“The Power of the Powerless”—Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution

The people of Czechoslovakia gently ended communist rule. This contributed to the country’s peaceful dissolution into Czech Republic and Slovakia and brought numerous vital changes. A vibrant society and responsible intellectuals were the backbone of Czechoslovakia’s transition to democracy. Knowing that they could not fight against great powers head-on, the Czechs chose to softly resist. Facing the challenges of European integration and the European debt crisis, how did Czech Republic forge its own path, gently but firmly?
 
About the Documentary

Citizen Havel
Directed by: Miroslav Janek, Pavel Koutecky

During the Prague Spring that began in 1968, Václav Havel, a dissident playwright, was sentenced to prison for “subversion against the state.” In 1989, he established the Civic Forum with others, which facilitated the country’s transition to democracy. Havel was the first democratically elected president of Czechoslovakia, and the first president of the Czech Republic. His life reflected the Czech people’s dreams and struggles.