postVelvet

postVelvet is a term used to describe the period in the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia that followed the initial rapid dismantling of the Communist regime. While the core events of the Velvet Revolution, characterized by widespread peaceful protests and the resignation of the Communist Party's leadership, largely concluded by late December 1989, the postVelvet era encompasses the subsequent months and years of transition. This period was marked by significant political, economic, and social changes.

Key aspects of postVelvet included the establishment of democratic institutions, the drafting of a new constitution, and the organization of the first free elections. Václav Havel, a prominent dissident and playwright, became the president of Czechoslovakia. The country began a process of economic liberalization, moving from a centrally planned economy to a market-based system, which involved privatization of state-owned enterprises and the introduction of new legal frameworks for business.

Internationally, postVelvet saw Czechoslovakia reorienting its foreign policy, seeking closer ties with Western Europe and NATO. A significant development within the postVelvet period was the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two independent states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, on January 1, 1993. This "Velvet Divorce" was a testament to the era's commitment to non-violent resolution of political differences. The term postVelvet therefore signifies the complex and multifaceted process of building a new democratic society after the fall of communism.