The aim of this text is a summary of the conceptual work of Czechoslovak institutions in the field of cultural relations with France in the years 1960–1968. Based on the analysis of the most basic conceptual materials from those years, the author tries to evaluate the development and changes of the official concept of cultural policy of Czechoslovakia to France in the Novotny regime and during the Prague Spring and its ideological and other background as well as the real impact on the actual conduct of cultural relations.
In the 1960s the communist-controlled Czechoslovakia strongly ideologically opposed the Western countries both in terms of public promotional activities as well as in the internal materials of the Czechoslovak state authorities. Their anti-Western rhetoric was also focused on the system of government and economic situation. It is also the focus of this contribution which uses France as an example. It is based on contents and linguistic analysis of the materials of the Czechoslovak diplomatic service and the newspaper Rudé právo.
In 1965 the French left-wing parties joined forces and lent support to their common presidential candidate François Mitterrand. However several left-wing candidates ran for President in the following election in 1969. What were the reasons for suspending the unification process? Was it the occupation of the Czechoslovakia or student riots in 1968? Could that be ideological divergences or personal conflicts between French left-wing forces? The article is based on analysis of press releases, political science research made in the 1960s and observations of the Czechoslovak embassy in Paris.
Communist Czechoslovakia was looking for opportunities for ideological action in western countries at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s. It should have the widest possible range, at the same time it had to be however so inconspicuous so that it did not prompt a negative reaction of local authorities. Purpose-built updating of selected anniversaries of historical events was an interesting tool of Czechoslovak propaganda. In the case of France, particularly events related to Germany were remembered. Actually, the aim of that propaganda was – first of all – to point out the alleged danger arising from the cooperation of western countries with the Federal Republic of Germany, which resulted for example in the Élysée Treaty in 1963.