Background:
In
1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form
Czechoslovakia.
Following the chaos of
World War II, Czechoslovakia became a
communist nation within
Soviet-ruled Eastern
Europe.
Soviet influence collapsed in
1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free.
The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on
January 1,
1993.
Slovakia has experienced more difficulty than the Czech Republic in developing a modern market economy.