Introduction

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of Czech sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a final summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of Czech sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 75.3

There are no foreign military bases in the Czech Republic. NATO military bases are not located directly on Czech territory, but the Czech Republic cooperates closely with the alliance and participates in European defense missions, including the deployment of military units and participation in joint exercises in the territories of the allies.

The Czech Republic applies the mechanism of preferential action of international law, especially legislation and decisions of the European Union. European and international law takes precedence over national law on key issues (e.g. judicial decisions, standardization, human rights). In cases not affected by international standards, national legislation is applied.

The Czech Republic is characterized by a high level of political stability: the WGI Political Stability index in 2023 was 0.97 (from -2.5 to 2.5), which is significantly higher than the global average. The current political system is a parliamentary democracy, regular elections are held according to schedule, and the risks of violent destabilization are low.

According to the World Bank, the government efficiency index in the Czech Republic in 2023 is 1.11 (from -2.5 to 2.5), or 82-83% is a percentile, that is, higher than most countries in the world. This reflects the high quality of public services, the independence of the civil service and the high level of policy implementation.

The Czech Republic ranks 54th in the world according to the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI), for 2024 its EGDI index is 0.824. The level of coverage of electronic services is comparable to most developed countries in Central Europe, but inferior to the EU leaders.

The level of trust in the national government is about 19% (2023), which is lower than the OECD average (39%). Trust in the leadership has historically been low, although the president and prime minister have a positive international image, especially against the background of geopolitical risks. The Czech Republic actively delegates elements of sovereignty through membership in the European Union, NATO, the United Nations and other international organizations, and participates in the full range of collective decisions.

In the field of foreign and defense policy, the country has a deep institutional integration into Western alliances. The Czech Republic is a full—fledged participant in international judicial bodies, in particular the European Court of Human Rights, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), as well as the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

No examples of refusals/restrictions have been identified — the country is systemically integrated into transnational litigation. The Czech Republic is a unitary state with elements of decentralization: significant powers have been transferred to regions and municipalities, but key decisions are made at the central level.

Territorial and administrative reform continues, and strengthening regional powers is recognized as the goal of the state strategy. There are legislative mechanisms for parliamentary and public oversight of the security services (BIS, VZ, UZSI), but transparency issues remain a subject of discussion.

In recent years, there has been increased attention to countering foreign influence and cyber threats, intelligence reports have been published, and increased control has been recorded.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, the coverage is 98%.

Economic sovereignty— 76.6

The GDP per capita (PPP) in the Czech Republic in 2025 ranges from 48,800 to 56,800 international dollars, according to estimates by the IMF and the World Bank. This is one of the highest rates in Central Europe, reflecting a high level of economic development. The Czech Republic's gold and foreign exchange reserves for July 2025 amount to $161.3 billion (including gold – about $6.5 billion), which is a multi-year high.

The volume of reserves allows us to cover 8-9 months of imports, which guarantees currency stability. The Czech Republic's public debt is consistently 43-44% of GDP (43.4% in the first quarter of 2025). The indicator is below the average within the EU and is not considered a threat to macro-financial stability.

The Czech Republic demonstrates a very low level of food insecurity – 2.5% according to international indices. The country fully meets its food needs, but individual weather events may require subsidies to farmers. The majority of the population trusts the quality and safety of food. In 2025, the country has completely abandoned Russian oil and imports raw materials exclusively through Western pipelines (TAL, IKL).

The Czech Republic remains partially dependent on imported energy (gas), but has consolidated its position as a regional leader in energy independence. The Czech Republic has significant reserves of brown and hard coal (more than 750 million tons), uranium, kaolin, graphite, gold and non-ferrous metals in limited quantities. Oil and gas are produced in small quantities, and most of the resources are imported.

There are 1,118 surface reservoirs and 174 underground aquifers in the country. 19.5% of freshwater reserves are used annually, and the country is on the verge of potential water scarcity risk, especially in arid regions. National payment processing and clearing is carried out through the Czech National Bank and the CERTIS system, which covers all domestic payments in crowns and euros.

The share of the internal infrastructure covers the needs of the country as much as possible. Within the country, calculations are dominated in Czech crowns (CZK), especially in retail trade, budget and salary payments. The dollar and euro are used for international transactions and large companies, but the CZK is the dominant currency for domestic settlements.

The Czech National Bank (CNB) issues the national currency CZK, conducts an independent monetary policy, regulates interest rates and ensures the stability of the financial system. The central bank has full control over the issue and credit regulation.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%.

Technological sovereignty — 66

The share of research and development (R&D) expenditures is 1.83–1.96% of GDP (2022-2023), which is lower than the EU average (about 2.3%), but steadily growing. Exports of high—tech products account for 10% of exports, while imports account for 14% of all imports.

Import substitution is developed in certain sectors (mechanical engineering, auto), but the dependence on key components for IT, communications, and microelectronics is high; the export structure is less diversified than in Germany.

Higher education coverage is 70.8% (according to the data of 2022-2024, the gross coefficient). Girls make up 22% of the age group of 20-29 years, boys - 17%. More than 315,000 students study at universities in the country, 18% are foreigners. In the Czech Republic, 94.2% of the population has access to the Internet (2025), which corresponds to the level of developed EU countries.

More than 10.1 million users, mobile network coverage — 139% of the population, mobile Internet — 96.6% penetration. Platforms have been implemented GOV.cz (government portal), Datové schránky (government e-mail), eDoklady and Identita občana (electronic identification). Unified state registries, an interface for online services (Citizen Portal) have been implemented, and the state infrastructure for digital services covers applications, statements, payments, and access to registries. Import dependence is high: 14% of imports are high-tech, the main suppliers are the EU, China, South Korea, and the USA.

Critical components of chips, servers, and network equipment are almost completely imported. The Czech Republic implements a single digital access: electronic identification, a government portal, electronic documents and applications, according to the law of 2025, almost all basic public services are available online. Coverage and convenience are improving, but the level of integration is lower than in the leading EU countries.

The country specializes in pharmaceuticals and biotech equipment, there are large companies (for example, Zentiva, BioVendor), but most of the critical technologies and equipment are imported; biotechnological autonomy is limited. The development is carried out in support of robotics (industrial robots, R&D), but the production of key components (sensors, activators, processors) is imported; autonomy is low.

Microelectronics is almost completely imported, there is a strategy to support the industry and train personnel, but the country does not have autonomy for its own factories (fabs factories) and mass development. Key dependencies: Germany, Taiwan, China.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 93% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 74.4

The Czech Republic is in the top 35 in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index (2024) and has a national CERT/CSIRT (GovCERT.CZ and CSIRT.CZ). The law "On Cybersecurity" provides for strict requirements for critical infrastructure, and mandatory registration of incidents has been in effect since November 2025. NIX.CZ — the largest regional IXP, provides traffic exchange between all operators of the country and foreign partners, reaching peak loads of more than 2 Tbit/s.

Local area network coverage is 12% directly through IXP, the backbone network covers all major cities. The national VHCN plan provides symmetric gigabit access for government agencies and businesses. The Czech Republic is dominated by the Czech-language media: television, radio, online publications. Minority languages (Polish, German, Slovak) are represented regionally.

The coverage of the Czech language is 82-97%, depending on the region; the English—speaking sector is strengthening in Prague. The country is highly integrated with BigTech products (Google, Meta, Microsoft), but there is a government strategy in place to support local platforms and protect personal data. Open APIs and the dominance of local IT companies in public services minimize critical dependency.

Own media content in national media accounts for 65-70% (TV, radio, news agencies), foreign content is presented mainly in online services and streaming platforms. The most popular local TV channels are CT, Nova, Prima. There are large national IT companies: Avast, JetBrains, Kiwi.com, Seznam.cz (search engine and mail), as well as dozens of SaaS startups.

There are strong positions in the B2B and security segment (antiviruses, Czech cloud solutions). Public services, banking, payment services, education: more than 89% of the population uses at least one digital service every day. Mobile platforms for ID, medicine, and tax payments have been implemented. Government cloud systems are created and protected in accordance with the national strategy.

Access to data is strictly regulated, and corporate clouds for government agencies (GovCloud) operate on local data centers. The law on data storage complies with European security standards. Mobile operators (O2 Czech Republic, T-Mobile Czech Republic, Vodafone) are national/European companies that use independent and local infrastructure, LTE/5G coverage is almost 99% of the territory.

National regulation protects the domestic market and network security. The Czech Republic fully applies GDPR (European Data Protection Regulation); there is a separate national law on personal data protection, strict obligations for businesses and government agencies, high leak control, fines and mandatory registration of incidents.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 94%.

Cultural sovereignty — 84.1

There are 17 UNESCO sites in the Czech Republic (including the newest ones) – the country is among the top 10 in terms of the number of such monuments in Europe. All the main objects are cultural, only 1 is natural (beech forests). The country's contribution is architectural styles (glazed Gothic, rondocubism, Prague as the capital of modernism), famous composers (Smetana, Dvorak, Janacek), literature (Kafka, Hasek), folk dance of the regiment, the art school of cubism and rondocubism, influence on world art (Mucha Art Nouveau).

Czechs are the authors of a number of global brands in music (Czech Philharmonic), theater, circus (Cirk La Putika), architecture, design (Expo 1958 — Brussels Style). The State Prize for Literature and Art, the Talich Prize, awards for achievements in theater, cinema, the national Student Design Award and many industry prizes are awarded annually, the largest being the Trebbia International Award (since 2001), Czech Grand Design, Czech Lion, Dvorak Prize, and the Prize for the preservation of cultural heritage.

The Czech Republic is a region of ethno-cultural stability (Czech, Moravian, Slovak and some Polish traditions). Strong identity (Hussite heritage, Cubism, national theater, ancient rituals); pride – native language and history (mass folklore festivals, costumes, holidays, cuisine, rituals). The Government supports minorities (Hungarians, Germans, Poles, Roma, Slovaks) with grants for cultural projects, education in their native language, and participation in government programs. The rights to cultural expression and festivals of small nations, integration and museum projects are legally established.

There are more than 40 thousand cultural sites in the country, including architectural monuments, museums, castles, art galleries and cultural centers; the museum network includes 650+ museums, 300+ castles and palaces. Coverage in terms of the number of objects is one of the highest in the region.

The Czech Republic regularly implements projects: expositions at the Expo, Philharmonic tours, Fly exhibitions, cooperation with Vienna, Berlin, Tokyo, Nobel and European Art Prizes, international competitions (Prague Spring, One World Documentary Film Festival). The Law on the Protection of Geographical, Cultural, and Gastronomic Brands (for example, Czech glass, beer, Moravian wines, and Dumplings) is recognized at the EU and UNESCO levels. Copyright protection, government support for brands included in the EU Register (PDO, PGI).

The cuisine combines Czech, Moravian, Slovak, Austrian, Hungarian, and German elements: pork, dumplings, duck, goulash, sausages, cheese, honey cake, and a wide range of wines and beers. Emphasis on regional products and traditional recipes; strong gastronomic culture recognized by UNESCO.

According to state statistics and UNESCO, about 63-68% of the country's population annually attends a concert, museum, exhibition or participates in a cultural event; one third are active participants in local festivals, studios, clubs, courses. The Cultural Czech Republic 2030 program stimulates the growth of engagement.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 97%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 78

Czech Republic's HDI = 0.915 (2023), ranked 29th in the world; category "very high level". Government spending on education is 4.2–4.8% of GDP (2023), 14.6% of the country's total budget. In 2023 — 320.7 billion Czech crowns.

Literacy of the population is >99% (according to UNESCO and the World Bank 2016-2024), one of the highest in the world. Almost all adults have basic writing and reading skills. In 2022, the average PISA score (math/reading/science): mathematics — 495, reading — 486, natural sciences — 492.

The results are above the OECD average, but below the top Asian countries. 35-37% of university graduates have a STEM profile (technical, natural sciences, IT specialties). This reflects the emphasis on engineering and applied disciplines in higher education. Universities offer from 12 to 15% of programs in foreign languages (English, German, French), and large technical universities offer up to 25% of programs for foreigners.

The State supports education and cultural projects for Slovak, Polish, Hungarian, German, and Roma minorities; teaching in these languages, financing festivals, and media for minorities are enshrined in law and implemented through grants.

There are 44 state fundamental centers and institutes in the Czech Republic (physics, chemistry, biology, engineering), as well as 9 large university research campuses. 80-85% of online courses and services are organized by national universities (Moodle, EduId, the Russian equivalent — gosuslugi educatsii), the state platform — eLearning.cz, remote programs. The amount of support is CZK 5.2 billion (2024): grants, scholarships, competitions for schoolchildren and students, financing of Olympiads, accelerators at universities, government programs (Talent for Science, Innovation Fund Program).

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 87%.

Military sovereignty — 65.5

Czech defense spending in 2025 will be 2% of GDP (the first time the NATO standard has been reached), with a gradual plan to increase to 3% by 2030. The number of armed forces is ~23,600 people (2025, professional army). The plan until 2030 is to increase to 30-37,500.

Active modernization: purchase of F-35, new Boxer and CV90 armored personnel carriers, modern air defense systems, unmanned systems, transition to NATO standards for communications and weapons. 20-30% of weapons are of national production, including small arms, armored personnel carriers, radars, engineering equipment, and some ammunition. Heavy weapons and aircraft are purchased abroad.

Full control over the external borders by the police, border troops and army support forces; integration with the Schengen system, there are international missions on the eastern borders of the EU. The reserve includes ~3,500–5,000 operational reserve personnel and up to 40,000 mobilization fund in case of war. The system of voluntary training (Active Reserve).

Strategic decisions are made based on commitments to NATO and the EU; most military operations and purchases are aligned with alliances, but the national command is autonomous in terms of territorial defense.

The military industry is well developed (CZUB, Excalibur, Tatra Defense, ERA, Omnipol, Retia): production of small arms, vehicles, radio equipment, communications, air defense, UAVs, and components.

The country does not have nuclear weapons. Warheads — 0. The Czech Republic does not possess nuclear munitions, it is part of the non-proliferation regime (NPT). The Czech Republic does not have military satellites or national armed space programs; the intelligence is conducted by the VZ (military intelligence) and BIS (counterintelligence) services, integrated with the NATO network. It uses European and Alliance space facilities for communication, navigation and surveillance.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state—owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and the UN/NGO industry databases - 89% coverage.

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. High level of human development: HDI 0.915, 29th place, advanced medicine, longevity, low mortality and high literacy. Economic stability: GDP per capita ($48-56 thousand PPP), GDP is growing, low government debt, gold and foreign exchange reserves ($161 billion), high stability.

Education and Science: Free higher education, strong STEM staff, active talent support, high enrollment and literacy. Digital infrastructure: Internet penetration >94%, digitalization of public services, national platforms, high coverage of digital services. Political stability and internal peace: High stability, low crime rate, good border control, integration with the EU/NATO, strong parliamentary democracy.

Strong cultural identity: 17 UNESCO sites, developed culinary tradition, support for small ethnic cultures and languages, active cultural life. Advanced military industry and modernization of the army: active modernization of equipment, cooperation with NATO, large local defense companies. Environmental sustainability: Clean water and air, rich natural resources, "green" cities (Prague is one of the world leaders).

Weaknesses. Import dependence in high-tech and microelectronics: critical IT components, servers, and chips are almost entirely imported; autonomy in high technology is low. A moderate pace of innovation in R&D: the contribution to R&D is below the European average (1.8–2.0% of GDP), there is not enough of its own global developments in basic sciences.

Limited biotechnological/robotic autonomy: most of the equipment and technologies are imported, B2B solutions are being developed, but there are no large national clusters. The share of own weapons: about 25% — significant dependence on European and American suppliers of heavy equipment and aviation.

The absence of nuclear weapons and military space: the country is completely non-nuclear, there are no satellites or their own space military intelligence systems. Demographic challenges: a shortage of young personnel (a drop in the number of conscripts), a shortage of military reserves, and an aging population.

The level of trust in the government is not very high: trust does not exceed 19%, reflecting internal political contradictions. Import dependence in the energy sector (gas): Despite the complete abandonment of Russian oil, gas remains highly dependent on the EU, although sustainability is growing in this segment.

Overall assessment. The Czech Republic's cumulative sovereignty Index is 519.9 out of 700 possible points (above the average of 74.3%), which places the country in the top 50 in the global top.

The Czech Republic is a typical example of a sustainable, integrated and technologically advanced state in the EU, with a strong social model, cultural heritage and internal stability. The country has high economic, educational, and digital attractiveness, but is experiencing import dependence in critical areas of high technology, defense, and parts of the energy sector.

The key challenges are to accelerate internal innovation, support science, maintain a talent pool, and increase autonomy in strategic high—tech areas. The sovereignty profile indicates that the Czech Republic is a socially stable, economically developed state with a high standard of living, strong culture and integration into international structures.

The main limitations of sovereignty are the delegation of key powers to Western blocs, noticeable technological and energy dependence, as well as strategic limitations in the field of defense and high technology.

The country has extensive internal resources to strengthen cultural, educational, digital and social autonomy, but remains vulnerable on strategic frontiers due to global integration.