Slovakia once had the reputation of being the ugly duckling or the black hole of Europe, and later abroad it began to be spoken of as a model for other countries. The countries that are interested in Slovakia's experience are themselves on a similar path of reform and change as Slovakia once was. "They ask for it themselves. They want to draw inspiration and in many cases copy it. And we are in the position of those who share their copyright," says State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Milan Ježovica.
Passing on experience from the change of political and economic models is an unconventional form of development aid. Why are transformation experiences part of Slovak development aid?
Development aid, or development cooperation, has several objectives. The first is that through it we plant the Slovak flag around the world and spread the good name of this country and its people. Another thing is that aid should also be effective. That means it should build certain capacities in the country we cooperate with, and at the same time it should help Slovakia by creating more opportunities in the longer-term perspective. By passing on part of our experience, or what I call the Slovak story, within development cooperation, we not only spread our good name but also expand the economic and political space in which we operate daily. We also want development aid to contribute to creating new opportunities for our companies and experts from non-governmental organisations, the business sector, or academia, and to building links between our universities and institutions abroad.
It is natural that we want the country we cooperate with to move as close as possible to the space in which we live. That is, to be democratic and free, to respect human rights, and to have a functioning market economy. We believe that in countries that uphold the principles of pluralist democracy and human rights, that are free and support free competition and the free market, we naturally also have more room to create new opportunities and to benefit from those opportunities.
That sounds quite pragmatic.
Providing development aid is not a form of charity, but a very good and useful thing that is beneficial for both sides. For the country receiving the aid, but also for us. The aid is provided from the money of our taxpayers, and we want it to bring them benefit. Intangible in that it spreads Slovakia's good name and raises the profile of the Slovak flag, but also tangible benefit in the form of better cooperation and opportunities.
What is the Slovak story?
The Slovak story is Slovakia's experience after 1989, and also after 1998. That is, all the structural changes we went through — kick-starting the economy, restructuring banks, pension reform, tax reform, and all the measures that are now an everyday part of Slovakia's reality. Our story has yet another intangible dimension. In the mid-1990s, Slovakia was spoken of abroad in rather unflattering terms. At best, we were the ugly duckling of Europe; at worst, its black hole. Then, when we sensed Europe was drifting away from us and decided we wanted to see a different kind of politics — and the government received a strong mandate from voters and found the determination to push through such measures — Slovakia began to draw closer to the countries from which it had previously fallen away. It also began to show itself as a dynamic country where creative new solutions flourish, a country that knows clearly what it wants. This is our transformational experience, with that specific intangible dimension. We had fallen out of certain processes. And through our own efforts we not only got back into them, but are even spoken of abroad as a model for other countries. And that is no exaggeration. Many countries have similar problems to what Slovakia had in the early 1990s, and our solutions can be an inspiration to them.
For example?
At the end of the 1990s, we were unable to elect a president in parliament. Now Moldova has a similar problem. The situation that existed in Slovakia and where Moldova finds itself now are very closely related. I am not saying it is identical, because you cannot say — this is the Slovak model and it will be applied in one prescribed form — but it is a similar situation. Our solution at the time — passing a constitutional law on direct election of the president — is in a way inspiring. And the Moldovans are interested in it.
When did you personally first realise that Slovakia had changed and could offer its experience to others?
I first encountered interest in how Slovakia dealt with certain things back in the early 1990s in Washington. The Cuban exile community was very interested in how we in Slovakia, or in Czechoslovakia, dealt with the legacy of property confiscation under the communist regime. They were interested because we were dealing with things that were new. As for the more recent period, essentially in all the negotiations I have abroad — particularly in the Eastern Partnership countries and the Western Balkans — there is great demand for the Slovak experience.
So the interest is mainly on their side?
They ask for it themselves. It is not as if we walk around with a bag from which we pull out our experiences like rabbits from a hat and place them on the table. The Slovak story is not something we invented, nor is it an academic construct born in a library. It is a reality that countries on a similar path to the one we travelled observe carefully. They want to draw inspiration from it and in many cases copy it. And we are in the position of those who share their copyright.
Which countries are interested in the Slovak experience?
Those that are advancing their economies, striving for stronger pluralist democracy, want a strong civil society, rule of law, and protection of human rights to function within their borders. And naturally these are countries that would very much like to move closer to Europe or become part of the EU.
In which sectors can the Slovak experience be most helpful?
The sectoral scope is broad, encompassing strengthening capacities in public finance, local government, reforming public administration, conducting EU accession negotiations, engaging with civil society, and strengthening civil society. In Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro, and previously in Serbia, the National Convention project has been running very successfully, helping internal dialogue in these countries. It helps countries determine what goals they should set in negotiations with the EU, and also helps them involve all stakeholders in shaping national strategies and meeting the targets they have set. That is, the question of EU membership should not be just a matter for governments but also for entrepreneurs, academics, and activists from non-governmental organisations. It is about ensuring a functioning dialogue that produces useful solutions for the given country. Of course, the main responsibility remains with the elected government of the country in question.
How long will Slovakia be able to provide these experiences? Are we not running out of "witnesses" to the changes?
This is not about reminiscing about what was achieved, but about finding good solutions to the real challenges facing other countries. Each of these countries deals with practical questions and must find the most suitable solutions. Slovakia will be of interest to them for as long as we remain a country capable of finding solutions and applying creative approaches also to our own problems here at home, in Slovakia. If we can manage that, the Slovak story will not become a relic. It will remain a living story that can be worked with and that will significantly contribute to raising Slovakia's profile even further abroad.
Daniela Balážová
The article appeared in the bulletin Development Aid – Spring 2011. It is published by the Platform of Non-Governmental Development Organisations (MVRO), which is an association of legal entities — an umbrella organisation of 31 (23 full members and 8 observers) Slovak non-governmental organisations that deal primarily with international development and humanitarian aid.