Cold War: Crisis 3: Czechoslovakia 1968

Question 1

What were the Causes of the Prague Spring?

Answer 1

• On April 5th 1968 - Dubček (the leader of Czechoslovakia) embarked on a programme of reform that included amendments to the constitution of Czechoslovakia that would have brought back a degree of political democracy and greater personal freedom.
• These reforms became known as the Prague Spring.
• Dubček announced that he wanted the Czech Communist Party to remain the main party in Czechoslovakia, but that he wanted the oppressive aspects of the party to be reduced.
• Communist Party members in Czechoslovakia were given the right to challenge party policy.
• In what became known as the ‘Prague Spring’, Dubček also announced the end of censorship and the right of Czech citizens to criticise the government.
• Newspapers took the opportunity to produce scathing reports about government incompetence and corruption. Trade unions were given increased rights to bargain for their members.

Question 2

What was the Soviet Response to the prague spring?

Answer 2

Dubček assured Moscow that Czechoslovakia would remain in the Warsaw Pact and that they had nothing to worry about with regards to the reforms. This did nothing to reassure Soviet leader Brezhnev and on the night of August 20th/21st troops from the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia to reassert the authority of Moscow.

Question 3

What were the Consequences of the Prague Springs?

Answer 3

Consequences:

• The reforms of Dubček were abandoned. He was arrested and sent to Moscow. Here he was told what was expected of Czechoslovakia and he was released and sent back to Prague. Dubček did as was required and announced that all reforms were ending. However, his days were numbered and in April 1969, Dubček was removed from office.
• The Prague Spring had proved that the Soviet Union was not willing to even contemplate any member of the Warsaw Pact leaving it. The Warsaw Pact remained strong – the USSR thought this was vital to the survival of communism in Europe.
• Brezhnev then outlined the Brezhnev Doctrine. This was a Soviet foreign policy which called for the use of Warsaw Pact forces to intervene in any Eastern Bloc nation which was seen to compromise communist rule and Soviet domination, either by trying to leave the Soviet sphere of influence or even moderate its policies.