Czechoslovakia Flashcards
Why was the Sudetenland important to Czechoslovakia?
Was where it’s factories were and therefore was a prosperous area of land
How did Czechoslovaksia become involved in WW2?
Hitler invaded the Sudetenland in 1938
What did slovakia do in 1944?
Joins the axis powers
Slovakia 1939-1945
Czechoslovak split
What were the consequences of WW2 for Czechoslovakia?
Germans were expelled (300,000 killed) Hungarians were moved out of country ~3,000,000 people killed in war Ukrainian CZSK became part of Russia CZSK rejoined Benes took control
Influence and popularity of communism on CZSK?
1946 - largest party (38%)
1948 - lost interest, only 25%
Who is jan Masaryk?
Czechoslovak foreign minister shorty after ww2. He wasn’t a communist supporter and he “fell out of a window”.
Who was Milana hracova?
anti communist, involved in politics. She was executed after a show trial.
How was communism established in CZSK?
Salami tactic
Coalition
Established Stalinist system
What is the salami tactic in reference to CZSK?
Communists secured control of important ministries (police, military, etc.) to remove opposition
Use of a coalition by communists in CZSK to secure control
False coalition which led to a dictatorship
Use of Stalinist system in CZSK
SU acted as a big brother to smaller countries which were treated like a younger sister who need to be protected
“Socialism with a human face”
Dubček’s socialism which allowed more freedom to the people in an attempt to reform/liberalize CZSK communism
Prague Spring
1968; Russia invades CZSK to “save” them from dubček’s revolution. Warsaw Pact allies cross the border to occupy CZSK and end communist reform.
Normalization
1968-1989; The force of removing reforms and reformers from socialism and reinforcing the iron curtain
Reason for the implemention of socialism with a human face
CZSK was in economic decline
Aims of socialism with a human face
Proposed reforms on CZSK society:
- ideas for improving communism were put forth
- economic improvements
- improved international relations
- civil liberties
Ideas for improving communism in socialism with a human face
Democratization
- Improve freedom of speech (lifted censorship on news and media)
- Abolishing secret police
- Communist party to stay out of personal affairs (allow civil groups to organize themselves)
- greater autonomy for Slovakia
Economic improvements during socialism with a human face
- Communism responsible for only general economic planning and policy to protect interests of consumers
- action programme
Action programme
Created April 1968; called for an equalizing of czsk economic relationship with the SU (attempted to trade on same level with the SU)
Failure in the economic improvement of dubček’s socialism
FAILURE to deal with wage regulation and price setting
Reason CZSK joined Warsaw Pact
West had abandoned CZSK in 1930s to be overrun by nazis
KAN
The committee non-party members; sought to articulate the political views of non-communists in their want for democracy v. Democratic communism
What did dubček’s socialism lead to for the people?
A want of more freedom (capitalism)
Why did the Prague spring fail?
- SU was much stronger
- Dubček didn’t understand the strength of communism
- no one considered consequences
- CZSK was isolated
- no support
Aims of the action program
Democratization Use of opinion polls to inform policy End of censorship Freedom to travel abroad Greater autonomy for sk Economic liberalization
Democratization
Legalization of non-communist organizations
What was the issue with sk’s autonomy during the Prague spring?
There was a parliament in sk (BA), but it had no real power (answered to Moscow)
Which aims of the action program legally survived the Prague spring?
Greater autonomy for Slovakia
Post Prague spring for CZSK
- Invasion - 100 killed
- Occupation - 500,000 left CZSK
- Normalization - communist party purged and leadership changed to Gustav Husak
Results of Prague spring for SU
Increased Cold War tensions Criticism from Yugoslavia and china Re-established control of CZSK Brezhnev doctrine No western action
What was the Brezhnev doctrine?
Hard line control of the satellite states of the USSR focusing particularly on keeping countries in the Warsaw Pact, and using the pact’s army to suppress countries.
What is communism?
Ideology based on the ideas of Karl Marx who believed he had identified scientific laws of human history
Communism v. Marxism
Both are used interchangably
Ideology of communism
- Believed capitalism was unfair
- History is driven by class conflict
- History progresses towards communism
Marxism
“From each according to ability, to each according to his needs”
- Private property is abolished
- Workers’ control of the means of production
- religion was “the opium of the masses”
- internationalist
- believed a revolution would occur in advanced capitalist countries
History of communism
1917 - Russian revolution
1919 - failed revolutions in Germany and Hungary
1939-1945 - WW2
1945-1989 - Cold War
1980s - ~1/3 of the world’s population lived under communism
1989-1991 - collapse of the E Bloc
What happened during the Russian revolution?
Lennon took control and established communism
Why did CZSK fail to challenge soviet control successfully?
Failure of Capitalism *Soviet military power *Lack of western support Nature of Stalinism *Dubček's nativity Popularity of communism (38%) Economic strength in 1950s
CZSK failure to challenge soviet control timeline
1945-1948 - post war
Nature of Stalinism
1950s economic
Prague spring
Nature of Stalinism
Censorship
Terror
How did CZSK fail to challenge soviet control in relation to soviet military power?
- Center of control for communism meaning CZSK government was to answer to the communist government in Moscow.
- SU had firm control of all countries surrounding CZSK which isolated CZSK from aid
- SU had the red army
How did the SU keep control?
Coercion
Persuasion
Consent
Coercion in communist control
The regime forced people to accept communist rule:
- denial of educational ways
- favoritism towards communists in relation to reception of high ranking jobs and better food
- harassment of opponents (had a strong military force available)
- lived in fear of imprisonment (used violence)
- propaganda for education, media, etc.
- travel restrictions
Persuasion to keep SU control
Rewards for workers
Spartakiadas
Propaganda
Spartikiadas
Soviet games (like Olympics)
Consent for SU to keep control
- good pay for some workers
- “we pretend to work, they pretend to pay”
- safety net
- poor people lived well
Safety net of SU
Citizens were looked after by government
- for example, they were unable to be unemployed because government gave everyone a job
Who was Vaclav Havel?
Pacifist; a writer who wrote plays and essays which were banned as they mocked the regime and ridiculed communism. He received international fame by publishing the conditions of the regime.
Power of the Powerless
An essay by Vaclav Havel which encouraged people to rebel against the system and showed the governmental flaws of communism
Samizdat
A method if self-publication
Importance of power of the powerless internationally
“Was an international symbol of what was wrong with the communist state”
Importance of Havel in the movement to resist communism
1960s
- founder of charter 77
- plays mocked regime
- leading dissident
- essays described the lie of communism
- illegal publication of work
- international recognition
- influenced people (students) to rebel against the regime
- intellectual, writer
- 1989 Civic Forum
Importance of Gorbachev in the movement to resist communism
1980s (when most changes took place)
- glasnost
- perestroika
- replaced Brezhnev doctrine with Sinatra doctrine
Sinatra doctrine
Allowed for satellite states to do socialism their own way
Importance of other factors in the movement to resist communism
- ideologies were flawed and led to economic decline
- 1968 Prague spring by dubček kept the democratic socialism ideology
- 1980s: people could watch foreign TV and see western lifestyle as being better than theirs
- root economic decline of S. Bloc led to the economy falling behind that of the US’s which caused Gorbachev to come to power as the SU was losing control
- pressure from west: Cold War reignited by Reagan and Margaret Thatcher which cost money the SU didn’t have
- 1989: Hungary and Poland left SU
CZSK problems after the Velvet Revolution
- Economic: communist economy v. Free market economy
- political: dictatorship v. Democracy
- social: communism v. Nationalism
CZSK Economic problems post Velvet Revolution
Economic crisis Factory closures Unemployment Inflation Corruption Privatization
CZSK Economic crisis post Velvet Revolution
Caused communist overthrown
Solution to CZSK Economic crisis post Velvet Revolution
No economic growth
1981-1990: GDP rose by about $300
Income is lower than in other countries
UNSUCCESSFUL
CZSK Factory closures post Velvet Revolution
Production changes due to more import/export, different goods now required
CZSK Unemployment post Velvet Revolution
Unemployment rate under communism had been negligible, yet after their removal it increased in sk:
- 13% in 1992
- 19% in 2002
Loss of jobs in communist sector, no safety net like in communism which increased competition
Solution to CZSK Unemployment post Velvet Revolution
No longer everyone had to work, so unemployment increased:
- 2002: 17% (double EU average)
- *UNSUCCESSFUL**
CZSK Inflation post Velvet Revolution
Currency change results in value change:
- 1991: wages decreased 27%
industrial production down 1/3
volume of credits decreased 30%
personal consumption dropped 37%
- 1997: inflation at 6% and prices for goods and services increased
Solution to CZSK inflation post Velvet Revolution
- 1980s: Numerous attempts to revitalize the economy through management and workers’ incentive programs were unsuccessful
- 1982: economy started to improve as imports from the west were restricted and exports rose
- new investments in electronics, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors were made
- *GRADUALLY SUCCESSFUL**
Solution to CZSK corruption post Velvet Revolution
Tunneling was unable to be completely obliterated
MOSTLY SUCCESSFUL
Tunneling
The transfer of assets and profits out of firms for the benefit of those who control them
Solution to CZSK privatization of Economic assets post Velvet Revolution
The government attempted to privitize property by: - vouchers - physical restitution - sales to pre-determined owners as well as foreign entities - transfers to commercial banks - etc. Often provoked controversy and criticism **PARTIALLY UNSUCCESSFUL**
CZSK political problems post Velvet Revolution
Opposition groups
Issue of former communists
Power vacuum
CZSK opposition groups post Velvet Revolution
Opposition was gone, yet the opposition groups remained, ex. Civic Forum
Importance of the civic forum
Won the first elections in 1990 and the elections that followed two years later
*SUCCESSFUL**
Civic forum
Havel’s party in CZ which was founded during the Velvet Revolution and was the largest and most popular party at the time. It formed an independent foundation that would revive the pre-communist ideals regarding health, culture, education, etc.
Solution to CZSK former communists post Velvet Revolution
1991 Lustration law
Lustration law
Prevented former communist party members and former members of the secret police from holding public offices. Certificates were supplied to the people that had been in the ŠtB secret police without having cooperated with the communists. People without the certificates were forbidden from working within Foreign Affairs, Inter, Security, and Defense Ministries. This plan lasted 5 years and was prolonged for the CZ after the Velvet divorce, but never prolonged in sk.
UNSUCCESSFUL AS SK DIDNT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY
CZSK power vacuum post Velvet Revolution
Communists left with no one in government – power vacuum
Solution to CZSK power vacuum post Velvet Revolution
Elections were held and a new government was appointed
SUCCESSFUL
CZSK social problems post Velvet Revolution
- Racism
- Division between communists and nationalists
- nationalism
CZSK racism post Velvet Revolution
Racism against Hungarians & gypsies:
- Roma children who didn’t know Slovak were sent to different schools for the mentally disable
- prejudice surrounding gypsies not wanting to work and stealing
- walls were built to separate CZs from gypsies
- *had all been equal under communism
Solutions to CZSK racism post Velvet Revolution
International anger over wall incident as breach if human rights, so walk was torn down – SUCCESSFUL
overall: UNSUCCESSFUL AS RASCISM LINGERED
CZSK division between nationalists and communists post Velvet Revolution
Lustration law
CZSK nationalism post Velvet Revolution
Velvet divorce, 1993
Solution to CZSK nationalism post Velvet Revolution
No leader that could satisfy both states, so they split
SUCCESSFUL as they maintain good relations
Level of government intervention for businesses owned by the state
High levels of influence Maximum intervention Control over: - prices - targets - wages
Tolerance of unemployment for businesses owned by the state
No unemployment
Incentives for businesses owned by the state
Moral incentive
- good workers praised as heroes of the communist system
- granted basic living standards
Equality for businesses owned by the state
Yes
Level of government intervention for individual businesses
- Little to none
- Minimum intervention (aside from low taxes)
- prices based on supply and demand
Tolerance of unemployment for individual businesses
Unemployment became common
Incentives for individual businesses
Promotions - competition
Higher wages - opportunity
Profits - innovation
Equality for individual businesses
No; large differentials between rich and poor
June 9, 1990
First free elections since 1946:
- civic forum win majority of votes (96%)
- communist party came in second
June 5 and 6, 1992
- Civic forum won (85%) of votes
- Second was the party wanting an independent sk
1990
CZSK was renamed the Czech and Slovak federal republic
1992
Election results showed the country’s growing split
1993
CZSK split:
- Sk: the liberal movement for democratic sk by Vladimir meciar
- CZ: the conservative civic Democratic Party by vclav klaus
The Velvet divorce success
- Peaceful nature of change
- Sk achieve self determination
- Allowed CZ and sk leaders to follow chosen economic paths
Failure of Velvet divorce
- CZSK collapsed after 75 years of partnership
- split occurred undemocratically (no referendum, public opinion polls in both sides show no majority for split)
International relations during dubček’s socialism
Join Warsaw Pact to receive a guarantee of defense against Germany
Civil liberties during dubček’s socialism
- Freedom of speech, debate, travel, association
- arbitrary arrest made illegal
- communist party power reduced
Havel’s fame
1977 - Charter 77 signatory 1978 - power of the powerless essay 1990 - the Philadelphia Liberty Medal 2003 - the Ghandi Peace Prize, Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award, Olof Palme Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom *nominated for Nobel Peace Prize*
Havel’s organization
1977 - founding member of Charter 77 No "organization": - has no base - doesn't form the basis for any oppositional political activity - legal - not widespread (from Prague)
Havel’s methods
Wrote books, essays, and plays mocking the regime and highlighting failures (ex. power of the powerless)
Havel’s social class
High
Havel’s education
- Dramatics and art
- Economics degree at Czech Technical Uni in Prague
Havel’s jobs
Stage hand Playwrite Worker in a briery President *an intellectual*
What is charter 77?
Havel&co’s document and organization (they made the document) which accused the USSR of not maintaining the standards for workers which they agreed to uphold by international agreements
Political beliefs
Democracy
Attitude towards violence
Peaceful
Havel’s motivations
- Wanted to eradicate communism and introduce democracy
- hated regime
Role in 1989 revolutions
Ensured non-violence Created civic forum (36% support) Peaceful revolution Took power *dissident* not official opposition 1995 - won presidency (74%)
