Paper short abstract:

The year of 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of the split of Czechoslovakia. The aim of this paper, drawn upon ethnographic research, is to try to reflect on how, even though there had not been any referenda, a feeling of close friendship and even brotherhood among Czechs and Slovaks persists.

Paper long abstract:

The year of 2023, marked the 30th anniversary of the split of the State of Czechoslovakia. The aim of this paper, drawn upon ethnographic research, is to try to analyze and reflect on how, even though there had not been any public referenda on the issue, everything was decided from above, today a feeling of belonging- call it close friendship or even brotherhood, among Czechs and Slovaks still persists. Some of the questions that will be addressed and debated are: Beyond the nation-state, how does this sentiment of transnational belonging and brotherhood among Czechs and Slovaks is defined and put into practice in the everyday relations? Can we say that since the Split of Czechoslovakia, and its entrance later in the EU in 2004, and as members of the Visegrád group (V4), this sentiment it is understood in more equal terms? Does it imply any kind of solidarity and responsibility? If yes, which ones? Finally, in a hostile world where hatred and violence, unfortunately, is on the rise, to what extent this peaceful sentiment of belonging and collaborative relation among Czechs and Slovaks can be taken as a reference to consider? Although, in the case Czechoslovakia, a democratic referenda never took place