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The Fragmentarization of Europe as a Security Threat Europe 2010: Predictions and RealityMilitary sociologyPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 148-164 Unlike the real state of affairs, the scenarios for Europe 2010 did not presuppose the rise of financial and economy crises. Political scientists did not perceive the series of terrorist attacks, namely in Great Britain, Spain and Russia. Security questions, home security and defence, came to the foreground more then was originally expected. There are hubs of future power blocks of divided Europe. It is impossible to incorporate all the results and consequences of our presuppositions. Since we want to look into individual, particularly interesting developments, the author recommends to create several teams for individual scenarios, instead of drawing several scenarios by one scholarly team. |
Jaroslav Janda: The 80th Anniversary of His BirthPersonal dataAntonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 180-186 After several years of service with armour corps he devoted himself to social organizations in the forces, among others he was a head of department for military youth. In 1968 he became a deputy Czech minister for youth, PT and sports. During period of normalization he was released from the army. He made his living as a free lance translator and author. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989 he became advisor to deputy defence minister for humanitarian affairs, later he became assistant to deputy defence minister for strategical control, deputy director of Institute for Strategic Studies, deputy director of Institute of International Relations. After his untimely death, the prize named after him for works in the field of defence was established. |
The Strategic Control of Czech Republic Defence: a Part of National SecurityReviewedIng. Vladimír KrulíkVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 3-22 One of most discussed themes in this field is also a critique of unfinished, non-stable structure of master documents, e.g. Security Strategy of the Czech Republic. They are often told to be obsolete. The latest document, the White Paper on Defence, Critical responses are not quite justified. There are a lot of good ideas, innovations. Many things have been done, many set tasks have been met at the level of Defence Ministry. Positive effects of results reached are obvious. They are summarized in the White Paper mentioned above. The only danger lies in arbitrary decisions by political management, including employing variable means of their implementation, wanton interpretation of leading defence principles, low respect to approved strategical decisions. We must name mentioned handicaps as a first step towards the real and true remedy. |
The Organizational Set up of MoD Sector and the Implementation of White Paper IntentionsReviewed - ReviewIng. Vladimír KrulíkVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 3-16 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.02.003-016 The purpose of this comprehensive study is to describe organizational scheme inside defence sector and recollect some more or less neglected rules of its organizational structure. This paper ought to confute some of the myths that are repeatedly used for advancing somebody's particular interests, frequently opposing to smooth running defence sector and its subordinate elements, their performances and duties. The author's prime motive is to explain this problem to a wide public and thus contribute to opening the discussion on this theme, well in advance, before the measurements originated in the White Paper on Defence would be put forward and implemented by some proposers, backed by subjective misconceptions and interpretations of actual state of affairs. |
Public Sector Economy in Management PracticeMilitary professionalIng. Svatopluk KuncVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 155-161 There is an ambiguous relation as far as management and economy in public sector are concerned. Using the example of British army, the author explains the roots and consequences of changes in the field of source management and compares collected results with the situation in the CR. Both public sector and the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) are administratively ordered and controlled and meeting the army goals that are not conditioned by economy results. The accounting books do not offer true picture of army possession and properties, among others because the current accountancy system that is not able to classify individual operations, military goals are not measurable. He proposes to set an array of fixed rules to identify ACR economical effectivity. |
NATO Common Funding as a Tool for Cohesion Enhancement and Ability to ActMilitary artIng. Josef Procházka, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 25-34 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.04.025-034 In the past, the Common Funding played only marginal role in the NATO strategic decision-making. However, this situation changed significantly when the global economic crisis challenged the national public expenditures and NATO defence policy became a matter of serious reflections. NATO should balance its requirements with limited resources and adjust its future activities within shrinking budgets. NATO must make hard decisions and implement reforms in order to ensure its ability to fulfil its mission and priority tasks in the long run. The reconfiguration of Common Funding is an inherent part of this process. The aim of this article is to introduce Common Funding as a management-supporting tool of the international organisation under currently mounting resource constrains. |
Complex Security Management in the Czech Republic: Starting Point for Upgrading (Themes for Security Review)Reviewed - ResearchPhDr. Antonín RAŠEKVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 21-41 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.01.021-041 Our new stance to comprehensive control of security in the international context is based upon the so-called "wider security concept". Despite various definitions,there is the consensus that a national state is not the only security subject, the classical paradigm was extended to other areas, outside military one: political, economy, financial, banking, environmental, and social. They are endorsed by security problems related to technology, energy, raw material sources, ethnical disputes, religion, together with humane rights and cultural aspects. To win the war is easy, to establish peace is difficult. Last but not least, we now have to fight and win the war of public opinion. |
Strategic Culture: Concept PresentationReviewed - ReviewIng. Tomáš PospíšilVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 26-33 Studies of the importance of culture have gained greater attention in the post-Cold War era. In present world, there are many fenomena that can't be explained in terms of neorealism. There is the consensus in national security policy studies that culture may significantly affect grand strategy and state behaviour. It limits behavioural choices, from which we could derive predictions about our strategic choice. This study is based among others upon Johnston's strategic culture concept related to three generations. The study is divided into five parts: at first the author introduces general concept of strategic culture, the second, third and fourth parts correspond to individual generations. In closing part the author explains his own understanding to this concept. |
Czech Professional Army: Initial Five YearsBook reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 129-135 This year, the Hlávka Economy Institute published a book "Professional Army in the Czech Republic: First Five Years", by Bohuslav Pernica. It is a study dealing with first five years in which the Czech Republic transformed its forces from a conscription army to all-volunteer one. The author sees the necessity to go professional in context of changed global surrounding after the end of Cold War. The subject is treated mainly from economy point of view. He pays attention to three important issues related to this transformation: recruitment /retention, training /education, and substandard soldier's pay, which is one of roots of low service competitiveness on civil labour market. |
The Security System of the CR and the Necessity of its Adaptation to Cumulative Effects of ThreatsReviewed - ReviewPhDr. Libor StejskalVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 37-47 The term of "growing complex of threats" covers higher and higher probability of concatenation of various intercommoned, mutually tied factors reflecting structured technological and informational reality of global society, making their solving by traditional means of security system extremely difficult. "Crisis situation" represents more general problem of natural disasters or technology breakdowns that are influencing one another, that cause great distress or destruction, in an unexpected manner, activating subsequent threats of so far unforeseen threats. For that reason we must adapt Czech security system to new liquid, instant and indivisible complex threats. |
Geopolitika bezpecnosti RECENZEProf. PhDr. František Ochrana, DrSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2005, Vol. XIV. (XLVI.): 143 |
Operational Art: Theory for PracticeMilitary artIng. Ján SpišákVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 45-54 The aim of the article is to provide the readers information related to the theory of fundamental elements and tools of operational art, which are for the preparation and conduct of military operations, particularly at the operational level of war, critical. The operational level of war depends on methods that will create appropriate conditions to achieve the closing state, set by a superior commander, in accordance with the complex strategy of military and non-military instruments of state power. Although the methods of application of specific operational art components rest mainly in the mind of the English Annotations and with several acts tied with civil emergency preparation. |
The Total Force Policy and Some Issues of Building-Up of the Militia-Like Units in the Czech National Security SystemMilitary artBohuslav PernicaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 79-88 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.01.079-088 The essay deals with the concept of total force policy concept and its implementation. Some facts related to the history, implementation and development of this construct are presented in context of the Czech White Paper on Defence released in 2011. In order to improve capabilities of the national armed forces system, and as well as to diminish risks related to lack of human and financial sources in face of impeding population ageing, the author suggests a return to total force concept in the Czech Republic. He admits that the experiences with this policy before 1990 will be inoperative, as there is no chance of reintroducing of compulsory military service or the re-establishing of such paramilitary institutions such as e.g. the SVAZARM used to be. |
Is Economic Education of Military Professionals Necessary?Opinions, controversyProf. PhDr. Miroslav Krč, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 69-76 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.02.069-076 This paper deals with problem of education in a military college on the background of military-economic reality. It shows the requirements of the Bologna Declaration in the relation to economic education. Training of military officers has four levels: qualifying (in relation to the performance of different professional roles), developing (in relation to the developing leader personality), motivational (in relation to recruitment) and accepting (in relation between public and army). The economics is of great importance here. It should be beneficial for responsible managers, for their decision-making that can lead to optimization of the results based on economic behaviour, linked to motivational factors. |
Threat of CBRN Agents, Biological ClassMilitary professionalIng. Daniel Maršálek, doc. Mgr. Ing. Radomír Ščurek, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 119-130 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.03.119-130 This article describes the question of CBRN and their possible abuses in civil aviation. The problem includes security analysis identified by the Civil Aviation as the most significant class of this group-biological agents. The authors pay them special attention. The second part of paper contains model situation in case of emergency: virus variola (smallpox) attack in a terminal of medium-size international airport. Depending on the detailed properties of virus, transport hub and afflicted area, there are two versions of attack- for summer and winter timetable, according to expected progress of virus extension, and follow-up arrangements. |
Nuclear Deterrence and Cooperation? (Russian Security and Foreign Policy 2008-2012)Informational pagesMgr. et Mgr. Lukáš TichýVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 61-72 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.04.061-072 The objective of this article is to analyse the security and foreign policy of the Russian Federation in 2008-2012, in terms of security culture. The article is based on the assumption that the Russian security and foreign policy during Medvedev's presidency was characterized by four features: promoting multilateralism, exaggeration Russian national security threats, emphasizing the possibility of the use of nuclear deterrence, and using energy as a political tool. The article is based on three Russian strategic documents, i.e. Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation to 2020 and the Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation. It also examines some events of Russian internal and external policy, especially Russian-Georgian conflict, Medvedev's proposal to create new security architecture in Europe, or the security relations between Russia and the EU, NATO and the U.S. |
Nine Memories for the Czech Future (Illustrations Instead of Critiques)Book reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 175-183 The book consists of papers by eleven authors, members and fellow members of the Centre for Social and Economy Strategy, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University Prague. At present, we must prepare to face socially unwelcome phenomena. We must arrange preventive projects, so that we could solve prospective crises. The authors therefore pay their attention to methodology of crisis scenarios, or how they are to be prepared. Predicted nine worst-case scenarios anticipate prolonged crises, failure in education policy, rise of extremism, climate changes, energy collapse, lack of international balance, and separation of the Czech Republic from Europe. |
The Cyber War ContinuesInformational pagesPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 73-89 The author summarizes present-day knowledge of this problem. Worms and viruses have transformed to serious security challenges and perfect instruments of cyber espionage. They have become a tool in information warfare. Cyberattacks transformed to risks calling only for technical responses. The growing awareness of the seriousness of the cyber-threat is enhanced by incidents, e.g. the malware "Stuxnet" attacking the Iranian nuclear programme. Actually, cyber space is regarded as a fifth dimension of military deployment, apart for land, air, water, and cosmos. Some nations are already investing massively in cyber capabilities that can be used for military purposes. Most Western nations have considerably stepped up their defences in recent years and are forming special units for cyber warfare. |
The Last Generation of Chemical WeaponsMilitary professionalProf. Ing. Emil Halámek, CSc., prof. Ing. Zbyněk Kobliha, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 137-146 At the beginning, the authors introduce modern history of chemical weapons, starting with the deployment of chlorine on April 22, 1915. In the early 70s, the US opened the project BLWS (Binary Lethal Weapons Systems) with the aim to replace old chemical arsenal and eliminate risks tied with the storage of chemical weapons, so did the Russians. Today, new generation of chemical weapons come into being, with higher toxicity, prepared by very simple procedures and means, very heavily degraded. We are proud that the Army of the Czech Republic belongs to those few armies oriented to building chemical-warfare units, specialized and trained to detect the presence of chemical weapons and to decontaminate persons, equipment and vehicles which have been affected by weapons of mass destruction (NBC). |
Discovering Future as a ChallengeBook reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 195-200 The identification of security threats and subsequent risks is the base on which we form security and military strategies. It is also the core of all security scenarios. That's why we must welcome all books dealing with futurology predictions, like The Cognition of Future as a Challenge by Martin Potůček at al, Karolinum, Charles University. He summarizes knowledge and experiences done by CESES, the only scholarly lab dealing systematically with drafting up visions and strategies the Czech state might be confronted with. The CESES is a Czech acronym, which stands for the Centre for Social and Economic Strategies, at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague. |
Global Security: System Approach (Barack Obama's First Midterm)PhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 9-37 This extended essay is based upon various sources, among others on May 2010 President Obama's speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where President Obama described his national security objectives. The highest priorities of U.S. national security are the safety of Americans at home and abroad and achieving a peaceful, stable world through global cooperation despite a flawed international system. The Obama's security strategy relies heavily on diplomacy and engagement, economic development and other methods of influence, along with U.S. military capabilities with global reach and unsurpassed resources. As we face multiple threats, from nations, non-state actors and failed states, America will maintain the military superiority that has secured country, and underpinned global security, for decades. The security strategy is global, and identifies an array of real or potential security challenges that include: countering violent extremism and insurgency; stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and securing nuclear materials, resolving and preventing conflict; and reducing destabilizing risks to economic interdependence. |
Management of Sources at a Level of Army Unit: Commander's PositionMilitary professionalDoc. dr. Luboš Štancl, CSc., pplk. Ing. Karel VávraVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 120-137 Topical problems of insufficient military budget, limited means are a drive force for searching unoccupied financial means to saturate set goals and ensure their unbiased reallocation and rational exploitation. The necessary prerequisite is control implementation and managerial accounting. This ought to create primary predispositions for introducing managerial accounting system, which would be oriented not towards financial, and property operations, but towards effective economy. The article describes phenomena tied with an army unit, together with the position of its commander in the process of gradual implementation of integrated informational system of state treasury, which is most manifested in the field of planning, budgeting and accounting. |
What Type of University Education for Military Professionals is Necessary?Opinions, controversyDoc. RNDr. Ladislav Halberštát, CSc., plk. Ing. Vladan Holcner, Ph.D, mjr. Ing. Pavel Foltin, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 60-70 The paper is a contribution to the ongoing discussion regarding training, drills and education of military personnel. It indicates a comprehensive solution of the issue both in national and international connection of the current approach to military vocations, life-long learning Vojenské rozhledy 1/2011 and expected deployment of the present-day armed forces. Using results of a research conducted within the Czech Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces, authors specify roles of individual stakeholders in the process of training and education in the military and define prerequisites of an effective military educational and training system. The authors treat this problem in context of the so-called National Qualification Framework, multinational project of EU member states Military Erasmus, activities conducted by European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and others. |
WikiLeaks Case and Its Reflections in World's Security CommunityInformational pagesPhDr. Antonín RAŠEKVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 129-137 Czech dailies and weeklies publicised their analyses of the diplomatic dispatches released by WikiLeaks. Some were concerned in world's politics, but higher attention was paid to 1,271 dispatches from Prague. According to the dispatches, the U.S. Navy wanted to purchase 23 Russian anti-ship missiles to obtain the weapons from Belarus through Ukraine, with a Czech arms dealer. However, the Czech government decided to derail the plan by not granting the Czech middleman the needed permission to export weapons from a dictatorship like Belarus. Various cables also detailed a dispute in the area of arms technology. Some observations from the dispatches dealing with characteristics of Czech prominent politicians are amusing. Overall, the United States evaluated the CzechRepublic positively, as an economically mature country and as an ally. |
The Analysis of Main Problems of New War Veterans (ret.) with the Accent on their Admittance to Labour MarketInformational pagesPhDr. Viktor Meca, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 114-129 The purpose of this analysis is to trace contemporary position of recent war veterans, members of missions abroad after 1989 after they retired. Above it concentrates on their problem on home labour market, eventually on psychic disorders, negative after-effects or syndromes, possible assistance and support on the part of state, eventually of Czech Ministry of Defence. The article is divided into two parts. The first one analyses accessible statistical data concerning participants in foreign missions and at the same time collected data serve for drafting hypothesis tied with a research segment of this paper. The second part of this study evaluates results reached, based upon anonymous questionnaires completed by retired new war veterans in the period from December 4, 2009, till January 25, 2010 |
Some Aspects of Forming Modular Task Force in Chemical Units (Groupings), ACRMilitary professionalMjr. Ing. Pavel OtřísalVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 138-145 This paper analyses some of the accesses to developing modular structures of task forces, built not only on a base of combined arms, but also even the base of special units, formations, Czech Chemical Corps. The analysis is derived from documents, doctrines, at both political-strategic level and military-strategical level within state defence command. Moreover, the article offers information related to operational-tactical level of command and control. At the end, the author evaluates some possible impacts of modular structures on practical activities of forces. It is necessary to define those impacts in a framework of particular projects, dealing with the formation of modular structures. |
Al Qai'da Hybridisation in North Africa and its Implication for EuropeMilitary artBc. Martin JankůVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 55-70 The article is focused on issue of hybridisation of Al Qai'da in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), in North Africa, and its implications for European countries. The process of hybridisation is being conceived as growing nexus and convergence between violent non-state actors, while these processes could be in this case identified mainly in issues of use of kidnappings and secondary also reported involvement of AQIM in regional smuggling, mainly drugs, activities through Sahel and Saharan region to Europe. Regarding GSPC background, AQIM could be in long term theoretically able to re-establish its financial and supporting networks in Europe via cooperation with organized crime, which were largely disrupted after major crackdowns by security forces between 2004-2007. Event though a direct Al Qai'da attack in Europe is-according to the author-excluded, the purpose of this article to draw our attention to an eventuality of rebirth of European operation network of AQIM operational predecessor, i.e. GSPC. |
Present-day Notions on Military DeceptionsMilitary artDoc. Ing. Milan Kubeša, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 60-65 In the previous Military Review we introduced the article "Will Military Deception Pass Away?" by the same author. In the Army of the Czech Republic we have no manual dealing with military deception (MILDEC). The only manual concerning MILDEC was abolished without any substitute. But military art can't be further developed without similar documents. Today we take MILDEC as a complex set of provisions misleading enemy's commanders and staff, by means of false information and counterfeit data that deliberately deceive adversary decision-makers and planners. Use of MILDEC during any phase of an operation also helps to mislead adversaries as to the strength, readiness, locations, and intended missions of friendly forces. The MILDEC could contribute to the successful accomplishment of the assigned mission by many ways. |
Civil-Military Reflections: Does the Army Need Its Own Value Code? (Military Culture, Professionalism, and Constabulary Force)Informational pagesMgr. Tomáš KučeraVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 71-82 Relations between a military and a civilian society belong to the core issue of civil-military studies. This article reflects main ideas and concepts used in theoretical and analytical literature, including seminar works by Samuel Huntington and Morris Janowitz. A military culture, military ethics and influence of new technologies, full-volunteer army and new missions on military culture are discussed. An abstract term "military" can change very significantly in accordance with actual military culture, perceptible to the fact how civilian society accepts military values. Therefore, not only size and equipment determine how particular armed forces look like. The author introduces the term Constabulary Force reflecting the idea that primary purpose of forces today are low-intensity conflicts and operations other than war. |
Evaluation and Certification CZE/SVK Battle Group EUMilitary artIng. Jaroslav KulíšekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 11-40 To fulfil Czech obligation as an EU Battle Group Framework Nation according to the regulating document EU BG Training and Certification, the Czech Army is to certify that the CZE/SVK Battle Group EU meet the standards and criteria stated in Standards and Criteria for EU BG. It is recommended that the CZE/SVK Battle Group EU certification process should be analogous with NATO Response Force (NRF) certification procedure and practical methods. Further it is suggested that the CZE/SVK Battle Group EU certification procedure is divided into several evaluation procedures: preparation planning evaluation, war-fighting evaluation, and technical evaluation. Each procedure will be developed by specialized teams with representatives in the sub-working group to ensure that the different procedures harmonize. The views expressed in this assessment are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of EU Military Structure or the Czech Ministry of Defence. All information and data for this paper were drawn from unclassified sources. The written sources are listed in the matrix above. |

