Slovakofilství českých „realistů“1 v předvečer první světové války

Slovakophilism was a deeply-differentiated cultural and spiritual current which developed in the Czech milieu at the time of the national revival, and culminated in the years before the outbreak of the First World War. Its main objective was to encourage the intellectual and emotional rapprochement between Czech and Slovaks. It also aimed to contribute to promote Slovak society’s development. To reach their aims, the Slovakophiles made use of Czech political realism as one of the many currents of thought available. Czech realist media inexhaustibly published series of essays familiarising Czech readers with the Slovak world and giving suggestions for other activities which could promote understanding of the differences and accelerate the rapprochement process. Thanks to these activities, the base was created which later allowed for the development of the concept of a common state.