A strong democracy is not an automatic product of a healthy economy. But an open and free economic system does create more favorable conditions for citizens to make choices for the common good. Overcoming the destructive legacy of decades of Communist oppression in the Czech Republic has been difficult. Many Czechs believe that it is enough merely to have competing political parties. But such a view is shortsighted.
Political parties have an important, indeed crucial, role to play.
But by themselves, they cannot meet all the needs of a democratic society. Private non-governmental organizations are also critical to filling the spaces that political parties cannot. In the end, the Czech people will determine what sort of civil society they want and how vigorous it will be. The U.S. has tried to promote this effort through educational exchanges and civic education programs. And as Ambassador Shattuck said, the U.S. will continue its support for democratic development in the Czech Republic.