Prague Spring

• The legalisation of political opposition groups – political reform, multi-party, democratic socialism.
•  More power given to the Czech parliament.
• More power given to regional local governments.
• The relaxation of press censorship (newspapers publishing revelations about corruption in high places).
• Freedom of speech (giving citizens the right to criticize the government).
• Official government toleration of political criticism.
• Freedom of assembly and religion.
• Reduction in the powers of the secret police.
• ‘Market socialism’ i.e. the introduction of capitalist elements into Czech economy.

Dubcek ordered Czech people not 2 respond with violence, but there was non-violent civil disobedience – students stood in the way of tanks holding anti-invasion banners & a student set fire to himself in protest (Jan Palach). Dubcek disappeared and re-appeared in Prague on 27^th August announced that the reforms had been stopped.