ABSTRACT
This chapter explains why Czech nationalism, in its present form, is different and how it projects itself into political practice and everyday life, but the answer is not clear. While Czech nationalism is on the rise, one cannot find a purely or openly nationalistic party in Czechia today. Czech nationalism is deeply rooted in modern Czech history and the creation of Czechoslovakia. As British sociologist of Czech–Jewish origin Ernest Gellner points out, the idea of a Czechoslovak nation created by Tomas Garrigue Masaryk was based not on romanticism, but on moral grounds. The New Nationalism created in 1989 does not leave room for new ideas. There have been attempts to combine it with populism, but these attempts have not been very successful. Vaclav Klaus, president of Czech Republic between 2003 and 2013, has used nationalist sentiments when convenient to gain popularity.
