Superpower Relations - 2.3 Czechoslovakia 1968

Question 1

Why was communism unpopular in Czechoslovakia?

Answer 1

• The Czech economy was run for the benefit of the Soviet Union, and there were few consumer goods for each people
• There was no freedom of speech with radio, nespaper and television censored
• On Stalin’s orders, the Czech government carried out purges between 1949 and 1954 and the victims included were not only democratic polititicians but also military leaders, Catholics, Jews and people with wartime connections with the west and high ranking communists

Question 2

What is ‘socialism with a human face’?

Answer 2

‘Socialism with a human face,’ is an idea presented by Alexander Dubcek where citizens should be able to enjoy life, express their views in public and speak out against Communist Party decisions they did not like, with-out fear of being punished by the government

Question 2

What happened in 1968?

Answer 2

In 1968 Alexander Dubcek was elected as First secretary of the Czech Communist Party - in effect, the head of the czech governments.He believed that communism was the right political path but shouldnt make life miserable.

Question 3

What are the key parts of the Prague Reforms? (Introduced by Alexander Dubcek)

Answer 3

• Censorship was relaxed and criticism of government actions was allowed
• Trade unions were given wider powers and government control of industry was reduced
• More power was given to the Czech regional governments
• Trade with the West was increased
• Czech people were given greater freedom to travel abroad
• The idea of having multi-party elections was discussed, though Dubcek and other Communist leaders emphasised that this would not happen for many years

Question 4

How did the Czech people react to Dubceks reforms?

Answer 4

They were met with great enthusiasm

Question 5

How did the USSR react to the Prague Reforms?

Answer 5

As a result of these reforms, the USSR reacted by on the 20th August 1968,500000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia and ended the Prague Spring as there was little opposition to the invasion. Although, there were individual acts of bravery such as blocking roads or attacking individual tanks. The invading forces were told they were invited to restore law and order by the Czech government. They were shocked by the hostility they encountered

Question 6

Why did Brezhnev send troops to Prague?

Answer 6

Brezhnev sent troops to Prague because Dubcek was endangering communism by going too far with his reforms. He also ordered Warsaw Pact troops to carry out manoeuvres to threaten Dubcek. When Dubcek invited Ceausescu of Romania and Tito of Yugoslavia to prague for talks, Brezhnev decided to take action. Dubcek also refused to reverse his reforms

Question 7

What were the consequences for Czechoslovakia of Prague Spring and the Soviet invasion?

Answer 7

The invasion ended the ‘Prague Spring.’ The authorities soon put things back to normal (forced to stay in the Warsaw Pact )

Question 8

What were the consequences for the USSR of Prague Spring and the Soviet invasion?

Answer 8

• They kept communism in control in other countries and reduced any forms of protestors and riots for change.
• Maintain additional control of the Warsaw Pact

Question 9

What were the consequences for the communism in Europe from Prague Spring and the Soviet invasion?

Answer 9

• Yugoslavia and Romania condemned the Soviet Union, Straining relationships
• The communist parties of Italy and France cut links with Moscow
• The goverments from East Germany and Poland liked the actions as it reduced any chances of reformers, so they feel more secure
• The supression of ‘Prague Spring’ led to greater Soviet Control in the Warsaw Pact. This was reinforced by the Brezhnev Doctrine which emphasised that members of the Warsaw Pact were under close control of the Soviet Union

Question 10

What were the consequences for the US/Soviet relations from Prague Spring and the Soviet invasion?

Answer 10

• The US and other Western governments were outraged by the invasion and many of them made strong protests to the soviet Union
• An attempt was made to pass a formal resolution condemning the invasion in the United Nations but was vetoed by the Soviet Union
• The Soviet Union saw that while the USA will make protests, it would not take direct actions to oppose the Soviet Union in Europe

Question 11

What were the consequences for USAs repution from Prague Spring and the Soviet invasion?

Answer 11

At this time, the USA was involved in a costly war in North Vietnam and also beginning to adopt a policy with the Soviet Union. Other countries, saw that the USA was keen to criticise the Soviet Union but much less prepared to take action