The Velvet Revolution and Modern Czech History in the Eyes of the Czech Population

This paper systematically maps and analyses the opinions of the Czech public on the Velvet Revolution and the social situation in the periods before and after the revolution. It first focuses attention on the image of the Velvet Revolution within the context of Czech modern history, and it explores the opinions of the public on this event. It takes a special look at how the Czech public evaluates the periods before and after 1989 and their perceptions of the entire period since 1989. The Velvet Revolution and related events are viewed mostly as a positive period in Czech history, as a period of rise. The ensuing period is viewed in a similarly positive light, but not as positive as the actual act of changing the political regime. However, a significant difference was found between the Czech public’s evaluation of the first and second decades after the Velvet Revolution. In the public’s view, not every area of life has improved during this period and some areas are even evaluated as worse.