Cold war transformation 2 Flashcards
3 Causes of the Prague Spring 1968
Long term anger at Communist Rule
a. Czechoslovakia was a satellite state and in the Warsaw pact.
b. The economy was struggling, there were no free elections and the state was run by the secret police. The standard of living was very low for the Czech people.
Dubcek becomes Leader
a. The former president was the unpopular Novotny who fell from power and on 5 January 1968, Alexander Dubcek - a reformer - took over as leader of the Communist Party (KSC).
b. The policy of détente encouraged the uprising. Romania had also broken free of Russian control, and was improving relations with the West.
‘Socialism with a human face’
a. In April 1968, Dubcek’s government announced an Action Plan for what it called a new model of socialism - it removed state controls over industry and allowed freedom of speech. Dubcek aimed to remove the repressive elements of communist rule.
b. Dubcek was a committed communist who was very friendly with Brezhnev. At first the
USSR were happy with Dubcek, until he made too many reforms!
What was the Prague Spring in 1968
For four months (the Prague Spring), there was freedom in Czechoslovakia.
Dubcek introduced many reforms:
o A relaxation of press censorship
o Legalisation of political parties
o ‘Market socialism’ – the reintroduction of
capitalist elements into the Czech economy
o More power to Parliament (and therefore less power for the Communism!)
Young people, workers and intellectuals rejoiced at their new freedom
Why were the USSR upset with the Prague Spring
3 reasons
The USSR was worried that it was losing control over Czechoslovakia and in the long run that it might leave the Warsaw pact. The USSR thought this might encourage other satellite states to also make reforms.
More political opposition developed in Czechoslovakia. People openly criticised the Communist party.
Brezhnev, between April-July consistently tried to persuade Dubcek to not make so many reforms. Dubcek didn’t listen and took little action against the growing political opposition in Czechoslovakia.
What was the Brezhnev doctrine
In August 1968 Brezhnev made a very important statement. This was called the Brezhnev Doctrine.
In it he justified the upcoming invasion of Czechoslovakia and stated that the USSR had the right to invade any country in Eastern Europe whose actions appeared to threaten the ’security’ (i.e. the communist control) of the East.
On 20 August 1968, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia. Dubcek and three other leaders were arrested and sent to Moscow. The Brezhnev doctrine justified this action.
An account of the invasion in Czechoslovakia August 1968
On the 20th August 1968 soviet tanks entered Czechoslovakia, Brezhnev argued that Duchek’s changes undermined the Warsaw Pact and communist control in Eastern Europe
The Czechoslovakians did not fight the Russians. Instead, they stood in front of the tanks, and put flowers in the soldiers hair. Jan Palach burned himself to death in protest.
Brezhnev put in Gustav Husak, a supporter of Russia, as leader of the KSC.
Dubcek was arrested and forced to sign the Moscow protocol which committed the Czech government to ‘protect socialism’ by reintroducing censorship and removing political opposition.
Effects of the invasion of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia returned to communist control and Russian troops were stationed there. Half the leadership of the KSC, along with the directors of many firms (especially publishing companies) were sacked and 47 anti-communists were arrested.
Russia stayed in control behind the Iron Curtain. The Brezhnev Doctrine stated that Iron Curtain countries would not be allowed to abandon communism, ‘even if it meant a third world war’
Increase of the Cold War. People in the West were horrified and so were many communist countries, especially Romania and Yugoslavia who as a result became closer to China. America publicly condemned the invasion but offered no military support against it.
3 main causes in the decrease of tension between 1968-1979
The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war
The USSR was spending 20% of its budget on weapons, the USA was spending so much on the Vietnam War (1965-1975) it could not afford to improve life for the poor
The USSR fell out with China and wanted to be friendly with the USA as it could not have two major enemies
Agreement in 1968 to help ease tensions
agreed that neither superpower would supply nuclear weapons to other countries
What happened in 1972 to help ease tension
SALT 1
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty I (SALT) –
limited the building of mid-range missiles for 5 years. No further production of short range, light missiles. Significant because it was the first time an agreement was made to limit nuclear weapons
No new ICBMs could be made (although replacements for old and outdated Intercontinental ballistic missiles were allowed).
No new nuclear launch sites were allowed
No new nuclear submarines
Signed by Brezhnev and Nixon
Key event of cooperation in 1975
1975 – Apollo Soyuz Mission: Joint space mission where both superpower space crafts docked together in space
What was the Helsinki agreement in 1975
Agreements made about security, co-operation and human rights.
Security: all country boundaries were accepted therefore East and West Germany accepted each other existence for the first time. All disputes were to be resolved with the UN not violence, countries would inform each other about big military manoeuvres and no country would interfere in the foreign affairs of other countries
Co-operation: agreed there should be better co-operation in trade, industry, science and education.
Human rights: countries (including the USSR) should allow human rights, including freedom of speech, movement, religion and information
What would’ve happened in 1979 to help ease tensions if it was signed
SALT 2
would have limited the number of long-range missiles but was never signed
3 main consequences of détente agreements and cooperation
Cultural links between US-USSR – orchestras and sports teams visited each other
Trade between US-USSR with $4.5bn of grain going to USSR
Co-operation between superpowers in space (Apollo-Soyuz mission, 1975)
Why were events in Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring non-violent?
The Czechoslovaks did not expect Warsaw Pact troops to invade so their armies were not prepared and ready to confront them.
The Czechoslovaks wanted to bring a less violent and more humane version of communism to their country. They had had enough of violence and brutality and they wanted change to happen peacefully, not through violence.
They wanted to show the Soviets that they were not threatening them or the Warsaw Pact, they simply wanted reform.
What was the ABM treaty signed in 1972 and why
SALT I agreed that the USA and USSR could each have a maximum of 2 Anti-Ballistic Missile ‘deployment areas’.
Having lots of ABM deployment areas could effectively stop ballistic missiles from reaching your country.
The agreement that each side could only have 2 ABM deployment areas meant that both nations would remain vulnerable to each other’s nuclear missiles. This meant that MAD would remain mutual.
