NEWS

Friends of Slovakia hosted an invitation-only discussion with Doc. Michal Vašečka, PhD. and Rasťo Kužel, independent analysts from Slovakia, on the snap parliamentary elections scheduled in Slovakia on September 30, 2023. They discussed the latest developments in domestic politics, possible scenarios for a new coalition government, impact on Transatlantic relations, and how foreign interference plays […]

A delegation of Friends of Slovakia Board Members led by chairman Scott N. Thayer traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to participate in events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the building dedication of the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (NCSML).

Friends of Slovakia co-sponsored a webinar in collaboration with the Slovak American Society of Washington DC (SASW) featuring Professors Kevin Deegan-Krause and Tim Haughton who discussed their recently published co-authored book, The New Party Challenge: Changing Cycles of Party Birth and Death in Central Europe in which they examined the emergence of new parties and […]

As we look back on our journey, we want to celebrate FOS’s achievements over the past 20 years. Let us seize new opportunities while fostering lasting memories and renewed enthusiasm to champion the partnership between the United States and Slovakia for decades to come. Related post & events:

A webinar to examine Slovakia’s post-election shifts in party relations in both the government and opposition, the role of President Zuzana Čaputová, the influence of extremist and anti-system parties, and the impact of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic

The recent Slovak parliamentary election results and prospects for Igor Matovic’s new government were examined in an April 28 webinar co-sponsored by FOS and the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), “Slovakia: New Government, New Challenges.” Jonathan Katz, Senior Fellow with GMF, moderated the panel. Summary Dr. Kevin Deegan-Krause of Wayne State University […]

November 2019 marked the 30th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent events that brought freedom from communist domination to many countries of the former “Soviet-bloc.”  In Czechoslovakia, public demonstrations, spearheaded by student movements, sparked the relatively peaceful downfall of the communist government and began the country’s “return to the West,” […]

On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, a forum titled Velvet @ 30: A Legacy to Uphold was held at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The forum was co-sponsored by the Czech and Slovak Embassies in collaboration with Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.  The event featured welcoming remarks by Joel Hellman, Dean of the Walsh […]

FOS Board members and others in the Washington foreign policy and Slovak-interest communities participated in a roundtable featuring former Slovak Ambassador Martin Bútora and his spouse, sociologist Dr. Zora Bútorová.  The ambassadorial couple served in Washington, DC from 1999-2003 and had a significant impact on Slovak-U.S. relations, as well as opening Slovakia’s new embassy building […]

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 had a significant impact on Eastern Europe’s political scene. In Czechoslovakia, the Communist regime was replaced by a democratic revolution, which was led by student movements and dissidents. November 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a non-violent transition of power with demonstrations against the […]