The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1999 to 2025 Europe

Background Slovakia, in 27 editions.

The entry for Slovakia published Background in 27 editions of 33, from 1999 to 2025. The text changed in 14 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
14
the first edition with it
1999
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (1999 to 2025).

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2012 edition

Changed since 2011

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Slovakia's roots can be traced to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. Following the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) resulted in a strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who were under Austrian rule.

After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under Communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe.

In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro zone on 1 January 2009.

Slovakia's roots can be traced to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. Following the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) resulted in a strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who were themselves ruled by the Austrians. under Austrian rule. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following During the chaos of interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia became a was reconstituted and came under Communist nation rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist rule and Czechoslovakia once more became free. create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The Slovaks and peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Czechs agreed Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to separate peacefully on democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993. 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro area zone on 1 January 2009.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Slovakia: Background.” The World Factbook, 1999–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/slovakia/background.

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