Deglobalization Pressures and the Czech Economy: Responses and Adaptation to Emerging Global Trends as of 2024

This thesis examines whether current deglobalisation tendencies are affecting the Czech economy, or whether the Czech Republic, as a small open and export-oriented country, remains resilient to these pressures. The analysis focuses on the development of economic openness, foreign trade, inflows of foreign direct investment, and structural self-sufficiency in connection with the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID–19 pandemic, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. To achieve this objective, the thesis applies a combination of quantitative analysis of macroeconomic time series and qualitative content analysis of strategic economic policy documents. The results indicate that the Czech economy does not follow a deglobalisation pattern understood as a weakening of linkages to international markets. Economic openness remains high over the long term. Although inflows of foreign direct investment have become more volatile, they do not show a permanent decline, and the endogenous growth mechanism remains intact. The most significant changes are observed in the energy sector, where the post-2022 period has been marked by stronger emphasis on diversification and security, whereas food self-sufficiency has increased only marginally. Since 2020, economic policy has placed greater emphasis on resilience and support for strategic industries, while maintaining the foundations of an open economy. The thesis concludes that the Czech Republic is not undergoing deglobalisation, but rather a process of regional adaptation of globalisation. The findings may serve as a basis for future economic policy decisions in an environment of heightened global uncertainty.