Slovakia

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Slovenská republika Slovak Republic
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem Nad Tatrou sa blýska "Lightning over the Tatras"
Location of  Slovakia  (orange) – on the European continent  (camel & white) – in the European Union  (camel)                  [Legend]
Capital (and largest city)		Bratislava 48°09′N, 17°07′E
Official languages		Slovak
Government		Parliamentary republic
-	President	Ivan Gašparovič
-	Prime Minister	Robert Fico
Independence		due to dissolution of Czechoslovakia
-	Date	January 1, 19931
Accession to EU		May 1, 2004
Area
-	Total	49,037 km² (130th) 18,933 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	5,401,000 (110th)
-	2001 census	5,379,455
-	Density	111 /km² (88th) 287 /sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$87.32 billion (60th)
-	Per capita	$16,041 (45th)
HDI (2004)		0.856 (high) (42nd)
Currency		Slovak koruna (1 koruna = 100 haliers) (SKK)
Time zone		CET (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Internet TLD		.sk2
Calling code		+4213
1 Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia; see Velvet Divorce. 2 Also .eu, shared with other European Union member states. 3 Shared code 42 with Czech Republic until 1997.

Not to be confused with Slovenia, another Central European country.

Slovakia (long form: Slovak Republic; Slovak: Slovensko, long form Slovenská republika) is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million. The Slovak Republic borders the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is its capital, Bratislava. Slovakia is a member state of the European Union.

[edit] Name

The longer form of the name Slovakia is Slovak Republic (Slovak: Slovenská republika).^[1] The relation between those two name forms is exactly the same as with Germany vs. Federal Republic of Germany or France vs. French Republic.

[edit] History

Main article: History of Slovakia

[edit] Before the 5th century

From around 450 BC, the territory of modern-day Slovakia was settled by Celts, who built powerful oppida in Bratislava and Havránok. Biatecs, the silver coins with the names of Celtic kings, represent the first known use of writing in Slovakia. From 6 AD, the expanding Roman Empire established and maintained a chain of outposts around the Danube. The Kingdom of Vannius, a barbarian kingdom founded by the Germanic tribe of Quadi, existed in western and central Slovakia from 20 to 50 AD.

[edit] Slavic states

The Slavic population settled in the territory of Slovakia in the 5th century. Western Slovakia was the centre of Samo's Empire in the 7th century. Slovak state, known as the Principality of Nitra, arose in the 8th century and its ruler Pribina had the first Christian church in Slovakia consecrated by 828. Together with neighboring Moravia, the principality formed the core of the Great Moravian Empire from 833. The high point of this Slovak principality came with the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius in 863, during the reign of Prince Rastislav, and the territorial expansion under King Svätopluk.

[edit] Kingdom of Hungary

Orava Castle.

After the disintegration of the Great Moravian Empire in the early 10th century, the Magyars gradually occupied the territory of the present-day Slovakia. In the late 10th century, southwestern Slovakia became part of the arising Hungarian principality (since 1000 Kingdom of Hungary). Most of Slovakia was integrated into the Kingdom of Hungary by c. 1100, northeastern parts by c. 1400. Because of its high level of economic and cultural development, Slovakia retained its important position in this new state. For almost two centuries, it was ruled autonomously as the Principality of Nitra, within the Kingdom of Hungary. Slovak settlements extended to northern and southeastern present-day Hungary, while Magyars started to settle down in the southern part of Slovakia. The ethnic composition became more diverse with the arrival of the Carpathian Germans (from the 13th century), Vlachs (from the 14th century), and Jews.

Trenčín Castle.

A huge population loss resulted from the invasion of the Mongols in 1241 and the subsequent famine. However, medieval Slovakia was characterized rather by burgeoning towns, construction of numerous stone castles, and the development of art. In 1467, Matthias Corvinus founded the first university in Bratislava, but the institution was short-lived.

St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Košice.

After the Ottoman Empire started its expansion into Hungary and the occupation of Buda in the early 16th century, the center of the Kingdom of Hungary (under the name of Royal Hungary) shifted towards Slovakia, and Bratislava (known as Pressburg, Pozsony, Pressporek or Posonium at that time) became the capital city of the Royal Hungary in 1536. But the Ottoman wars and frequent insurrections against the Habsburg Monarchy also inflicted a great deal of destruction, especially in rural areas. As the Turks retreated from Hungary in the 18th century, Slovakia's importance within the kingdom decreased, although Bratislava retained its position of the capital city of Hungary until 1848, when the capital moved to Budapest.

During the revolution in 1848-49, the Slovaks supported the Austrian Emperor, with the ambition to secede from the Hungarian part of the Austrian monarchy. But they failed in the end to achieve this aim. During the period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, from 1867 to 1918, the Slovaks experienced severe oppression in the form of Magyarisation promoted by the Hungarian government.

[edit] Twentieth century

In 1918, Slovakia joined the regions of Bohemia and neighbouring Moravia to form Czechoslovakia (confirmed by the Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Trianon). During the chaos following the breakup of Austria-Hungary, Slovakia was in 1919 attacked by the provisional Hungarian Soviet Republic and 1/3 area of Slovakia temporarily became the Slovak Soviet Republic.

During the Interwar period, democratic and prosperous Czechoslovakia was permanently threatened by the revisionist governments of Germany and Hungary, until it was finally broken up in 1939, as a result of the Munich Agreement concluded a year before.

Upon pressure by Nazi Germany, the First Slovak Republic in lead with president Jozef Tiso declared its independence in 1939. Although the policy fell under the influence of Germany, the anti-Nazi resistance movement launched a fierce armed insurrection, known as the Slovak National Uprising in 1944.

After World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under the influence of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact from 1945 onward. In 1969, the state became a federation of the Czech Socialist Republic and the Slovak Socialist Republic.

The end of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia in 1989, during the peaceful Velvet Revolution, was followed once again by the country's dissolution, this time into two successor states. Slovakia and the Czech Republic went their separate ways after January 1, 1993, an event sometimes called the Velvet Divorce, but Slovakia has remained close partners with the Czech Republic, as well as with other Central European countries within the Visegrad Group. Slovakia became a member of the European Union in May 2004.

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Slovakia

Relief.

Bratislava Old Town.

The Slovak landscape is noted primarily for its mountainous nature, with the Carpathian Mountains extending across most of the northern half of the country. Amongst them are the high peaks of the Tatra mountains,^[1] where the High Tatras are a popular skiing destination and home to many scenic lakes and valleys as well as the highest point in Slovakia, the Gerlachovský štít at 2,655 metres (8,711 ft). Major Slovak rivers, besides the Danube, are the Váh and the Hron.

The Slovak climate is temperate, with relatively warm summers and cold, cloudy and humid winters.

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Slovakia

The majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia are ethnically Slovak (86%). Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority (9.7%) and are concentrated in the southern regions of the country.^[1] Several municipalities, for example Komárno, Šahy, and Želiezovce, have a Hungarian majority. Other ethnic groups include Roma with 1,7%, Czechs with 0,8%, Ruthenians with 0,4%, Ukrainians with 0,2% and Germans with 0,1%. The estimated percentage of Roma ranges from 1.7% (self-identification of the Roma in the last census) to around 5.6% (based on interviews with municipality representatives and mayors, that is based on the ascription by the remaining population). Note however that in the case of the 5.6%, the above percentages of Hungarians and Slovaks are lower by 4 percentage points in sum.

The official state language is Slovak, a member of the Slavic languages, but Hungarian is also widely spoken in the south of the country and enjoys a co-official status in some municipalities.

The Slovak constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The majority of Slovak citizens (68.9 %) identify themselves with the Roman Catholicism (although church attendance is lower); the second-largest group are people without confession (13%). About 6.93% belong to Lutheranism, 4.1% are Greek Catholic, Calvinism has 2.0%, other and non-registered churches 1.1% and some 0.9% are Eastern Orthodox. It is estimated that there are about 5,000 Muslims in Slovakia. About 2,300 Jews remain of the large estimated pre-WWII population of 90,000.^[2]

In 2004 Slovakia had a fertility rate of 1.25 (i.e., the average woman will have 1.25 children in her lifetime), which is one of the lowest numbers among EU countries. The fertility rate is currently increasing again.

[edit] Politics

Main article: Politics of Slovakia

Bojnice Castle, the only one of its design in Central Europe.

Slovakia is a parliamentary democratic republic with a multi-party system. The last parliamentary elections were held on June 17, 2006 and two rounds of presidential elections took place on April 3, 2004 and April 17, 2004.

The Slovak head of state is the president (Ivan Gašparovič, 2004 - 2009), elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term. Most executive power lies with the head of government, the prime minister (Robert Fico, 2006 - 2010), who is usually the leader of the winning party, but he/she needs to form a majority coalition in the parliament. The prime minister is appointed by the president. The remainder of the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.

Slovakia's highest legislative body is the 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic (Národná rada Slovenskej republiky). Delegates are elected for a four-year term on the basis of proportional representation. Slovakia's highest judicial body is the Constitutional Court (Ústavný súd), which rules on constitutional issues. The 13 members of this court are appointed by the president from a slate of candidates nominated by parliament.

Slovakia is a member state of the European Union since May 1, 2004 and of NATO since March 29, 2004. As a member of the United Nations (since 1993), Slovakia was, on October 10, 2005, for the first time elected to a two-year term on the UN Security Council (for 2006-2007). Slovakia is also a member of WTO, OECD, OSCE, and other international organizations.

See also: List of rulers of Slovakia

[edit] Administrative divisions

Main articles: Regions of Slovakia and Districts of Slovakia

As for administrative division, Slovakia is subdivided into 8 kraje (singular - kraj, usually translated as regions, but actually meaning rather county), each of which is named after its principal city. Regions enjoy a certain degree of autonomy since 2002. Their self-governing bodies are referred to as Self-governing (or autonomous) Regions (sg. samosprávny kraj, pl. samosprávne kraje) or Upper-Tier Territorial Units (sg. vyšší územný celok, pl. vyššie územné celky, abbr. VÚC).

1. Bratislava Region (Bratislavský kraj) (capital Bratislava)
2. Trnava Region (Trnavský kraj) (capital Trnava)
3. Trenčín Region (Trenčiansky kraj) (capital Trenčín)
4. Nitra Region (Nitriansky kraj) (capital Nitra)
5. Žilina Region (Žilinský kraj) (capital Žilina)
6. Banská Bystrica Region (Banskobystrický kraj) (capital Banská Bystrica)
7. Prešov Region (Prešovský kraj) (capital Prešov)
8. Košice Region (Košický kraj) (capital Košice)

(the word kraj can be replaced by samosprávny kraj or by VÚC in each case)

The "kraje" are subdivided into many okresy (sg. okres, usually translated as districts). Slovakia currently has 79 districts.

In terms of economics and unemployment rate, the western regions are richer than eastern regions; the relative difference is not bigger however than in most EU countries having regional differences.

See also: List of traditional regions of Slovakia and List of tourism regions of Slovakia

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of Slovakia

Slovakia has pursued a difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The Slovak government made progress in 2001 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform, but this came at a cost of spiralling unemployment. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and foreign investment has picked up. Slovakia's economy exceeded expectations in the early 2000s, despite recession in key export markets.

Solid domestic demand boosted economic growth to 4.1% in 2002. Strong export growth, in turn, pushed economic growth to a still-strong 4.2% in 2003 and 5.4% in 2004, despite a downturn in household consumption. Multiple reasons entailed a GDP growth of 6% in 2005, the 4th highest rate in the EU (after the three Baltic states). GDP growth is expected to reach 8.2% in 2006 (the year-to-year growth amounted to unexpected 9.8% in the 3th quarter of 2006 and stayed high at 9.5% year-to-year change in the 4th quarter of 2006), and 8.0% in 2007. The 9.8% growth came as a surprise to local analysts (6 % were expected), given that the big foreign investor Kia is going to launch its production only in late 2006. In 2006, Slovakia reached the highest economic growth among the members of OECD.

Unemployment, rising from 14.9 % at the end of 1998 to 19.2% at the end of 2001 (seasonally adjusted harmonised rate) during the radical reforms introduced by the Slovak government since 1999, decreased again to some 12% (autumn 2006), but a large part of this reduction came through large numbers of unemployed Slovakians migrating to the Czech Republic and European Union, and it still remains among the highest rates in the EU.

Inflation dropped from an average annual rate of 12.0% in 2000 to just 3.3% in the election year 2002, but it rose again in 2003-2004 because of increases in taxes and regulated prices. It reached 3.7 % in 2005.

Slovakia plans to adopt the Euro currency on 1 January 2009 and has already entered the ERM II for this purpose (Slovak euro coins).

Slovakia is among the most attractive countries in the EU for foreign investors mainly because of its low labour costs (a 2005 survey by the prominent consultant firm Deloitte shows that Slovakia has the lowest labour costs in the European Union) and low tax rates. This issue has sparked criticism from some other EU countries, which accuse Slovak government of social and tax dumping. In recent years, Slovakia has been pursuing a policy of encouraging foreign investment. However, that has not shown any benefits so far in innovation capabilities within the country.

Despite a sufficient number of researchers and a solid secondary educational system, Slovakia (as well as some other post-communist countries) still faces many challenges in the field of modern knowledge economy. Within the EU, Slovakia ranks next to last on knowledge creation and last for innovation and entrepreneurship. The business and public R&D expenditures are deeply below EU average. World Bank urges Slovakia to upgrade information infrastructure and reform education system, OECD states that a stronger product market competition would help.

High Tatras.

[edit] Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Slovakia

Because it is in Central Europe and has been inhabited for a relatively long time, Slovakia features interesting natural landscapes, mountains, deep caves, medieval castles and towns, folk architecture, spas and ski resorts.

[edit] Culture

Main article: Culture of Slovakia

• Cinema of Slovakia
• Music of Slovakia
• Slovak literature
• Slovak language
• Slovak cuisine
• Slovak national weapon

[edit] Holidays

• National holidays in Slovakia
• Remembrance days in Slovakia

[edit] Miscellaneous topics

• Coat of Arms of Slovakia
• Communications in Slovakia
• Economy of Slovakia
• Education in Slovakia
• Foreign relations of Slovakia
• History of ice hockey in Slovakia
• List of villages and municipalities in Slovakia
• List of rivers in Slovakia
• List of rulers of Slovakia
• List of Slovaks
• List of tourism regions of Slovakia
• List of towns in Slovakia
• List of traditional regions of Slovakia
• Military of Slovakia
• Slovak euro coins
• Transportation in Slovakia

[edit] International rankings

Human Development Index 2006: Rank 42th out of 177 countries
Index of Economic Freedom 2006: Rank 34th out of 157 countries
Reporters Without Borders world-wide press freedom index 2006: Rank 8th out of 168 countries
Global Competitiveness Report ranking 2006-2007: Rank 37th out of 125 countries.

[edit] Further reading

• Mark W. A. Axworthy Axis Slovakia: Hitler's Slavic Wedge, 1938-1945
• Pavel Dvorak, The Early History of Slovakia in Images. Photographs by Jakub Dvorak ISBN 80-85501-34-1
• Julius Bartl and Dusan Skvarna Slovak History: Chronology & Lexicon
• Jim Downs World War II: OSS Tragedy in Slovakia
• Olga Drobna, Eduard Drobny and Magdalena Gocnikova Slovakia: The Heart of Europe
• Sharon Fisher, Political Change in Post-Communist Slovakia and Croatia: From Nationalist to Europeanist New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. ISBN 1-4039-7286-9
• Minton F. GoldmanSlovakia Since Independence : A Struggle for Democracy
• Alfred Horn Insight Guide: Czech & Slovak Republics
• Rob Humphreys The Rough Guide: Czech and Slovak Republics
• Michael Jacobs Blue Guide: Czech and Slovak Republics
• Lil Junas My Slovakia: An American's View
• Stanislav Kirschbaum A History of Slovakia : The Struggle for Survival
• Krejčí, Oskar: Geopolitics of the Central European Region. The view from Prague and Bratislava Bratislava: Veda, 2005. 494 p. (Free download)
• Eugen Lazistan, Fedor Mikovic, Ivan Kucma and Anna Jureckova Slovakia: A Photographic Odyssey
• Neil Wilson, Richard Nebesky Lonely Planet World Guide: Czech & Slovak Republics
• The Slovak Republic: A Decade of Independence, 1993-2002

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Slovakia. The World Factbook. CIA (2007). Retrieved on February 13, 2007.
2. ^ Vogelsang, Peter; Brian B. M. Larsen (2002). Deportations. The Danish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Retrieved on February 13, 2007.

[edit] External links

Slovakia Portal

Find more information on Slovakia by searching Wikipedia's sister projects
	Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary
	Textbooks from Wikibooks
	Quotations from Wikiquote
	Source texts from Wikisource
	Images and media from Commons
	News stories from Wikinews
	Learning resources from Wikiversity

• The Slovak Republic Government Office
• Národná Rada - Slovak parliament official website
• Slovak president official website
• Slovakia.org - guide to Slovakia
• Historical photos of Slovakia
• CIA World Factbook - Slovakia
• Bratislava - the capital city of Slovakia
• Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
• Google satellite map of Slovakia
• The Slovak Spectator
• Guide to Slovakia
• Discover the beauties of Slovakia
• Slovakia Tourism from The Slovak Tourist Board
• Picture Gallery of Slovakia
• Picture gallery of Slovakia
• Guide to synagogues and other Jewish heritage sites in Slovakia

Geographic locale

v • d • e  Countries of Europe Albania · Andorra · Armenia2 · Austria · Azerbaijan1 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus2 · Czech Republic · Denmark3 · Estonia · Finland · France3 · Georgia1 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan1 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands3 · Norway3 · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia1 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain3 · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey1 · Ukraine · United Kingdom3 · Vatican City 1 Has majority of its territory in Asia.  2 Entirely in Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe.  3 Has dependencies or similar territories outside Europe.

International organizations

v • d • e  Members of the European Union (EU) Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · United Kingdom v • d • e  Members of the Council of Europe Albania · Andorra · Armenia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Republic of Macedonia1 · Romania · Russia · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey · Ukraine · United Kingdom 1 Otherwise known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) v • d • e Visegrád Group Czech Republic • Hungary • Poland • Slovakia v • d • e UN Security Council Members Permanent Members: China • France • Russia • United Kingdom • United States Term ending 31 December 2007: Congo-Brazzaville • Ghana • Peru • Qatar • Slovakia Term ending 31 December 2008: Belgium • Indonesia • Italy • Panama • South Africa v • d • e  North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Belgium · Bulgaria · Canada · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Turkey · United Kingdom · United States Candidate countries: Albania · Croatia · Republic of Macedonia (as former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia[1]) v • d • e Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Australia • Austria • Belgium • Canada • Czech Republic • Denmark • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hungary • Iceland • Ireland • Italy • Japan • South Korea • Luxembourg • 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