The Never-ending Story: Czech Governments, Corruption and Populist Anti-Corruption Rhetoric (2010–2018)

Abstract

Corruption is a phenomenon with significant effects – economically, politically and culturally. Corruption tends to be viewed negatively by the public. As such, anti-corruption rhetoric may be an ideal election strategy for individual political parties. Nevertheless, anti-corruption rhetoric does not necessarily translate into an actual anti-corruption policy. This study analyses the impact of anti-corruption rhetoric that does not reflect the actual practices of its speaker and has been used strategically to gain favour. My focus is on elections and the subsequent formation and exercise of government in the Czech Republic. I analyse how anti-corruption rhetoric directed at political opponents works as an election success strategy. At the same time, I show how electoral success, transformed into real political power, strengthens the ability of actors to engage in activities that amount to borderline or outright corruption, irrespective of any anti-corruption rhetoric.

Crossing the left-right party divide? Understanding the electoral success of the Czech Pirate Party in the 2017 parliamentary elections

“…However, as aggregate-level analysis is not able to correctly answer the question whether the success of the Czech Pirates depends on issue or rather on protest voting connected to continuing general dissatisfaction with established parties, future research might benefit from applying individual-level survey data and a theoretical framework based on issue voting or other attitudes closely associated with voters’ political alienation from traditional parties. Especially, as the Czech Pirates responded to continuing dissatisfaction of Czech voters with established parties by adopting anti-corruption and anti-political positions (rhetoric) as an election success strategy against established parties (Naxera, 2018). This is somewhat consistent with Zulianello’s (2018) finding that the factor primarily related to pirate voting was importance of macro-economic issues and protest voting against established parties, based on poor economic performance and widespread corruption.…”

Lived Experiences of Slovak and Czech Immigrants to Australia

“…Corruption in Czechoslovakia created a burden and existed at all levels. It had a profound effect on culture and values (Naxera 2018). Participants branded corruption as a generally accepted way of life, common everywhere, including in the education system, employment, health system, and practically all administrative places.…”

Is the “new” always “new”? Theoretical framework problems of new political parties’ research: The Czech Republic experience

“…These subjects have thus tried to emphasise their role as a broadly anti -establishment oriented alternative to traditional and established political subjects (Šárovec 2018;comp. Svačinová 2016or Naxera 2018. 39 On the other hand, it should be noted that the form of registration as a movement is also used by STAN; however, it is not using similar appeals as the two subjects mentioned above.…”