The Events of the Prague Spring

·         The events of the Prague Spring:

o   Prague Spring is a phrase used to describe the liberal changes brought about by Dubcek from April 1968. It was named after the city of Prague, (Czechoslovakian capital). As part of his plan to create ‘socialism with a human face,’ Dubcek introduced the following reforms:

§  A relaxation of press censorship

§  The legalisation of political opposition groups

§  Official government toleration of political criticism

§  More power given to regional governments

§  More power given to the Czech parliament

§  ‘Market Socialism’ – the reintroduction of capitalist elements into the Czech economy

o   Dubcek wanted to allow ‘the widest possible democracy in the social and political life of Czechoslovakia.’ Dubcek’s reforms were welcomed enthusiastically by students, intellectuals, worker and younger members of the Czech Communist Party. Artists and writers such as Milan Kundera and Vaclav Havel took full advantage of the reforms, writing books, plays and essays critical of Soviet-style communism.

o   Older Czechoslovakian communists were shocked by the ‘Prague Spring’ and their horror was shared by Soviet Premier Brezhnev and his allies across Eastern Europe.