THE WILD 90s
A Four-Week Context-Driven Masterclass
Power. Privatization. Political drama. The birth of a new nation.​
In this four-week pop-history masterclass, we open the black box of Slovakia’s wild transition — exploring the personalities, power struggles, and pivotal decisions that transformed a post-communist society into a modern capitalist state.
A story of ambition, upheaval, and nation-building.
Slovakia’s Great Leap: From Communism to Capitalism
The 1990s were the decade that built modern Slovakia.
Communism collapsed. State industries were privatized. New elites emerged. And the rules of a completely new economic and political system were written in real time.
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What you get:
4 Expert-Guided Sessions
Rich LIVE lectures led by historian Vladimír Štrama
Historical Clarity
Discover how one extraordinary decade that changed everything in Slovakia.
Watch Anytime, Anywhere
Stream the full course at your own pace — on your schedule
Program Schedule
Week 1:
7 May
​From Velvet to Violence: Slovakia’s Wild 90s
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Slovakia's first real attempt at running its own democracy
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Privatization: how a whole country was sold, reshaped, and fought over in record time
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The era of car bombs, disappearing businessmen, and the rise of the mafia
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How Slovakia narrowly avoided becoming the “black hole of Europe”
Week 2
14 May
Political Absurdistan: The World of Slovak Politics
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The long, strange story of Slovak politics since independence
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Understanding the memes, jokes and unwritten rules of the sytem
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The famous, and infamous, political moments
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The larger-than-life characters of Slovak political life
Week 3
21 May
Under Construction: The Long Road from Košice to Bratislava
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The systems and structures that shape everyday life in Slovakia
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The 'unfinished highway; problem: the physical and mental gap between the East and the West
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Brain drain: when the road doesn't stop in Bratislava
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Beyond East and West: the North, the South, the Centre — and the many Slovakias in between
Week 4
28 May
Peasants in Tower Blocks: How Slovakia Speed-Ran Modernity
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How Slovakia modernized at a breathtaking speed
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Success stories, national embarrassments and everything in between
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Why personal connections sometimes mattered more than qualifications
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Who Slovaks think they are, who they want to be, and who they definitely insist they are not
Why This Masterclass is a Must-Enroll?
Expert-Guided Learning
Led by historian Vladimír Štrama, gain a rich and nuanced understanding of Eastern Europe’s past and present.
Unique Insights
Go beyond textbooks with deep historical, cultural, and geopolitical context you won’t find anywhere else
Flexible & Self-Paced
Learn on your own time — rewatch sessions anytime, anywhere.
Connect to Global Heritage
Join hundreds of learners around the world who’ve taken this journey to rediscover their roots and expand their worldview.
Meet Your Instructor
My name is Vladimír Štrama
Bio Highlights:
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BA Philosophy & History — University of Exeter (UK)
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MSt Modern European History — University of Oxford (UK)
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Former researcher at Institute H21 (Prague)
Areas of expertise:
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Eastern & Central European history
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National identity and myth-making
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Empires, democracy, and geopolitical thought
Teaching style:
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Clear, structured, accessible — bridging academic research with public understanding.
Sarah
The course brought Central European history to life — not just dates, but the why behind centuries of change.
Nick
The discussions were open, engaging, and deeply thoughtful. Questions weren’t just welcomed — they shaped the learning.
Thomas
The perfect balance of depth and breadth. Four fascinating, beautifully connected talks that completely reshaped how I understand Central Europe.
