constitution. This analysis shows beyond doubt that the goal of political system's reform was introduction of the democratic constitutional order. The form of government chosen by Turkey had many disadvantages however which were listed in the paper. The second part of the paper is devoted to the second tendency, distinct visible in Turkey during the Atatürk presidency, i.e. the authoritarian tendency. The author underlines main events directing towards reversal of constitutional relations between the parliament (the Grand National Assembly) and executive in favour of the executive, and presents in a concise manner conclusions from an analysis of the six principles of Kemalism (‘the six arrows’). He maintains that incorporation of these prinicples into the Turkish Constitution in 1937 caused internal contradictions in the Constitution. The author tries to find reasons of the said contradictions.
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    Medieval London as Seen through the Eyes of Czech and German Travellers
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Mišterová, Ivona
    The aim of this article is to analyze the first depictions of London in Czech literature, namely in travel journals of the Czech writer and traveller Wenzel Schaseck of Birkov and the German burgher Gabriel Tetzel of Gräfenberg and Nuremburg who accompanied the Czech nobleman Leo of Rozmital and Blatna on his diplomatic mission through western European countries in the years 1465 to 1467. Furthermore, similarities and differences between Schaseck's and Tetzel's accounts of London are pointed out and discussed. The comparative analysis of both travel journals and historical sources will uncover not only the similarities and differences regarding the depiction of their mission and particularly the city of London, but also the credibility of their observations. Finally, the article concludes that Schaseck's and Tetzel's travel journals present not only a valuable illustration of late Medieval Europe and a specific Medieval way of thinking, but also a unique picture of Medieval London as seen through the eyes of non-English writers and travellers.
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    Úvodní slovo
    (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2010) Budil, Ivo
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