Prague Spring 1968: Reforms and Soviet Response
In January 1968, Alexander Dubcek became the new communist leader of Czechoslovakia, introducing a series of liberal reforms known as "socialism with a human face." These reforms aimed to address longstanding issues in Czechoslovakia while maintaining its position within the Warsaw Pact.
Definition: The Prague Spring refers to the period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia from January to August 1968.
Dubcek's reforms included:
- Allowing travel to the West
- Reopening the border with West Germany
- Granting more power to trade unions and workers
- Permitting freedom of speech and opposition parties
- Reducing censorship
Highlight: The reforms were widely welcomed by the Czechoslovak people, who enjoyed newfound freedoms during the "Prague Spring."
However, these changes alarmed Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, who feared that such reforms could lead to a rejection of communism in the Eastern Bloc. This concern led to the formulation of the Brezhnev Doctrine.
Definition: The Brezhnev Doctrine stated that the USSR would intervene in any country where communism was under threat, to prevent another Prague Spring.
Quote: "The USSR would send in Warsaw Pact soldiers in any country where Communism was under threat."
