Pressure on the USSR 1964-72: Brezhnv Doctrine, Prague Spring, SinoSoviet Split

Question 1

When did Brezhnev rule the Soviet Union?

Answer 1

1964-1982

He helped leadership force Khrushchev out of power in October 1964 and quickly became leader. He wanted domestic reforms to stay in power in Moscow

He cooperated with the west in détente whilst also expanding the soviet military complex, giving aid to many left wing movements across the developing world

Wrote the Brezhnev Doctrine November 1968 and asserted the right of soviet intervention in other communist countries

Question 2

Why was there an emergence in protest movements in the soviet bloc?

Answer 2

Under Khrushchev there had been a period where there was a degree of freedom, which was crushed when Brezhnev came into power, so many protest movements emerged across Eastern Europe, especially in Czechoslovakia.

Question 3

What were actions in Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet reaction pre 1963?

Answer 3

ACTIONS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA: historically relatively prosperous
: communists had won 38% of the vote in 1946 free elections

SOVIET REACTION: discontent towards Khrushchev from party leaders after Cuban missile crisis, Berlin crisis, Hungarian and polish crises, and growth of china

Question 4

What ere actions in Czechoslovakia, and soviet reactions in 1963?

Answer 4

ACTIONS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA: negative growth recorded and Czechoslovakians were reconsidering their relationship with socialism and the communist party (saw it as inefficient and corrupt)

SOVIET REACTION:had viewed Czechoslovakia as a loyal satellite state as it was seen to support the party, so there was little concern at first

Question 5

What were the actions of Czechoslovakia and the soviet reaction in the mid 1960’s?

Answer 5

ACTIONS OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Professor Ota Sik proposed economic and political reform
- end of centrally planned national economic targets
- allow independent enterprises and businesses
- communist party to become responsive to public opinion
- existence of consumer rights
- more power to the workforce
- 1966 - proposed political reforms that aided the economic reform and gained support from intellectuals, students, and the wider public

SOVIET REACTION: weren’t going to allow Sik’s proposals and felt that changes had to take place in Czech leadership to maintain a communist government

Question 6

What were actions in Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet reaction in January 1968?

Answer 6

ACTIONS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Dubcek becomes leader of Communist party in Czechoslovakia
- charismatic advocate of political reforms
- declared need for ‘New start for socialism’ and ‘Socialism with a human face’
- replaced key leadership without Soviet approval
- eliminated press censorship

SOVIET REACTION:
- didn’t take immediate action but the Kremlin was watching Czechoslovakia very closely
- USSR had expected Dubcek to be loyal to them