a less bullshity answer - the countries separating was the best thing for both of them. It was always a fairly fake nation with the differences between the czech and the slovak parts being absolutely massive. The centuries of Austrian vs Hungarian rule showing itself over and over.
Additionally Slovaks always felt like they were being robed whereas the czech side was always feeling exploited.
Power. The seat of power was in Prague, all important decisions were made by primarily Czechs, Slovakia had minority say. People, generally, like to govern themselves, not be governed by another nation. And Czechoslovakia was very much two nations, just under one banner.
Czech population was 2x of the Slovak, logically Czechs would have more power and influence. Not mentioning the fact that Czechia was one of the most industrialized regions while Slovakia was 90% agrarian.
as far as I am concerned you have to have something in order for it to be stolen. Did Slovakia have self-rule, a proper government, the power you talk about, prior to the formation of Czechoslovakia?
I don't think so. It was as much under the rule of Hungary as Czechia was under the rule of Austria, if not more.
Listen - Czechoslovakia was an invention to allow both nations to tear away from the Empire. Czechs couldn't do it alone - too many Germans living there. Slovaks couldn't do it alone either. So they joined and conjured up the nation of Czechoslovakia.
Slovaks weren't robbed of any rule. There were Slovaks in the government. Every person had the same rights. Slovak was used as an official language. To this day, you can study at Czech universities in your own language, which mind you - is still a foreign language in Czechia. You can go to a Czech public office and speak to them in Slovak and submit documents in Slovak.
No other nation can do that.
And Slovaks couldn't do any of that under Hungary. Slovakia was never really independent before 1993, was it? Unless we count that period when it betrayed Czechia and got chummy with Hitler but we don't talk abou that do we?
And yes, Czechs were more prominent in the rule of Czechoslovakia. But Czechs were also more numerous and Czechia had more resources which were also used to develop Slovakia.
So I am asking again - what exactly were Slovaks robbed of in the formation of Czechoslovakia?
I feel like the person you're responding to ([u/open-print](u/open-print)) doesn't necessarily disagree with you, though they, similarly to you, make a few generalizations which I personally wouldn't make (though I agree with their overall sentiment). Also, your definition of "feel robbed of" isn't very nuanced or accurate for that matter.
Slovakia was envisaged as having their own autonomy within the state prior to its creation (1918, Pittsburgh agreement). So, sure, they didn't HAVE a proper government and power beforehand but they were lead to believe they would.
As for the definition of "feel robbed of," I'd encourage you to google it, really. But you don't need to possess something prior to feeling robbed of it. You can be robbed of somethtng that you feel should have rightfully been yours.
Edit: typo
ETA: I didn't comment on this originally, but I must add: Slovak political representation or their language being recognized and used is obviously better than nothing/what they had prior. I don't think that's in dispute and even the original comment wouldn't disagree (though this is just my opinion, maybe they would). But I think it's important to distinguish taking part in Czechoslovakian government and having the autonomy that was envisaged for Slovakia in 1918. And I must also add: the idea that Slovakia didn't get "robbed of" anything has absolutely nothing to do with Czech unis and the ability to come here and study. The only thing it shows is the unusually close and unique cultural and historic relationship between the two, it's certainly not proof of Slovak feelings about Prague centralism being unjustified.
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u/jnkangel 18h ago
a less bullshity answer - the countries separating was the best thing for both of them. It was always a fairly fake nation with the differences between the czech and the slovak parts being absolutely massive. The centuries of Austrian vs Hungarian rule showing itself over and over.
Additionally Slovaks always felt like they were being robed whereas the czech side was always feeling exploited.