MEGATRENDS AND MEDIA

MEDIA AND MARKETING GAMES OF THE OLIGARCHS
country. At the same time, each country has its speciications resulting
usually from historical development of traditional industrial branches,
in which there is developed a strong concentration of power. Foundation
of F. A. Hayek devoted to the analysis of this issue in Slovakia, Czech
Republic, Ireland, Spain and Latvia. For the needs of the analysis, the
authors considered as „any kind of important entrepreneur, or a big
company, which bases its maintenance on using certain connection to the
state, either in the form of regular supply of state orders or donations.“ 11
Such companies can also be dated historically a couple of centuries
backwards. Their largest expansion was observed by the Foundation of
F. A. Hayek in the course of the 20th century, when the economic impact
of the state increased in a disproportional way.
Functioning of oligarchy is based on fundamental features of
entrepreneurial activities. Companies primarily seek to make proit and
to ensure economic survival in either a legitimate business operating
or looking for state rent. In case of a state rent, here we mean using
protection of the state to make money without making any real added
value. What is more, with the growth of companies there appear pressures
to limit competition through different forms of licensing, unions or
professional associations. In the moment when such a company starts to
feel a stronger desire to increase its income without making any added
value, the simplest way to become rich is connection to a political party
or personalities that could help to pursue its interests. This company
would join funding a party in exchange for counter-services, or its people
in the framework of a government or other important institutions.
Consequently, oligarchs will use such people to inluence decisionmaking
for their own sakes.
In Western Europe oligarchs have been building their power and property
over several decades (approximately since 1960th). In former communist
states it was not possible until 1989. Therefore, the development in this
sphere has been much faster in our region. Among oligarchs in the postcommunist
countries we can ind many, who in the past had positions
in KGB or ŠtB (former state secret services). In case of Slovakia, in more
extent than in the Czech Republic, new layer of oligarchs was created
around privatisation and different investment funds.
11 ODKLADAL, M.: Oligarchov nájdeme všade. Ich pokušenie rastie s väčšou
mocou v rukách politikov. [online]. [2015-04-05]. Available at: .
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