Transformation of Society and Values in Slovakia

Abstract

The social change, which occurred in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe at the end of 2^nd millennium, penetrated expressively into all the substructures of the social system. It started a movement within not only the political and economic mechanism but also existentially influenced the socio-cultural and spiritual sphere of life. Although that break generated a new form of mental behaviour and expectation connected with the longing for prosperity, freedom and consideration all over the world, it simultaneously also evoked well-founded anxiety and uncertainty concerning the complicated constitution of the new social system. As well as each principal change, it brought up more essential questions with regard to alternatives of global and inner-state effort. It initiated ambitions of integrated processes within Europe; the most convenient political forms of both economic and military direction and progression; national aims of emancipation; ways of democratic arrangement. In the former Czechoslovakia and then Slovakia, the crystallisation of political potency and tendencies (even without particular risks arising from economic development in the revolutionary year 1989) decided to use a historical chance and to form the separate state. So, responsibility for independent development was assumed, too. Relatively in a short time, in historical terms, the dynamics of these movements deserved admiration, mainly in order to its calm development, inspite of many risks and anxiety which resound still now. This evaluation initiated the necessity for expert discussions and theoretical analyses — sociological, politological, but also interdisciplinary discussions on a European nation, as well as the ecological, spiritual, and historical aspects of the Slovak nation.