Institute for the study of Totalitarian Regimes

Official Blurb:carries out academic research into two periods in the modern history of Czechoslovakia: the period of Nazi occupation in 1939–1945 and the period of Communist rule in 1948–1989. It focuses on the anti-democratic activities of state security agencies as well as analysing the circumstances in which an authoritarian regime can emerge in democratic conditions. The Institute is based on the conviction that with better understanding of the principles on which control of society was constructed in the past, we will be better able to resist present and future threats of human rights restrictions. ÚSTR’s educational programme aim at fostering historical literacy. The focus of educational activities is on the teaching of modern history at schools of all levels. It offers pedagogical and methodological support to teachers both in the Czech Republic and abroad. Special attention paid to education is a key feature of ÚSTR’s character.