Czechoslovakia, 1968
· Had a strong democratic tradition (Paris peace treaty, resistance to Nazism)
· In 1968, Alexander Dubcek became Secretary.
· Gained freedom of press, assembly worship and right to strike. “Socialism with a human Face.”
· This move threatened to spread to neighbouring Romania (stirred the Soviet domino theory)
· Troops from several satellite states moved in (with the Soviet troops).
· Dubcek arrested and relieved by Husak (Soviet puppet leader).
· In 1968, Alexander Dubcek became Secretary.
· Gained freedom of press, assembly worship and right to strike. “Socialism with a human Face.”
· This move threatened to spread to neighbouring Romania (stirred the Soviet domino theory)
· Troops from several satellite states moved in (with the Soviet troops).
· Dubcek arrested and relieved by Husak (Soviet puppet leader).
Prague Spring
"We shall have to remove everything that strangles artistic and scientific creativeness."
-Dubcek |
Subjunctive Question: Could the USSR have averted the eventual departure of the satellite states from communism in 1991 if they had embraced this change?
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