Czechoslovakia and the Prague Spring
- Created by: tuttifruity1206
- Created on: 18-11-18 10:38
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- Czechoslovakia and the Prague Spring
- A relaxation of control in Czechoslovakia led to a challenge to Soviet authority, like Hungary
- The Impact of the Soviet rule in Czechoslovakia
- Economy and living standards declined
- Any opposition to communism was crushed
- Communist rule became very unpopular
- Alexander Dubcek
- Jan 1968 Dubcek became leader
- Good friend of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev
- Communist and supporter of Warsaw Pact but wanted to make communism better and easier to live under
- He called this 'socialism with a human face
- His reforms resulted in the 'Prague Spring' - a period of increased political freedom (Apr 1968) and lots of criticism of communism resulted
- Dubcek's reforms
- Relaxation of censorship meant more freedom to say and write things even if it was critical of communism
- More democracy allowed other parties along the Communist Party
- More power given to Czechoslovakian parliament and Soviet control was redued
- Economy reformed with 'market socialism' allowing for the introduction of some capitalist elements.
- Powers of secret police reduced
- How Czechoslovakia responded to reforms
- Students, intellectuals, workers and young members of the Communist Party welcomed Dubcek's reforms enthusiastically
- Led to writers such as Vaclav Havel and Milan Kundera, that were highly critical of Soviet-style communism
- How the rest of the communism world responded to reforms
- Horrified many older Czechoslovakian communities, felt it would lead to collapse of communism in country
- Brezhnev and other eastern European communist (e.g. Eric Honecker - leader of E. Germany), were especially concerned, feared would lead to demands of reforms elsewhere, threatening communist rule
- Brezhnev had a dilemma
- Dubcek was a friend and military action would damage Soviet reputation
- However, if he did nothing, expectations would rise and the whole Eastern bloc may collapse
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