In the past, the Czech Republic was perceived as an ethnically, linguistically and culturally homogeneous state. However, this shared self-image has been undergoing a transformation in recent decades as a result of increasing labor mobility, European integration, armed conflicts and demographic pressures. In this text, we deal with the development of national minorities and migration policy in the Czech Republic, with special emphasis on the issue of state sovereignty, border control, integration of foreigners and the sustainability of the minority protection system. We start from the assumption that migration can only be beneficial if it is managed, legally controlled and accompanied by clear integration requirements. We also deal with the question of how migration to the Czech Republic has developed from a historical point of view, why the state does not fully control the influx of people, and what the future of national minorities is in the conditions of changing demographic and political reality.

Key takeaways:

• The Czech Republic is changing from a relatively homogeneous society to a country with a growing number of minorities and migrants.
• Migration can only be beneficial if it is managed, legal and controlled by the state, with an emphasis on national sovereignty, border protection and the rejection of illegal migration.
• The future immigration strategy of the Czech Republic must be based on integration and social cohesion, knowledge of the Czech language, respect for the legal order, economic self-sufficiency of migrants and the protection of the cultural identity of Czech society.

Policy Paper – Karel Sál

The analysis is in PDF under the link below.