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Affairs in Czech Public Life that Need to be Spoken About! 

Within the framework of the exhibition The Lucifer Effect, the DOX centre for contemporary art has prepared a programme of interviews with important figures from the worlds of politics, culture and civic society focused on the hot issue of affairs and scandals in Czech public life that need to be discussed!

All interviews take place from 5 pm.
Entrance fee: CZK 60 / CZK 40 for art schools students / free with a valid ticket
Reservations: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

19.10.2011 from 17:00: Věra Tydlitátová - Markéta Hejná

Věra Tydlitátová: Politician, artist, journalist, Judaist, and researcher in the field of theology from the Czech Republic. She is focussed on extremism and xenophobia and is a founder of the League Against Anti-Semitism. Since 2001 she has been working at the Center for Middle East Studies at the Department of Anthropology at the University of West Bohemia.
Markéta Hejná: Poet, prose writer, essayist. She was a former editor of the magazine Zlatý máj (Golden May) at the Albatros publishing house before later working as an editor at publishers Zvon. At present she is an external editor for the Nakladatelství Franze Kafky (Franz Kafka Publishing House) at the Franz Kafka Center, the Karmelitánské nakladatelství (Carmelite Publishers), and other publishers. She is also active in the creative arts.

21.10.2011 from 17:00: Miroslav Brož - Markus Pappe
"Hatred is not the solution"

Miroslav Brož: Spokesman for the civic initiative Hatred is Not the Solution. Is also actively involved in the group We Don’t Want Neo-Nazis in Ústí.
Markus Pappe: German journalist based in Prague; is focused on issues related to the racial persecution of Czech citizens in both the Nazi and present-day eras. Is the author of the book And Nobody Will Believe You on the concentration camp at Lety, South Bohemia.

26.10.2011 from 17:00: PhDr. Petr Blažek, Ph.D. - Martin Vadas
"Major Zeman – fear that denigrated the Mašín brothers"

PhDr. Petr Blažek, Ph.D.: Historian focused on the history of the Communist regimes in Czechoslovakia and Poland. Works for the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and the Institute of Contemporary History. Editor and author of numerous books and other publications. Has served as an expert advisor to the makers of documentaries and feature films.
Martin Vadas: Documentary maker, director, camera-man, is engaged in the area of understanding the Nazi and Communist totalitarian past in the former Czechoslovakia. Among his many films is the 1996 documentary “A Country Without Heroes, A Country Without Criminals…” about the resistance activities of the group that included the Mašín brothers, Milan Paumer, Václav Švéda, Zbyňek Janata, and Vladimír Hradec.

31.10.2011 from 17:00: Doc. Ing. Petr Drulák, Ph.D. - Ing. Jiřina Dienstbierová
It is apparent that alternative to capitalism in the 20th century did not work… What social organisation can replace the existing capitalism? What type of new leaders do we need? What organs, including those of control and repression? (Slavoj Žižek, The Guardian, 26.10)

Doc. Ing. Petr Drulák, Ph.D.: Director of the Institute of International Relations in Prague, since 2005 has been an external lecturer at the Metropolitan University in Prague. Is an associate professor at the Institute of Political Studies and the Institute of International Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University.
Ing. Jiřina Dienstbierová: A graduate of the Czech Technical University, she is executive director of the Council for International Relations. Has been actively involved in the co-ordinating centre of Civic Forum, the Civic Forum Foundation, the Ministry of Finance, and the Center for Social and Economic Strategies at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University. Director of the Information Centre for Cooperation with Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2.11.2011 from 17:00: Prof. Václav Bělohradský - Ing. Jiřina Dienstbierová
Around the world there are increasing suggestions that the financial and economic crises are a sign of a fundamental crisis of the whole contemporary system. Do you agree with this assessment? If so, do you believe that the solution lies in reforming the system, or are we witnessing the beginning of the end? If you believe in the former opinion, what kind of reforms should they be? If you accept the second proposition, try to answer a question posed by Slavoj Žižek (replace the term capitalism, which is ideologically coloured, with the more neutral expression ‘dominant social system’).

Prof. Václav Bělohradský: Distinguished contemporary philosopher and sociologist. Worked at the Antonio Rosmini philosophical institute in Genoa, where from 1973 he was professor of sociology. Collaborated with Czech exile magazines and publishing houses and dissidents within Czechoslovakia. Since 1990 has been professor of political sociology at the University of Trieste and a visiting professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University.
Ing. Jiřina Dienstbierová: A graduate of the Czech Technical University, she is executive director of the Council for International Relations. Has been actively involved in the co-ordinating centre of Civic Forum, the Civic Forum Foundation, the Ministry of Finance, and the Center for Social and Economic Strategies at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University. Director of the Information Centre for Cooperation with Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

3.11.2011 from 17:00: Prof. PhDr. Vladimíra Dvořáková, CSc. - Ing. Jiřina Dienstbierová
Ongoing systematic fraud and the evident unwillingness to call the guilty to account is gradually robbing the current system of its legitimacy. Will the result by a return to authoritarian regimes either in a creeping way as seen in Hungary, or a takeover on the Putin model? Will history repeat itself?

Prof. PhDr. Vladimíra Dvořáková, CSc.: Political scientist, head of the Political Studies Department at the Faculty of International Relations at the University of Economics, chairwoman of the Czech accreditation committee. Originally a historian (Faculty of Arts, Charles University). From 2003 to 2006 was vice president of the International Political Science Association.
Ing. Jiřina Dienstbierová: A graduate of the Czech Technical University, she is executive director of the Council for International Relations. Has been actively involved in the co-ordinating centre of Civic Forum, the Civic Forum Foundation, the Ministry of Finance, and the Center for Social and Economic Strategies at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University. Director of the Information Centre for Cooperation with Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

4.11.2011 from 17:00: MUDr. Alena Dernerová - Andrej Babiš
What can an individual do to limit corruption? The phrase “the fight against corruption” that citizens hear uttered by the representatives of political parties, particularly those in power, has ceased to be credible. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, in recent times we have seen initiatives by individuals – whether business people, state officials, citizens or politicians – coming forward with concrete actions and projects. To date, these initiatives have been isolated, a fact fuelled by both public scepticism and targeted efforts to undermine their legitimacy. Businessman Andrej Babiš and Senator Alena Dernerová have specific experience of corruption in their fields and have decided to do something about it. Therefore it will be interesting to hear their views on efforts to question their initiatives, and the possibilities they see in hitherto isolated individuals coming together and overcoming the passivity of citizens and the business sphere.

MUDr. Alena Dernerová: Politician, doctor, representative of the city of Most. Successfully stood in 2010 for the Czech Senate, where she is a member of the Committee for Health and Social Policy. Received the František Kriegl Award from the Charter 77 Foundation in 2010. Also holds the LOK – SČL (Czech doctors association) prize for bravery.
Andrej Babiš: Businessman, owner of the agro-chemical company Agrofert.

 7.11.2011 from 17:00: Lukáš Jelínek - Míra Sláva
"Identity as an instrument of surveillance, monitoring, and control”

Is the right to privacy gradually disappearing in a contemporary world ruled by electronic technology? Is Orwell’s vision in the novel 1984 more real today than it was in the year 1984? Can we do anything to guard against this general trend, and if so what?

Lukáš Jelínek: Member of Anti-Fascist Action, other information on his identity was not ascertainable.
Míra Slava: Member of art group Ztohoven, other information on his identity was not ascertainable.

9.11.2011 from 17:00: Karel Randák - Jindřich Šídlo
"Corruption as a security risk"

Around the world there are increasing suggestions that the financial and economic crises are a sign of a fundamental crisis of the whole contemporary system. Do you agree with this assessment? If so, do you believe that the solution lies in reforming the system, or are we witnessing the beginning of the end? At the beginning of October, Karel Randák made the following assessment in a TV discussion on corruption with the MP Marek Benda: “Politicians are primarily to blame for the current profusion of corruption, and they should be called to account.” Such a weighty pronouncement begs the question: How should that calling to account be achieved, if the interference of politicians into the work of the courts and police is in the headlines nearly every day? It is seen either in simple inaction, such as in the case involving the privatisation of the company Mostecká uhelná and Swiss bank accounts, or in “action” that drags on so long that cases are effectively swept under the carpet. All the indications are that the latter fate awaits ongoing investigations in the cases of Kalousek, Roman, Drobil, and Bárta. It is what has happened in nearly all previous cases involving politicians or business people closely linked to them. Do citizens have any means of calling the politicians in question to account? Apart from the great financial damage, corruption is a serious security risk because it is an effective tool of organised crime and various foreign organisations including intelligence services that could damage or even threaten Czech national interests. What instruments does the state have in this area? And to what extent can it employ them if all signs are that many politicians have already succumbed to corruption?

 Karel Randák: Soldier, police officer, served as an officer of the Czechoslovak and later Czech intelligence services, former director of the Czech foreign intelligence service. In March 2011 became a member of the board of governors of Karel Janeček’s Anti-Corruption Endowment.
Jindřich Šídlo: Journalist, former head of domestic news at Czech Television, commentator for newspaper Hospodářské noviny. Received the Ferdinand Peroutka Award for journalism in 2007.

11.11.2011 from 17:00: Bishop Václav Malý - Mikuláš Kroupa
"Forms of evil past and present and how they are connected"

One fundamental question posed by the exhibition The Lucifer Effect in reference to the work of Philip Zimbardo is this: If it is possible to make from a good person somebody who participates in the commission of evil, is the opposite transformation also possible? This leads to further questions: Is the evil of the past repeated in modified forms? How much can past experience and reflection on it limit or end a cycle of evil or a cycle of violence? What role do politicians, citizens, educators, non-profits and the church play in this question? How should we perceive current efforts on the part of the minister of education to inculcate national pride and his support for an employee that identifies with fascist views? Or the rapprochement between political power and the independent church sphere, which October’s “St. Martin’s Proclamation of the Catholic Bishops” highlighted in reaction to President Vaclav Klaus’s speech at a religious service in Stará Boleslav? Bishop Václav Malý, who has considerable personal experience of the evil of the past, will attempt to answer those questions, as will the director of the civic association Post Bellum, Mikuláš Kroupa, who is involved in a long-term educational project on questions of contemporary Czech history.

Monsignor Bishop Václav Malý: Titular bishop, auxiliary bishop of Prague
Mikuláš Kroupa: Journalist, editor at Czech Radio’s Rádio Česko, director of the civic association Post Bellum and head of the Memory of Nation project.

14.11.2011 from 17:00: Ilona Švihlíková - Miroslav Kerouš
"Corruption – yesterday, today and tomorrow"

A review of the development of corruption in the Czech context. Factors leading to a decrease or a spreading of corruption. Who does corruption bother and who does it suit? Corruption as a form or informal/illegal redistribution of public resources. Corruption in the age of globalisation and the information explosion. How can the citizen, community, municipality and whole society protect itself from corruption? An attempt to understand the problem of corruption and the position of the citizen and citizens’ initiatives.

Ilona Švihlíková: Head of the Politics, Social Sciences, and Economics Department at Prague’s University of International and Public Relations. Focused on international economic relations, various aspects of globalisation, currency issues, energy security, and the general connection between economics and politics. Works externally at Prague’s University of Economics. Coordinator of Alternativa Zdola (Alternative From Below), a civic initiative supporting local economic development and other activities.
Miroslav Kerouš: Economist who graduated from the University of Economics and had a residency at Washington’s Georgetown University. Helped establish the Czech National Bank in the post of vice governor and also served as member of the board of the National Property Fund. Later worked in the commercial banking field before becoming a consultant in 1998. Has served on the statutory bodies of numerous companies during his career. Also a member of Alternativa Zdola.

16.11.2011 from 5 p.m.: Marie Klusáčková – Naďa Růžková
“Violence in the family”

Marie Klusáčková – studied sociology and social policy, now working on a master’s degree in public and social policy at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University. Her research work focuses on domestic violence and policies to prevent and combat domestic violence: how these policies are formed and how they react to the problem of domestic violence. With senator Gajdůšková’s team she has co-organised human rights conferences and meetings.
Naďa Růžková – studied social care and policy at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň. Has experience from the Crisis Centre of S.O.S. Archa and sheltered housing of the Duha citizens’ association; headed the working group on the Protocol on Sexuality and Relationships of the Duha Sheltered Housing and a group of confidants in the area of sexuality for the mentally disabled. Now works as the coordinator of the work training programme for the mentally disabled of the citizens’ association Máme Otevřeno? and as a social worker in the proFem organisation, which helps victims of domestic violence.

21.11.2011 from 5 p.m.: Jan Černý – Martin Kovalčík
“Šluknov District – a warning for the Czech Republic”

Jan Černý – director of the Social Integration Programme, People In Need. Studied social policy and social work. Underwent a five-year training course in SUR dynamic group addiction psychotherapy at the Skála Institute. Has worked with drug addicts. Ran the Ústí nad Labem branch of the People In Need organisation; since 2009 the director of the Social Integration Programme.
Martin Kovalčík – media coordinator of the Social Integration Programme, People In Need. Studied economics at the Czech University of Life Sciences. After studying spent five years working for Metro daily newspaper, two years of which as news editor-in-chief. Since 2008 he has worked on Social Integration Programmes as media coordinator, where communication with the public is one of his duties.

23.11.2011 from 5 p.m.: Prof. PhDr. Tomáš Halík, Th.D.
“Tolerance or love of one’s enemies?”

Prof. PhDr. Tomáš Halík, Th.D. – religious scholar, Catholic theologian, priest, psychologist and sociologist of religion. Professor at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague; president of the Czech Christian Academy; rector of the university Church of the Holy Saviour.

24.11.2011 from 5 p.m.: Doc. MUDr. Jan Payne, PhDr. – Mgr. Miroslav Čejka
“Evil and its forms in contemporary society”

The question of the origin of evil has been part of western thought since the very beginning. The historical development of western civilisation has shown the diverse number of forms evil can take. Wars, authoritarian regimes, ideological propaganda and also less visible evil in the form of personal hatred or heedlessness have not left our society, even after the cruel historical experiences of the twentieth century. On the contrary, evil always comes to the fore wherever there is personal and public social and economic discontent. Is there any way to fight evil, and what resources can be employed? Is it possible to identify a threat of evil and, if it is, can it be resisted? Are the techno-social changes taking place in contemporary society bringing new forms of evil we need to be on guard against, or are we on the brink of a repetition of the previous century’s social unrest and wars?

Doc. Ing. PhDr. Jan Payne, PhD. – neurologist, philosopher and bio-ethicist working at the 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University since 1990; one of his fields of interest is the question of evil in humankind
Mgr. Miroslav Čejka – vicar of the Protestant Church of Czech Brethren in Hlinsko and chaplain of the Prison Service of the Czech Republic working at Světlá nad Sázavou prison; has been involved with prisons since 1990.

25.11.2011 from 5 p.m.: Petr Bartoň, MA – Mgr. Martin Škabraha, PhD.
“The current economic and social crisis: what is the way out?”

All over the world it is increasingly claimed that the financial and economic crisis is a symptom of a more fundamental crisis of the present-day system as a whole. Do you agree with this diagnosis and, if you do, do you think the solution to this crisis is reform of the system, a kind of perestroika of capitalism, or are we witnessing the beginning of its end? If you hold the former opinion, what reforms are necessary? If you hold the latter opinion, try to answer the questions posed by Slavoj Žižek in The Guardian newspaper: It is evident that the 20th century alternatives to capitalism did not work. What kind of social organisations can replace the existing capitalism? What kind of new leaders is required? And what organs, including organs of control and repression?

Petr Bartoň, MA – economist; assistant at the economics department of the University of Economics; external teacher at the regional studies department of the same university. One of the topics he makes public pronouncements on is the phenomenon of “the vice economy”.
Mgr. Martin Škabraha PhD. – philosopher currently working at the University of Ostrava; heads the literary quarterly Texty. Actively publishes in print and online periodicals, e.g. the cultural weekly A2, the Salon supplement of Právo newspaper and Britské listy.

27.11.2011 from 5 p.m.: Doc. Ing. Ivan M. Havel, CSc., Ph.D. – Doc. MUDr. Václav Mikota
“Psychopaths and Sociopaths”

Who can be called a hero in today’s society? Where can we find heroes to serve as a positive role model? As the American psychologist Philip Zimbardo shows in his project “The Heroic Imagination”, any one of us can become a hero. According to Zimbardo, evil’s main strategy is to tempt where its presence seems minimal: in everyday situations like lying, bullying, cheating, ridiculing or humiliating others. Our heroism consists in taking a stand against this kind of behaviour. This kind of everyday heroism restricts the spread of evil on a greater scale and fosters heroes whose actions put them at risk of more than just disagreement or confrontation. There are people like this among us, but the public often does not hear about them. The Michal Velíšek Prize awarded in Prague or the Salvator Award in Zlín honours one such hero every year. But we need to hear about these kinds of people more often than just once a year. Everyone knows someone who has done something heroic, left his comfort zone to help a stranger or in the public interest. What can we, as citizens, politicians, businessmen or journalists, do to ensure we learn more about the heroes in our midst?

Doc. Ing. Ivan M. Havel, CSc., Ph.D. – employee and former director of the Centre for Theoretical Study, an institution jointly run by Charles University and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. He is editor-in-chief of the magazine Vesmír. His current work at the Centre for Theoretical Study deals with cybernetics, artificial intelligence, robotics, cognitive sciences and philosophical questions. Awarded the Gold Medal of Charles University in 2008.
Doc. MUDr. Václav Mikota – specialist in psychiatry and psychoanalysis; a member of the Czech Psychoanalytical Society.

28.11.2011 from 5 p.m.: Jiří Šteg – Jana Zoubková
“Is bottom-up change of the political system arising out the environment of alternative civic movements possible in the Czech Republic and the rest of the world?”

Despite the sympathy for the current global wave of demonstrations, sceptical voices about their possible upshot can also be heard. That was the opinion, for example, presented by Simon Jenkins in The Guardian newspaper. He gave reasons for doubting that there would be a change in the centre of government, which has shifted from local representatives to backroom deals between lobbyists and think tanks. In the Czech Republic political commentators often take a negative attitude to demonstrations or are very sceptical, albeit for different reasons from Jenkins (see articles by Jan Hartl, Petr Drulák et al.); what is more, it seems that there is also a lack of support here from the majority of the population. As organisers of a recent demonstration in Prague what is your view of these opinions and how did you see the chances for change in the Czech Republic?

Jiří Šteg – spokesman of the ProALT initiative, economist and former diplomat. Intensively deals with issues encompassing sociology, philosophy and economics. Currently teaches at university and publishes on the web servers of Deník Referendum and Britské listy.
Jana Zoubková – translator; worked in the Office of the President of the Czech Republic; publishing company editor and amateur art methodologist. Linked to the ProALT initiative.

2.12.2011 from 5 p.m.: Prof. Václav Bělohradský – Jiří David
“Is it possible to fight against evil? What resources can be employed? Is it possible to identify a threat of evil and, if it is, how can it be resisted?”

Prof. Václav Bělohradský – eminent contemporary philosopher and sociologist. Worked at the Antonio Rosmini philosophy institute in Genoa; from 1973 was professor of sociology at the university in Genoa and collaborated with Czech exile magazines and publishers and with the domestic dissent movement. Since 1990 he has been professor of political sociology at Trieste university and guest professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University.
Jiří David – painter, photographer. Co-founder of the Tvrdohlaví art group (1987). From 1995 to 2002 he was head of the visual communication studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Since 2004 head of the Intermedia Confrontation Studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague.

5.12.2011 from 5 p.m.: Václav Dejčmar – Karel Janeček
“Psychopaths in politics and business”

Society is structured like a pyramid. The relatively small group of people at the top of the pyramid creates the conditions for the remaining majority. But who are these people? Recent studies by renowned psychiatrists have shown that an above-average incidence of individuals with objectively diagnosed personality defects can be found among senior managers and politicians. They are self-centred, inconsiderate and manipulative, and do not feel compassion or guilt. Modern research into psychopathy has defined this problem as neurobiological and talks of an abnormal brain structure. Some centres of the brain are not connected, some parts are not active. If these individuals are successful, they become pathological role models.

Václav Dejčmar – co-owner of the DOX Centre of Contemporary Art; director of the film Fishead (www.FHmovie.com)
Karel Janeček – co-owner of RSJ Algorithmic Trading; founder of the Foundation Fund against Corruption (www.nfpk.cz)

7.12.2011 from 5 p.m.: Slavomil Hubálek – Lucia Gažiová – Jiřina Dienstbierová – Jiří Pehe
“Violence in today’s society”

Submit, don’t provoke and get on as well as possible with our rulers, while thinking badly of them. As Lieutenant Lukáš tells Schweik: “Let’s be Czech, but nobody need know about it.” After the Second World War we continued in the tradition of the loyal Austro-Hungarian official. Just look at the loyalty to the communist party. A total of seven million people passed through the party! The cowardly part of the nation took its revenge on its heroes and squeezed them out in order to mask its own cowardice and to keep it from being reminded of that cowardice. (S. Hubálek interviewed in MFDnes)

PhDr. Slavomil Hubálek – clinical psychologist and psychotherapist with many years’ experience in the field; head of psychotherapy training groups and group supervisor; court expert in clinical psychology and sexology. He is the head and a co-creator of a number of training and educational courses; lecturer in social psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University and at the University of Economics; author of a number of scientific publications and co-author of several books.
Mgr. Lucia Gažiová – Slovak actress. Performs in the theatre Astorka Korzo ’90, the Slovak National Theatre, the Bolek Polívka Theatre and Studio L+S. Has also performed in the Na zábradlí theatre. Acted in the films Milenci a vrazi, Sex and rock and roll, Love Story Bathory. Acted in the film Cinka Panna under director Dušan Rapoš.
Ing. Jiřina Dienstbierová – executive director of the Council for International Relations, graduate of the Czech Technical University in Prague. Worked in the Coordination Centre of Civic Forum, the Civic Forum Foundation, at the Ministry of Finance, in the Centre for Social and Economic Strategy of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University.
JUDr. Jiří Pehe – political analyst and author of books on politics and literature. Studied law and philosophy at Charles University in Prague. Currently director of New York University in Prague, where he also lectures. Also heads the Prague Institute for Democracy, Economics and Culture of New York University (PIDEC). A regular commentator on political affairs in the Czech Republic and abroad.

8.12.2011 from 4 p.m.: Prof. RNDr. Ivo Budil PhD., DSc. – Stanislava Vodičková, DiS.
“The use of propaganda tools in contemporary society”

The history of the 20th century confirmed the effective working of the mechanisms of political propaganda. The totalitarian ideologies, racial intolerance and political processes known from modern history are proof of that. But has democracy done away with ideological and political propaganda? The xenophobic rhetoric of Czech politicians, neo-Nazi tendencies spreading through today’s society and political populism show it has not. So can the study of previous regimes’ propaganda be used to analyse contemporary forms of propaganda? And if so, how and is any such work being done?

Prof. RNDr. Ivo Budil, Ph.D, DSc. – studied at the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts of Charles University. Lecturer at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň and the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague. From 1999 to 2005 he was dean of the Faculty of Arts of the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň; currently head of the Department of Anthropological and Historical Sciences and assistant dean for science of the Faculty of Arts of the University of West Bohemia. The author of ten books. His main specialisation is the history of anthropological sciences in the broader historical and intellectual context.
Stanislava Vodičková, DiS - commentator and historian. Studied typography and political commentary. Currently studying political science and international relations at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň. Since the founding of the Institute for Study of Totalitarian Regimes she has worked in the department dealing with the period of the Nazi occupation. Part of her research project focusing on church history in the 20th century is a study of the use of propaganda as a tool for disseminating totalitarian regimes’ doctrine. She is the author of a monograph on the life of prominent Plzeň native Cardinal Josef Beran.

8.12.2011 from 6 p.m.: Alena Dernerová – Vladimíra Dvořáková – Jiřina Dienstbierová
“Women against the dismantling of the state – a discussion on the plundering of the state in broad daylight”

Discussion evening about (the lack of) political culture, non-functioning institutions and the decline of education. Views from women of various professions who ask the questions: Why isn’t it working and what can each of us and all of us together do about it?

MUDr. Alena Dernerová – politician, doctor, councillor of the city of Most. Elected to the Senate of Parliament in 2010, where she is a member of the Committee on Healthcare and Social Policy. 2010 winner of Charter 77’s František Kriegl Award and winner of the prize for bravery of the Medical Union Club and Association of the Czech Doctors.
Ing. Jiřina Dienstbierová – executive director of the Council for International Relations, graduate of the Czech Technical University in Prague. Has worked in the Coordination Centre of Civic Forum, the Civic Forum Foundation, at the Ministry of Finance, and in the Centre for Social and Economic Strategy of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University.
Prof. PhDr. Vladimíra Dvořáková, CSc. – political scientist, head of the political science department of the Faculty of International Relations of the University of Economics in Prague; chairwoman of the Accreditation Commission of the Czech Republic. Her educational background is in history (Faculty of Arts of Charles University). Vice-president of the International Political Science Association from 2003 to 2006.

9.12.2011 from 5p.m.: JUDr. Lenka Bradáčová, Ph.D. – Jaroslav Spurný
“Against corruption, but this time we mean it – interview with a woman for whom fighting crime is not just an empty slogan”

Lenka Bradáčová is one of the candidates for the post of head of the Prague supreme public prosecutor’s office; she is head of the Union of Public Prosecutors and above all has a good reputation in the field and in the media for her uncompromising drive in the fight against criminals. For many years the fight against corruption, clientelism, money laundering and major economic fraud in the Czech Republic has been unsuccessful. The police fail and public prosecutors fail. Why is this? Why has no investigation yet uncovered wrongdoing in the highest political levels? Why have investigations steered clear of the economically powerful? Domestic corruption is one of the few things that gets the Czech Republic on the front pages of foreign media. All kinds of people speak about corruption and even those who helped create the corruption system want to combat it. So what is the way out? Is there one and, if there is, what are the chances of success? In the past year the media have often written that the police and public prosecutors – i.e. those who investigate serious white-collar crime – have swept under the carpet or covered up corruption scandals, embezzlement and fraud. How much truth is there in this and how did this situation come about in the first place? Public prosecutors play the key role in investigations. Why are they still so cowardly and irresponsible; why do they constantly hide behind provisions of the law that make it possible to complicate and defer investigations; and why don’t they look for ways to simplify investigations and steer them directly towards catching the perpetrators? Why has the Czech Republic become a byword for corruption?

JUDr. Lenka Bradáčová, Ph.D. – deputy regional public prosecutor in Ústí nad Labem and president of the Union of Public Prosecutors of the Czech Republic.
Jaroslav Spurný – deputy editor-in-chief of Respekt magazine. Mainly specialises in the Czech political scene and has been a long-term observer of major political scandals and dangerous ties between the Czech police and organised crime.

12.12.2011 from 5 p.m.: Prof. Jan Jirák – Prof. Stanislav Štech
“Are there any ways to partially remedy the marked disproportion between negative and positive news reporting?”

Newspaper articles and television news inundate us with information about everyday misfortunes, murders, corruption scandals and military conflicts, and these stories far, far outweigh positive news reports. This universal phenomenon is largely the upshot of the conviction that negative news sells better. Is that really the case? Isn’t this imbalance at odds with the basic human need to focus on positive values? Are there any realistic ways to partially remedy the marked disproportion between negative and positive news? Can you give some specific examples in this regard?

Prof. PhDr. Jan Jiřák, Ph.D. (1958) – media theoretician, translator and commentator, head of the media studies department at the Metropolitan University in Prague and member of the media studies department of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University and of the same faculty. Drew up the concept of media education in basic schools and grammar schools for the Research Institute for Education of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Co-author of the specialist publications Politická komunikace a média (2000), Úvod do studia médií (first edition 2001), Média a společnost (first edition 2002), Základy mediální výchovy (2007), Masová média (2009) and Dějiny českých médií (2011). Has translated English-language film and television screenplays since 1982 and specialist media texts and literature since 1992. Since 2010 co-author of Czech Television’s media-awareness programme Veřte nevěřte.
Prof. PhDr. Stanislav Štech, CSc. (1954) – has taught at the Faculty of Education of Charles University since 1983. Mainly teaches educational psychology; for doctorate students he teaches on the subject of the relationship between family and school and cultural psychology. As part of “cultural/psychological approach” he conducts research into school socialisation, the relationship between family and school, the profession of teacher and school psychology. He is the author of the books Konkrétní psychologie Georgese Politzera (co-author M. Kučera), Škola stále nová (1992) and dozens of studies published at home and abroad. Has been assistant dean of Charles University since 2003.

15.12.2011 from 5 p.m.: Ing. Eva Tylová – Čestmír Klos
“Lucifer’s Eco-contract” – the untransparent Eco-tender for the clean-up of old environmental black spots”

Work to remediate the ecological black spots of privatised enterprises has been going on since 1992. Even though the system is not ideal (what is ideal in the Czech Republic, for that matter?), dozens of contaminated sites have been cleaned up, hazardous waste dumps made safe and dangerous technologies removed. In 2008, when the process as a whole was coming to an end, someone had the idea to change the procurement system, which had till then been relatively clear, into one huge, untransparent super-tender. Instead of the expected CZK 30 billion, the cost was put at CZK 114 billion. An idea worthy of Lucifer. The identity of this Lucifer and whether he has successfully embezzled CZK 70 billion will be the subject of a discussion featuring Čestmír Klos and Eva Tylová and called “Lucifer’s Eco-contract”.

Čestmír Klos – journalist, author and presenter of the programme Zeměžluč, which he took over from the Czech section of Radio Free Europe/Czech Radio 6. First laureate of the Ivan Dejmal Award. One of the first members of the jury handing out the anti-environmental Ropák award. Journalist on the internet news web site Czech Position.
Ing. Eva Tylová – politician and ecologist. Worked as deputy minister of the environment, director of the Czech Environmental Inspectorate, a Prague councillor for the Green Party. Now deputy mayor of Prague 12. Openly critical of controversial construction projects such as Klánovice golf course, the Posázaví stretch of the D3 motorway and projects such as the clean-up of the Sazka Arena site and the Eco-contract.

16.12.2011 from 5 p.m.: Jiřina Šiklová – Jan Ruml – Hana Marvanová – Pavel Štern – Petr Drulák
“Discussion with The Public against Corruption”

The Lucifer Effect exhibition refers to evil spread by indifference and passivity. The citizens’ association called The Public against Corruption (TPAC) tries to turn around public passivity and mend society’s failings. Each of TPAC’s representatives will present one topic:

Jiřina Šiklová: “No-one else will do it – the point of civic activism”
Jan Ruml: “What to do about the police?”
Hana Marvanová: “Using the law to tackle corruption”
Pavel Štern: “Crime, punishment and then what?”
Discussion moderator: political scientist Petr Drulák. PhDr.

Jiřina Šiklová, CSc. – sociologist and commentator. A member of the administrative boards of several foundations (Civic Society Development Foundation, Vision 97, Charter 77 Foundation – Barrier Account, VIA Foundation) and a member of the editorial boards of foreign and domestic specialist magazines (e.g. Listy, European Journal of Social Work, East Central Europe, Social Research).
Mgr. Jan Ruml – politician, former minister of the interior, human rights activist. 
JUDr. Hana Marvanová – lawyer, founder of the citizens’ association The Public against Corruption. Was one of the founders of Civic Forum in 1989. Joined the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) in 1991; after the split in the ODS in 1997 she left to join the Freedom Union, which she chaired in 2001 and 2002. In 1990-98 and 2002-03 she was a deputy of Parliament of the Czech Republic. She now works as a lawyer. 
Pavel Štern – state official
Doc. Ing. Petr Drulák, Ph.D. – director of the Institute of International Relations in Prague; since 2005 an external tutor at the Metropolitan University in Prague; senior lecturer at the Institute of Political Science and the Institute of International Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University.

19.12.2011 from 5 p.m.: MUDr. Jan Hnízdil – Prof. Stanislav Komárek
“Psychopaths in politics and business”

– on biological and psychosomatic medicine; how the state of society is linked to illnesses in the population; on faith-healing, psychopaths and evil in politics and business.

MUDr. Jan Hnízdil – internal medicine specialist and rehabilitation doctor; author or co-author of a number of publications. Deals with comprehensive, psychosomatic medicine. Works in the Comprehensive Care Centre in Dobřichovice.
Prof. Stanislav Komárek – biologist, philosopher and writer. Has taught at the Department of the Philosophy and History of Science at the Faculty of Science of Charles University in Prague, also lectures at the Faculty of Humanities of Charles University. The author of collections of essays, poetry and several novels.

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Změna programu vyhrazena.