16 - Pressures On The Ussr, C1963-72 Flashcards
Summarise the Khrushchev era
Relaxation, allowing different routes to socialism
Summarise the Brezhnev era
Return to Stalin’s repression + use of force in attempt to reassert Soviet dominance (met with E.European resistance)
What was the change to US leadership in Nov 1963?
Kennedy -> Johnson
Why did Johnson become President?
He was Vice President, gaining power in 1963 after President Kennedy’s assassination
Gained Presidency in his own right in 1964
What was the change to USSR leadership in Oct 1964?
Khrushchev -> Brezhnev
Why did Brezhnev gain power?
- Khrushchev becoming seen as a failure (results of CMC + BC, inability to improve standards of living)
- Khrushchev absent from Kremlin for 5 months
- Brezhnev led other party members in ousting Khrushchev
- Khrushchev accepted ‘retirement’ (old age + poor health)
What was Brezhnev’s position before he became Premier of USSR?
Secretary of Central Committee
Deputy leader of Communist Party
Did Czechoslovakia try to take Marshall Aid?
Yes
Summoned to Moscow + forced to reject aid
When did the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC) gain power?
Feb 1948
When was there a crisis in Czechoslovakia?
1968
What caused the discontent in Czechoslovakia in 1968?
- An economy that had been prosperous recorded negative growth for the first time in 1963
- Czechoslovakian economy/growth was limited as they were forced to produce goods (E.g. steel) for the USSR
- Return to harsh censorship + repression under Brezhnev + Novotny
Who was Novotny?
Head of Czechoslovakian Communist Party (KSC) + President of Czechoslovakia
Who spoke out about need for political reform in Czechslovakia in 1968 to stop the dissatisfaction?
Ota Sik
Economist Professor
What did Professor Ota Sik say in Czechoslovakia?
- Proposed reforms to the planned command economy to reduce the dissatisfaction
- KSC refused
- Spoke out about need for political reform, which was clearly the only way to make change + increase satisfaction (1966)
Who supported Ota Sik’s call for political reform?
Intellectuals, then members of the wider public
Why was communism being questioned in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s?
The declining economic + social conditions became associated with the Communist Party leadership (they refused to make change to reduce public dissatisfaction!)
Why did Brezhnev pressurise a change in leadership in Czechoslovakia in 1968?
Soviets saw public support for Sik’s suggestion that political reform was needed + became concerned that if Novotny stayed in power, a coup would oust him + the rest of the Communist Party
What was the change to leadership in 1968 Czechoslovakia?
Novotny -> Dubcek
Who was Dubcek?
- Long term Slovak communist
- Became President of Czechoslovakia in 1968
Why did Brezhnev choose Dubcek to lead Czechoslovakia + their Communist Party?
- He appeared to be a typical communist Party bureaucrat (Thought he would prevent revolt as a fresh leader)
- He was a Slovak
(Thought he would appeal to minorities who were revolting)
Why did Dubcek turn out not to be a good choice for Czechoslovakia leader in the eyes of the USSR?
He turned out to be a charismatic advocate for political reform, not a typical communist who would shut down talk of reform
When did Dubcek become President of Czechoslovakia?
Jan 1968
How did Dubcek start his transition towards reform?
Began with caution (knew he was watched by USSR)
- Started bringing in politicians who supported reform
- Vaguely said Czechoslovakia needed a ‘new start to socialism’
What action did Dubcek take to make his desire for reform clear?
Action Programme (April 1968)
