2012 Volume 121 Issue 4 Pages 728-734
In this paper, we discuss the geographical features of Slovakia under three themes: 1) Geography of Slovakia before 1989, 2) Geography of Slovakia since 1990, and 3) Slovak Geographers and research problems in Slovakia.
A rapid transformation has taken place in Slovakia since 1990. Whereas fast and dynamic growth was observed in big cities such as Bratislava, widening gaps between rich and the poor, growing unemployment, and expanding regional disparities became more evident. Many geographers in Slovakia took notice of these economic and social problems, and conducted research to address them. Another feature of Slovakia since 1990 is an increasing number of international conferences and joint-research projects.
One of the major challenges facing geography in Slovakia today is how to prevent the flow of young geographers overseas, in other words, how to stop the brain drain in Slovakia. Accelerating exchanges with Russia and surrounding countries are an issue of equal importance for the study of geography in Slovakia.
