The Warsaw Pact Invasion of Czechoslovakia
The world political conversation today is the state of affairs in the Ukraine with protester in recent months protesting for a more pro-western European influence of government. Since the Ukraine has been in an economic crisis in the last few years, the current President Viktor F. Yanukovich decided to take an aid package from the Russian’s. This acceptance of the Russian aid package infuriated many in the Ukraine and has stifled the government with impeachments and newly elected officials that the Russian government does not support. Now with Russians soldier on the outskirts of the Ukraine’s boarder undertaking practice exercises and ready to enter on a moment’s notice. The Russian’s are determined to influence there near- abroad to resemble; that was once part of the Soviet Union. Now in a post-cold war era this reminds us of the days of the iron curtain and the influence that the Soviet Union’s iron fist that controlled almost all of Eastern Europe during the cold war. In the mid to late 1960’s a similar revolution was taking place with-in Czechoslovakia, a revolution for a free society and a free press. A society that was not oppressed with-in the strangles arm of communism, but a society that was embraced with what Alexander Dubcek named “Socialism with a human face.” In late August, Warsaw Pact Troops invaded and the Prague Spring had begun within Czechoslovakia. The Soviet Union leader Leonid Brezhnev is going to be portrayed as my political actor. We must understand few different aspects to have the understanding why the Soviet Union did not want to lose Czechoslovakia. Plus, we need to look at the invasion now called the Prague Spring. First, we need to gain the perspecti...
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...on-state that it once wanted to be.
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In 1968, the Soviet Union along with several Warsaw Pact allies invaded Czechoslovakia with the intention of re-establishing a full communist government. The reason for the invasion was mainly due to “Prague Spring” – the period of great hope for the Czech people led by the reform movement against the hard-line policies of the Czech and Soviet governments. The main justification given by Soviet Premier Brezhnev regarding the attack was that the USSR, a communist nation itself, had an obligation to stop anything that poses a threat to established communism in any country. This came to be known as the “Brezhnev Doctrine”, and was seen as a clear warning to other eastern European countries. This example is one of many in history that has raised the issue of whether or not great nations are justified in exerting influence over the affairs of lesser states.
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The Prague Spring is referred to when the Warsaw Pact allies invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968. Below are the details surrounding the incident.
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