Hubert Smekal
Hubert Smekal joins the Department of Law, Maynooth University after
working as an Assistant Professor and a Senior Researcher for the last 16
years at Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia. Hubert studied Law and
European studies in Brno and Bologna. His research focuses on the
interplay between law and politics, especially concerning the EU, courts
and human rights issues. Hubert was awarded a year-long Fulbright PostDoc
Research Fellowship (2010–2011), which he spent studying courts and
judicial politics at UC Berkeley.
Hubert authored and co-authored ten books in English and Czech, including the recently-published Domestic
Judicial Treatment of European Court of Human Rights Case Law: Beyond Compliance (Kosař et al., Routledge
2020). He authored and co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles, many of which appeared in
leading legal, political science and human rights journals such as European Constitutional Law Review,
German Law Journal, Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, International Journal of Human Rights,
European Political Science and Europe-Asia Studies. Hubert has participated in two ERC projects, one H2020
project and three grants from the Czech Science Foundation.
Hubert has a long international lecturing experience, including four summers spent in China (Shandong
University) teaching human rights and EU law. He also lectured at University of Toronto summer schools; Ural
University, Yekaterinburg, Russia; and Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey. In Maynooth, he will lead courses on
EU Law, and Competition and State Aid Law.
Hubert co-founded and led the Czech Center for Human Rights and Democracy, the first centre of its kind in
Czechia. He served two terms as a member of the Czech Human Rights Council, an advisory body to the Czech
Government. Hubert led teams drafting reports on various human rights issues for the Czech Government
Office, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Network against Racism. He is a member of
the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law. Hubert has been a Fulbright
Ambassador at Masaryk University and managed Masaryk University’s participation at the Global Campus of
Human Rights, Venice.
Hubert plays beach volleyball, likes watching ice hockey, and listening to jazz-rock and post-rock on his 1980s
vintage HiFi system. He is currently learning Irish and looks forward to practising it at Maynooth.
Publications:
Books
Year Publication
2021 Mimoprávní vlivy na rozhodování českého Ústavního soudu.
Smekal, Hubert; Benák, Jaroslav; Vyhnánek, Ladislav; Hanych, Monika; Janků, Štěpán (2021)
Mimoprávní vlivy na rozhodování českého Ústavního soudu. Brno: MUNI Press.
2020 Domestic Judicial Treatment of European Court of Human Rights Case Law:
Beyond Compliance.
Kosař, David; Petrov, Jan; Šipulová, Katarína; Smekal, Hubert; Vyhnánek, Ladislav; Janovský,
Jozef (2020) Domestic Judicial Treatment of European Court of Human Rights Case Law: Beyond
Compliance. Oxon: Routledge.
2016 Making Sense of Human Rights Commitments: A Study of Two Emerging European
Democracies.
Smekal, Hubert; Šipulová, Katarína; Pospíšil, Ivo; Janovský, Jozef; Kilian, Petr (2016)
Making Sense of Human Rights Commitments: A Study of Two Emerging European
Democracies. Brno: MUNI Press.
2013 Lidská práva. Ideje, trendy, výzvy a nástrahy.
Smekal, Hubert (2013) Lidská práva. Ideje, trendy, výzvy a nástrahy. Brno: MUNI Press.
2009 Lidská práva v Evropské unii.
Smekal, Hubert (2009) Lidská práva v Evropské unii. Brno: MUNI Press.
Book Chapters
Year Publication
2018 'Ideology and International Human Rights Commitments in Post-Communist Regimes : The
Cases of the Czech Republic and Slovakia'
Šipulová, Katarína; Janovský, Jozef; Smekal, Hubert (2018) 'Ideology and International Human
Rights Commitments in Post-Communist Regimes : The Cases of the Czech Republic and
Slovakia' In: Wind, Marlene (eds). International Courts and Domestic Politics. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
2015 'The Czech Republic: On the Road to Rights and Freedoms'
Holzer, Jan; Smekal, Hubert (2015) 'The Czech Republic: On the Road to Rights and Freedoms'
In: Suksi, Markku; Agapiou-Josephides, Kalliope; Lehners, Jean-Paul; Nowak, Manfred (eds).
First Fundamental Rights Documents in Europe. Mortsel: Intersentia.
2013 'Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles: the Case of the Czech Republic'
Hermanová, Veronika; Smekal Hubert (2013) 'Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles:
the Case of the Czech Republic' In: Márquez Carrasco, Carmen (eds). Spain and the
Implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights:
Challenges and Opportunities. Barcelona: Huygens.
2009 'The Czech Republic: From Lip Service to Concrete Application'
Holzer, Jan; Smekal, Hubert (2009) 'The Czech Republic: From Lip Service to Concrete
Application' In: Jaichand, Vinodh; Suksi, Markku (eds). 60 Years of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in Europe. Mortsel: Intersentia.
Edited Books
Year Publication
2018 Beyond Compliance: Implementace rozhodnutí mezinárodních lidskoprávních těles na
národní úrovni
Smekal, Hubert; Ladislav, Vyhnánek (Ed.). (2018) Beyond Compliance: Implementace
rozhodnutí mezinárodních lidskoprávních těles na národní úrovni Praha: Wolters Kluwer.
2014 Lidská práva v mezinárodní politice
Dufek, Pavel; Smekal, Hubert (Ed.). (2014) Lidská práva v mezinárodní politice Praha: Wolters
Kluwer.
2013 Soudcokracie, nebo judicializace politiky?
Smekal, Hubert; Pospíšil; Ivo (Ed.). (2013) Soudcokracie, nebo judicializace politiky? Brno:
Masarykova univerzita.
2006 Zahraniční a bezpečnostní politika Slovinska, Chorvatska a Rumunska a vývoj bezpečnostní
situace v Bosně a Hercegovině
Stýskalíková, Věra; Smekal, Hubert (Ed.). (2006) Zahraniční a bezpečnostní politika
Slovinska, Chorvatska a Rumunska a vývoj bezpečnostní situace v Bosně a Hercegovině Brno:
Mezinárodní politologický ústav.
2004 Zahraniční a bezpečnostní politika vybraných zemí Balkánu
Stýskalíková, Věra; Smekal, Hubert (Ed.). (2004) Zahraniční a bezpečnostní politika vybraných
zemí Balkánu Brno: Mezinárodní politologický ústav.
Peer Reviewed Journals
Year Publication
2022 'Náš model obstojí, ale bílých míst je stále mnoho: odpověď autorů'
Benák, J; Hanych, M; Smekal, H; Vyhnánek, L (2022) 'Náš model obstojí, ale bílých míst je stále
mnoho: odpověď autorů'. Časopis pro pravni vedu a praxi, 30 (2):451-461
2021 'Through selective activism towards greater resilience: the Czech Constitutional Court's
interventions into high politics in the age of populism' Smekal, Hubert; Benák, Jaroslav;
Vyhnánek, Ladislav (2021) 'Through selective activism towards greater resilience: the Czech
Constitutional Court's interventions into high politics in the age of populism'. International
Journal of Human Rights, 26 (7):1230-1251
2021 'Between Human Rights and Transitional Justice: The Dilemma of Constitutional Courts in
Post-Communist Central Europe'
Šipulová, Katarína; Smekal, Hubert (2021) 'Between Human Rights and Transitional Justice: The
Dilemma of Constitutional Courts in Post-Communist Central Europe'. Europe-Asia Studies, 73
(1):101-130
2021 'Reforming to Please: A Comprehensive Explanation for Non-Exit from the European Court of
Human Rights'
Smekal H.;Tsereteli N. (2021) 'Reforming to Please: A Comprehensive Explanation for Non-Exit
from the European Court of Human Rights'. European Constitutional Law Review, 17 (4):664-
687
2021 'Beyond Compliance: odpověď autorů'
Petrov, Jan; Šipulová, Katarína; Kosař, David; Smekal, Hubert; Vyhnánek, Ladislav (2021)
'Beyond Compliance: odpověď autorů'. Casopis pro pravni vedu a praxi, 29 (2):413-425
2021 'Political science in Central and Eastern Europe: integration with limited convergence in
Czechia'
Eberle, Jakub; Smekal, Hubert; Ocelík, Petr; Krpec, Oldřich (2021) 'Political science in Central
and Eastern Europe: integration with limited convergence in Czechia'.
European Political Science, 20 (1):183-203
2020 'Determinants of judicial decisionmaking: the state of the art and the czech perspective'
Smekal, Hubert; Vyhnánek, Ladislav (2020) 'Determinants of judicial decisionmaking: the state
of the art and the czech perspective'. The Lawyer Quarterly, 10 (2):106-129
2018 'Searching for a reference: using automated text analysis to study judicial compliance'
Šipulová, Katarína; Smekal, Hubert; Janovský, Jozef (2018) 'Searching for a reference: using
automated text analysis to study judicial compliance'. Masaryk University Journal of Law and
Technology, 12 (2):131-160
2018 'The judicial self-government at the international level—A new research agenda'
Tsereteli, Nino; Smekal, Hubert (2018) 'The judicial self-government at the international level—
A new research agenda'. German Law Journal, 19 (7):2137-2164
2017 'Postačí vždy jako výzkumná metoda „číst, přemýšlet a psát“?'
Urbániková, Marína; Smekal, Hubert (2017) 'Postačí vždy jako výzkumná metoda „číst,
přemýšlet a psát“?'. Jurisprudence, 26 (4):37-41
2016 'Narrowing the Divide: Perspectives on the Future of Mixed Methods Report From Central
and Eastern Europe'
Krpec, Oldřich; Ocelík, Petr; Smekal, Hubert (2016) 'Narrowing the Divide: Perspectives on the
Future of Mixed Methods Report From Central and Eastern Europe'. Journal of Mixed Methods
Research, 11 (1):14-16
2016 'Empirický právní výzkum'
Smekal, Hubert; Šipulová, Katarína (2016) 'Empirický právní výzkum'. Jurisprudence, 25 (6):31-
38
2016 'Equal voting power under scrutiny: Czech Constitutional Court on the 5\% threshold in the
2014 European Parliament Elections: Czech Constitutional Court 19 May 2015, Pl. \'US 14/14'
Smekal, Hubert; Vyhnánek, Ladislav (2016) 'Equal voting power under scrutiny: Czech
Constitutional Court on the 5\% threshold in the 2014 European Parliament Elections: Czech
Constitutional Court 19 May 2015, Pl. \'US 14/14'. European Constitutional Law Review, 12
(1):148-163
2016 'Výzkum lidských práv: Kritická reflexe současných přístupů'
Smekal, Hubert; Šipulová, Katarína (2016) 'Výzkum lidských práv: Kritická reflexe současných
přístupů'. Stredoevropske politicke studie, 18 (4):381-411
2016 'International Human Rights in Czech Legal Education'
Kilian, Petr; Pospíšil, Ivo; Smekal, Hubert (2016) 'International Human Rights in Czech Legal
Education'. International and Comparative Law Review, 16 (2):87-98
2015 'Noví aktéři na poli válečných konfliktů: Případová studie Nejvyššího soudu Izraele'
Fučík, Jakub; Smekal, Hubert (2015) 'Noví aktéři na poli válečných konfliktů:
Případová studie Nejvyššího soudu Izraele'. Obrana a strategie, 15 (1):5-18
2014 'Pronikání lidských práv do agendy Evropské unie. Mezinárodní vztahy' Smekal, Hubert (2014)
'Pronikání lidských práv do agendy Evropské unie. Mezinárodní vztahy'. Mezinarodni vztahy, 49
(4):81-101
2014 'DH v Czech Republic six years later: On the power of an international human rights court to
push through systemic change'
Smekal, Hubert; Šipulová, Katarína (2014) 'DH v Czech Republic six years later: On the power of
an international human rights court to push through systemic change'. Netherlands Quarterly
of Human Rights, 32 (3):288-321
2012 'The Czech Republic and the European Court of Human Rights in 2011' Majerčík, Lubomír;
Matušinová, Anna; Smekal, Hubert (2012) 'The Czech Republic and the European Court of
Human Rights in 2011'. Czech Yearbook of Public & Private International Law, 3 :277-291
2012 'Zásada non-refoulement a porušovanie predbežných opatrení: Labsi v. Slovensko'
Šipulová, Katarína; Mareková, Monika; Smekal, Hubert (2012) 'Zásada nonrefoulement a
porušovanie predbežných opatrení: Labsi v. Slovensko'. Justicna revue, 64 (12):1442-1452
2012 'Mezinárodní závazky České republiky v oblasti lidských práv'
Janků, Linda; Janovský, Jozef; Smekal, Hubert; Šipulová, Katarína (2012) 'Mezinárodní závazky
České republiky v oblasti lidských práv'. Stredoevropske politicke studie, 14 (2-3):193-226
2010 'Fragmentace společných hodnot? Výjimky z Listiny základních práv Evropské unie'
Bončková, Helena; Smekal, Hubert (2010) 'Fragmentace společných hodnot? Výjimky z Listiny
základních práv Evropské unie'. Soucasna Evropa, 2 (2):61-81
2010 'České předsednictví v Radě EU: politický standard, mediální katastrofa' Kaniok, Petr; Smekal,
Hubert (2010) 'České předsednictví v Radě EU: politický standard, mediální katastrofa'. Czech
Journal of Political Science, 17 (1):39-59
2009 'The Czech presidency of the EU Council: no triumph, no tragedy'
Kaniok, Petr; Smekal, Hubert (2009) 'The Czech presidency of the EU Council: no triumph, no
tragedy'. Romanian Journal of European A airs, 9 (4):59-78
2007 'Principy organizace zájmových skupin v ČR: právní předpisy a jejich změna v důsledku
procesu evropeizace'
Pitrová, Markéta; Smekal, Hubert; Suchý, Petr (2007) 'Principy organizace zájmových skupin v
ČR: právní předpisy a jejich změna v důsledku procesu evropeizace'. Czech Journal of Political
Science, 14 (4):376-388
Published Reports
Year Publication
2020 The Politics of Di erentiated Integration: What do Governments Want? Country Report-
Czechia.
Havlík, Vratislav; Smekal, Hubert (2020) The Politics of Di erentiated Integration:
What do Governments Want? Country Report-Czechia. European University Institute, Firenze.