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Discusses three manifestations of civil society in the Czech Republic's formation, portraying the concept as a normative idea that has progressed from the academic to the socially practical. Civil society in the pre-1989 political dissidence was examplified by Vaclav Havel's notion of antipolitical citizenship's establishment of a social moral conduct outside of the authoritarian government. During the 1989-1991 development of the Czech nation's democracy, the notion of civil society evolved from an action against the state to a public participation in the power structure. With the current development in the mid-1990s of a successful competitive party system, civil society has shifted into mediating between the nonprofit sector, local administration, & unions & professional associations. This last form represents the most unresolved, problematic, yet potentially beneficial metamorphosis of civil society in today's Czech Republic.

An analysis of the continued powerful presence of the political Right, & its popular support in the Czech Republic considers the extremely stable Right-oriented voter allegiances. In comparison to the Right in surrounding East European countries, & to its domestic opponents, the stronger Czech Right, composed of government & Christian parties, builds its platform on the appeal of liberal & pragmatic economic issues. Libertarian & leftist intellectuals produce no convincing opposition to the Right because of an impractical, idealistic approach to managing specific political problems. Advocating imitation rather than innovation, the Czech Right seeks a normalized, conservative political transformation to enable the individualistic pursuit of private objectives. As head of the Right's major party, the Civic Democratic Party, leader Vaclav Klaus, who has successfully managed Czech economic & political affairs, elaborates his personal charisma. J. Sadler