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The first half of the 20th century was in many aspects very complicated period. This paper reveals the reasons behind the existence of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes with focus on the fundamental rise of anti-Jewish moods in the Czech part of the Czechoslovak state occurred in the post-Munich period. The open anti-Jewish behavior of a part of the Czech political spectrum publicly or in print was not avoided, in addition, this trend was gradually showed also in some governmental parties. Therefore, it was not accidental that in the end of 1938, the government circles started to focus to solving of so called the Jewish question particularly in relation to settled Jewish refugees from Germany. This paper tries to show that the anti-Jewish moods were present in the Czechoslovak society before the rise of Nazi regime in Germany. We tries to formulate that even before the occupation of Czech part of Czechoslovakia and before creation of Slovak state just after the Munich agreement from 1938 they were crystallized in some legal acts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Costs in mining and extractive enterprises is a critical factor for competitiveness. The reason is enormously expensive equipment and technology associated with this type of business. It is therefore necessary to identify the so-called critical cost type, not only in enterprise but also in the entire industry of the country. Slovak Republic, calculated on an area, belong to one of the world's mining superpowers and take leading positions in mining of selected types of raw materials [6]. Mineral resources are the basis of production in metallurgy, electrical, chemical, construction and other industries [11]. Mining and processing of most Industrial minerals and Construction materials essentially cover domestic consumption. Article is based on data from the study, which was conducted at the national level, of the Slovak Republic from 2013 to 2016 as well as from the cost items of extractive and mining enterprises, which were processed in context of the cost research for all mining enterprises in the Slovak Republic. Using principle of Pareto analysis and regression models is possible to determine the scientific basis for fundamental management decisions in which area the cost optimization (in other words the Cost management) is needed to implement. Designed optimization model will help to improve the competitive environment and higher efficiency [13] of the mining and extractive industry in Slovakia. Model can be used as part of the strategic cost management to define long-term business objectives within a complex system of cost management. The aim of model designed is to contribute to the systemic cost reduction of extractive and mining enterprises in Slovakia with a view to increasing the liquidity of these companies and improve their position in the competitive environment. As the mining industry is a unique industry in terms of "expensive" for machinery and technological equipment, this model can provide significant support for functioning of Slovak extractive and mining companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In comparison with other economic sectors, the agriculture is known for its specific characteristics. First, the production processes in agriculture are supplemented by a factor of the impact of natural conditions, weather, the length of the production cycle and associated length of current assets turnover. Financing of agriculture is formed from public or private sources in the form of equity capital, loans or gifts to enhance the development of this sector. It includes not only government funds through various grant schemes aimed at supporting the local community, income equality as well as rural development. This paper analyzes the agricultural enterprises in Slovakia from the perspective of financial stability in order to evaluate the selected ratio indicators. Specifically, an equity ratio, as well as an interest coverage ratio, were calculated for a group of agricultural enterprises during the period 2005-2014. Using the statistical methods, this paper also compares the values of selected indicators among individual regions and the Slovak Republic total. Our analysis highlighted the fact, that the values of selected ratios of agricultural enterprises in the Slovak Republic are not statistically significantly different from the values of the individual regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, unemployment and its consequences may be deemed to be in focus of the government's social policy aimed at elimination of possible risks for both individuals and the society. This paper deals with an analysis of development of the unemployment rate and its selected characteristics in Slovakia during the years 2011 - 2015 while focusing on identification of relations between the education level and age of economically active population on one hand and the education level and age of the unemployed on the other hand. The aim of the paper is to analyze the most important changes as concerns the development of unemployment and numbers of the unemployed during the period concerned while factoring in the trend of changes in individual characteristics and examining mutual relations. The obtained results draw attention not only to the continuing trend of the unemployment rate reduction in Slovakia but also to the links among examined characteristics affecting the development of the unemployment rate as to its individual indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third-countries migration is considered to be the security threat to the receiving countries. This hypothesis is widely accepted mostly by the public in the receiving states. However, there are only few scientific studies aiming to verify the hypothesis. With missing evidence that would confirm or deny the theory, securitization of the topic in the EU and particularly in Slovakia as a country with limited immigration history raises. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the nexus migration-security more deeply and apply the general findings on the specific situation in particular countries reflecting their demographic composition, internal policy and national security development. The research has been conducted as follows. First, in order to analyze the influence of migration on the security environment of the state, one needs to explore the current migration situation in the Slovak Republic focusing on numbers of legal and irregular migrants and asylum seekers in the country, as well as migration routes crossing the Slovak territory. Second, security aspects of migration in Slovakia had been analyzed. Leaving out of consideration the horizontal definition of threats as developed by the Copenhagen School, security will be analyzed only in the strict sense of word. Based upon this theoretical narrowing, three interconnections among security and migration had been identified. These include terrorism, transnational organized crime and internal criminal activities related to migration - including both the activities of migrants, as well as activities of the country's citizens conditioned by migrants, such as extremism and racially motivated violence. Finally, following the crime and safety reports of the national security agencies, the paper verifies hypothesis which assumes that thirdcountries migration is a security threat for Slovakia. This is important on one hand to prevent securitization of the topic in the public and its misuse by the media and extreme political groups and on the other hand to be prepared for the potential security threats in cases when the hypothesis will be confirmed as valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migration crisis has distinctively influenced not only individual societies within Europe, their governments or decisions, but it has also affected activities, content, context of various types of media. As soon as the migration crisis has begun to escalate in Europe and the old continent has tried to cope with float of refugees from the war threatened Middle East, not only individual statements of politics and influential individuals but also communication flows themselves, that have created content and context expanded within networks, have begun the center of interest. We can assume that in the previous months (especially in the case of Slovak republic) political and media discourses influenced societal and individual opinions, attitudes within the migration crisis. The main aim of the given article is the comparison of Slovak printed media in the context of migration crisis. The dominant focus will be put on the analysis of media messages in the period considered in the context of creation of political (media, electoral) discourse within the refuge crisis. We assume that over the time the main political discourse changed, and also the rhetoric of the main political actors changed over time. The main reason for this shift is the national election in March 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do parliamentary procedures matter? The answer seems to be obvious and not surprising if we look at the theory and also "worldwide" examples. However, any positive approach to formal and rigid rules governing the decision making in the parliament gives opportunity to raise questions on their efficiency and their capacity to bridge over tensions between the parliamentary majority and the opposition. In case the rules are in the form of law and therefore possibly adjudicated under the judicial review procedure there might be no doubts on the legal authority to interpret the specific balance between the "many" and the "few" voices in the House. For example some of the parliaments do not provide a clear-cut line between the majority and the opposition, some of them do not even have stable factions. Constitutional courts reviews in both Czech and Slovak Republics on legislative procedures are giving us several examples of careful watching over the procedures that reflect the capacity of the parliament to fulfill its functions, mainly the legislative ones. We assume that Courts in both republic show, that for the parliamentary minority (which is not always in opposition to the Government) addressing the Constitutional Court is rather an easy procedure and efficient in terms of the awaited results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many authors who had their scientific-research works focus to the answer of consistent, comprehensive and particularly peaceful transition to democracy. The desired impact stabilized not only the national political system, but also the international relations. It was essential to find one model, which was a prerequisite for meeting the targets. The ideal model of transformation implied the demarcation of the different stages of a comprehensive regime change and the necessary attributes entered to the present accession process. The goal of democracy and a modern political system consisting of republican theory, the democracy and the rule of law was the basic prerequisite of successful transformation. Democratization, democratic transition and transformation were terminological definitions of regime change eventuated in democracy. While the terms noted above were linked to the process of change, the meaning was different. In that context, we had to pick up on American and German schools of political science which clearly differentiated the concepts. Transformation is a comprehensive process of change from one system to another (Philippe Schmitter, Guillermo O'Donnel), while the transition is only a partial part of the previous one (Werner Vennewald, Glendon Schubert). For this reason, it aims to define the fundamental dividing line between the phases of transition and phases of transformation. Considered difference was applied to the democratization of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic after 1989 and its successor states after 1993. Processing of contribution was based on theoretical analysis of research works of certain authors in order to synthesized specific different phases. Historical method, empirical analysis and case study analysis of changes were applied to the conditions of Czechoslovakia; aim of application was to verify the theory of differential stages is applicable to the mentioned case. The result of the review was therefore verifying two hypotheses. We assumed that the transition phases are different from the phases of transformation, while the transition as such, represented one of the transformation phases. We also assumed the previous hypothesis is fully applicable to the case of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Knowledge of differential phases and the possibility of their application in a particular case are important in terms of creating the ideal model of democratic transformation for the potential transformation countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste production and its increase is a logical consequence of the constantly increasing demands of society. Wastes are energy and material potential that can be used to meet other needs of society. The basis is, however, an effective waste management system towards the further processing of waste. From 1 January 2016 in the Slovak Republic, valid for the new law on waste, this should lead to a new waste management system aimed at the increased rate of waste separation. Waste Act provides for waste management in Slovakia extended producer responsibility producers contribute financially to the system of waste collection. The new legislation also tightens up the rules for the collection of scrap metal and increases the demand for separate collection of biodegradable waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of social situation of Roma citizens in Slovakia has been task for Slovak political elites for decades. It seems like no government or municipality is able to prepare real solution with long term effect. The problem also existed during totalitarian era in former Czechoslovakia. The most visible and the most intensive attempts to solve the issue were those from the late 60s and early 70s of the last century. The goal was to identify the main areas that were the cause of the exclusion of the Roma citizens. The special position had the Union of Gypsies - Roma. The biggest problem was the lack of job opportunities for them as the pre-requisite for improvement of their social situation and living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of new tools such as environmental management systems -- EMAS and EMS, environmental accounting, environmental reporting, life cycle assessment (LCA) and many others are available now for the purpose of making companies more environmentally pro-active. The EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a management instrument developed by the European Commission for companies and other organisations to improve their environmental performance. EMS is voluntary tool of the environmental management in the organization, established to manage its important environmental aspects and to achieve conformity with legal requirements. By benefits identification various aspects are monitored by means of a rather large number of indicators, but the most detailed ones mainly refer to aspects where performances improvement means cost reduction and profit increasing. The Paper aims at these benefits of environmnental management systems implementation in the conditions of the Slovak Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper defines and compares the benefits of land consolidation (LC) projects in terms of land ownership fragmentation and also in terms of the landscape on the model of the Czech Republic (CR) and Slovak Republic (SR). There are two basic selected problems. The first is high ownership fragmentation, which is closely related to the limited availability of land, weakened protection of ownership rights, imperfect ownership registry, real inaccessibility of parcels from public field roads etc. The second issue is related to the condition of the rural landscape due to the large imbalance between ecologically stable and unstable surfaces. This imbalance causes higher rates of local flooding, wind throw disasters, high water erosion, irreversible loss of good agricultural land, silting of streams, repeated building damage etc. Next, this paper presents the basic characteristics of ownership in the Czech and Slovak Republics (e.g. average number of co-owners per one plot, number of plots, number of proprietary relations) and compares selected values that represent landscape conditions (e.g. level of water erosion). We start from the basic common historical landmarks that have affected ownership fragmentation and inconsistency between proprietary relations and the present relations of use. Detailed analysis of methodology procedures for land consolidation is performed. Then we compare the input and output data from two completed projects (on the CR and SR). The specific values before and after the design of land consolidation are compared. For example, the portrayal of property, number of plots, number of owners, average size of plot, length of field roads, area of erosion control, water management, ecological stability measures and other issues. The aim of this paper is to highlight the overall strategy of land consolidation, explain the basic principles of design of projects in both countries and provide a foundation for improvement in future coordination, stability and effectiveness in land consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution is focused to prove necessary of establishing the qualification requirements for the performance of the mayor to legislation of Slovak republic by the introduction of continuing problems in the practice of self - government. The dynamic development of society requires a flexible response to emerging issues. Educated employees in the public administration constitute a guarantee for effective use of resources. Increasing the qualification in state government is one of the modernization changes, but in the local self-government seems to be a significant lag. If there is expectation of qualification requirements to managers in the private sector and state government, it also has to be expected from managers in local self-government who are entrusted with managing finances, municipal property and who manage people. Management understands the mayors as local managers, as leaders in their territories. Requirements to enable the mayor in his office success and positively evaluated by people, should be at least similar with preconditions, that are usually required from persons who occupy managerial positions in the private sector and state government. The contribution is defined from management, political and legislative point of view. The aim of contribution is on the basis of analyzes the European and Slovak legislative sources point to the need of establishing a qualification requirements for mayors and recommend these findings to other countries of the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of political party systems in the Slovak and Czech Republic is very specific during last 25 years. It is really questionable if it is stabilized right now or if some other changes can be expected as still new parties emerge. The article deals with current position, influence and strength of relevant political parties in the Slovak and Czech republic within the context of the election to the European parliament in May in 2014 and compares the results with the last parliamentary election in both countries. As the conclusion it offers the possible predictions for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of process management has belonged for recent times to the most interesting topics for specially purposed discussions in Slovakia as well as abroad. It becomes the matter of interest and also of professional discussion among the managers in private and state sectors reflecting the period of life where there are specific expectations on one hand to place the demands on effective work of organizations but on the other hand on their living out procedure in the area of fast competitive growth of other institutions. The great motivation of process management implementation into organizations of public administration is the fact that it brings expected effects in the management of organizations in the private sector. Public administration in the Slovak Republic is divided into state administration and territorial self-government. Territorial self-government is responsible for the activities that are subdivided into five domains called management of communal business, community development, municipal property, environment and service development. The goal of this paper is to present the partial results of research of the process management in the territorial self-government in the Slovak Republic. The contribution is focused on management and modelling of processes relating to the management of communal business administration. The aim is to create global model of processes for this particular area and to deduce recommendations for practice of the business process management of local municipalities with the intent to make their management more effective. The present article is a part of the project VEGA No 1/0098/13 titled "Position of Process Management in Transformation of Traditional Public Administration Organizations into Knowledge Based Organizations". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is successfully applied as a tool for environmental planning and environmental policy in many countries worldwide. It is generally accepted that the environment has three inter-dependent components: economic, socio-political and natural. Consequently, integrated environmental assessment and management coupled with sustainable development is critical, and in order to achieve this goal, effective guidelines and implementable legislation are necessary. EIA legislation differs from country to country. This paper evaluates and compares the effectiveness of the Environmental impact assessment legislation by using the evaluation criteria. The alignment of EIA systems in the east European region could enhance regional sustainable development if managed using similar approaches. This evaluation aims to determine whether any further amendments and guidelines are necessary to improve the effectiveness of these countries' EIA systems using the comparative criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]