East or West?: Slovakia's Position in Europe, Past and Present

• In Event: Situating Slovak Society and Politics in Time and Space

Abstract

Geographically-sandwiched between great powers, the Slovak posture toward Western Europe and Russia has alternated over time and remains a crucial question for today's NATO and EU policy-making decisions and enforcement. Drawing from primary and secondary sources, this paper explores how past and present Slovaks have viewed their position within Europe, the forces that shaped these vantage points, and the historical narratives that underpinned the gravitational pull east or west.

Author

• Marty Manor Mullins, Flathead Valley Community College