Jirí Hájek
Encyclopedia
Jiří Hájek (ˈjɪr̝iː ˈɦaːjɛk; July 6, 1913, Krhanice
near Benešov
- October 22, 1993, Prague
) was a Czech politician and diplomat. Together with Václav Havel
, Zdeněk Mlynář
, and Pavel Kohout
, Hájek was one of the founding members and architects of Charta 77
.
Hájek was imprisoned (1939 - 1945). After the war he became a member of parliament for the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (1945 - 1948) and probably also a secret member of the Communist Party
(code name E-22). During 1948 - 1969 he was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, during 1950 - 1953 he was the rector
of the University of Economics
.
. During 1965 - 1968 he was the minister of education. From April to September 1968, he served as the minister of foreign affairs in Dubček's
government. After the Soviet Union army took control over Czechoslovakia (August 21, 1968) he protested against this in a speech at the United Nations (where he used the word occupation) - this caused his dismissal from high offices and even from the communist party (1970).
.
Together with Václav Havel
, Zdeněk Mlynář
, and Pavel Kohout
, Hájek was one of the founding members and architects of Charta 77
.
Jiří Hájek emerged as one of three leading spokesmen of Charta 77, thus becoming the target of police interrogations and threats. He was a strong defender of this uncompromising document, which voiced the principles of universal human rights
. In 1987, Hájek was awarded the first ever Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize.
After the fall of socialism in Czechoslovakia
(1989) Hájek served as an advisor of Alexander Dubček
(1990 - 1992) but was unable to obtain significant political influence.
He died on October 22, 1993.
Krhanice
Krhanice is a municipality and village in Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. -References:*This article was initially translated from the Czech Wikipedia....
near Benešov
Benešov
Benešov is a town in the Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic, about southeast of Prague. The Konopiště castle and the Czech national mountain Blaník are near the town.-History:...
- October 22, 1993, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
) was a Czech politician and diplomat. Together with Václav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
, Zdeněk Mlynář
Zdenek Mlynár
Zdeněk Mlynář was a Czech intellectual who went against the grain during a critical time in the development of Eastern European political history. Mlynář wrote the noteworthy political manifesto “Towards a Democratic Political Organization of Society” which was released on May 5, 1968, at the...
, and Pavel Kohout
Pavel Kohout
Pavel Kohout is a Czech and Austrian novelist, playwright, and poet. He was a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, a Prague Spring exponent and dissident in 1970s until he was expelled to Austria...
, Hájek was one of the founding members and architects of Charta 77
Charter 77
Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Václav Havel, Jan Patočka, Zdeněk Mlynář, Jiří Hájek, and Pavel Kohout. Spreading the text of the document was...
.
Early political career
Hájek studied and worked as a lawyer. From a young age he was a member of the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Hájek was imprisoned (1939 - 1945). After the war he became a member of parliament for the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (1945 - 1948) and probably also a secret member of the Communist Party
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
(code name E-22). During 1948 - 1969 he was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, during 1950 - 1953 he was the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Economics
University of Economics, Prague
The University of Economics, Prague, is a public university located in Prague, Czech Republic. It is the largest university in the field of economics, business and information technologies in the Czech Republic with almost 20,000 students in its bachelor, masters and doctoral programmes.-Schools...
.
Diplomacy
From 1955 Hájek worked in diplomacy: during 1955 - 1958 as an ambassador in Britain, during 1958 - 1962 as a deputy of the minister of foreign affairs, during 1962 - 1965 he represented Czechoslovakia in United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. During 1965 - 1968 he was the minister of education. From April to September 1968, he served as the minister of foreign affairs in Dubček's
Alexander Dubcek
Alexander Dubček , also known as Dikita, was a Slovak politician and briefly leader of Czechoslovakia , famous for his attempt to reform the communist regime during the Prague Spring...
government. After the Soviet Union army took control over Czechoslovakia (August 21, 1968) he protested against this in a speech at the United Nations (where he used the word occupation) - this caused his dismissal from high offices and even from the communist party (1970).
Charta 77
Until 1973 Hájek worked in the Historical Institute of Czechoslovak Academy of SciencesCzechoslovak Academy of Sciences
The Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences was established in 1953 to be the scientific center for Czechoslovakia. It was succeeded by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in 1992.-History:...
.
Together with Václav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
, Zdeněk Mlynář
Zdenek Mlynár
Zdeněk Mlynář was a Czech intellectual who went against the grain during a critical time in the development of Eastern European political history. Mlynář wrote the noteworthy political manifesto “Towards a Democratic Political Organization of Society” which was released on May 5, 1968, at the...
, and Pavel Kohout
Pavel Kohout
Pavel Kohout is a Czech and Austrian novelist, playwright, and poet. He was a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, a Prague Spring exponent and dissident in 1970s until he was expelled to Austria...
, Hájek was one of the founding members and architects of Charta 77
Charter 77
Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Václav Havel, Jan Patočka, Zdeněk Mlynář, Jiří Hájek, and Pavel Kohout. Spreading the text of the document was...
.
Jiří Hájek emerged as one of three leading spokesmen of Charta 77, thus becoming the target of police interrogations and threats. He was a strong defender of this uncompromising document, which voiced the principles of universal human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. In 1987, Hájek was awarded the first ever Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize.
After the fall of socialism in Czechoslovakia
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
(1989) Hájek served as an advisor of Alexander Dubček
Alexander Dubcek
Alexander Dubček , also known as Dikita, was a Slovak politician and briefly leader of Czechoslovakia , famous for his attempt to reform the communist regime during the Prague Spring...
(1990 - 1992) but was unable to obtain significant political influence.
He died on October 22, 1993.