Abstract
In this paper, I focus on Czech xenophobia in the period 1985-2015 and aim to interpret it from a comparative perspective. The key concept which I explore is class in post-socialist conditions (Michael Burawoy, Gil Eyal, Iván Szelényi).
This work also builds on the debate on elitism and populism in post-socialist Europe (Michał Buchowski, Séan Hanley). As such, I propose to study two interlinked phenomena: "popular" and "liberal" varieties of xenophobia.
The first type can be seen across the classes but is predominantly working class-based, merging culturally and biologically-based racism with anti-elitist sensitivities. It stems from an agenda imported from abroad as well as the adoption and diffusion of Far Right reasoning and the continuation of late state socialist popular beliefs.
The second type, manifested by anti-populist, predominantly urban, educated and more affluent strata, frames its prejudice within human rights perspectives. Its sources can be found in the political instrumentalization of the collective historical trauma of 1968 as well as the inertia now surrounding the post-socialist ideological consensus.
Both xenophobias, however, distance themselves explicitly from the Far Right.