Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk: The Founding Father of Czechoslovak People's Democracy

This study explores connections between the intellectual and political work of the first President of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850–1937), and the system of people's democracy implemented in Czechoslovakia following the end of Second World War (1945–1948). It aims to do so by delving into Masaryk's perspectives on the “social question,” his critique of Marxism, and the practical measures he implemented as an engaged politician. Additionally, this study examines how Masaryk's ideas inspired his followers, shaping their notions of advancing modern democracy beyond its liberal phase into what they termed “people's democracy.” Central to this analysis is the premise that the Czechoslovak regime of people's democracy, existing between the end of Second World War and the communist takeover in February 1948, was built upon theoretical foundations distinct from Marxist-Leninist doctrine. While people's democracy is traditionally associated with the Stalinist regimes in Eastern Europe post-1948, this study argues that its conceptual framework, notably different from the Stalinist model, had been formulated by Czechoslovak intellectuals well before the Soviet Union's involvement in Second World War, and implemented in Czechoslovakia after the war. Specifically, the paper highlights the contributions of Czechoslovak founding figure Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk to this intellectual evolution.