The Prague Spring and its Aftermath
Czechoslovak Politics, 1968–1970

An analysis of the Prague Spring using sources which have become available since the 1989 revolution.

Kieran Williams (Author)

9780521588034, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 8 September 1997

288 pages
23.4 x 15.4 x 1.8 cm, 0.44 kg

'… highly valuable … demonstrates in a clear-cut way …' Contemporary European History

The Prague Spring of 1968 was among the most important episodes in post-war European politics. In this book Kieran Williams analyses the attempt at reform socialism under Alexander Dubcek using materials and sources which have become available in the wake of the 1989 revolution. Drawing on declassified documents from party archives, the author readdresses important questions surrounding the Prague Spring: Why did liberalization occur? What was it intended to achieve? Why did the Soviet Union intervene with force? What was the political outcome of the invasion? What part did the reformers play in ending the experiment in reform socialism? What was the role of the security police under Dubcek? The book will provide new information for specialists as well as introductory analysis and narrative for students of East European politics and history and Soviet foreign policy.

Part I. Liberalization, Intervention and Normalization: 1. Liberalization
2. Intervention
3. Normalization
Part II. January 1968–December 1970
4. The erosion of Soviet trust
5. The failure of Operation Danube
6. Dubcek's normalization
7. The realist ascendancy
8. The security police in the Dubcek period
9. After Dubcek.

Subject Areas: Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000 [HBLW3], European history [HBJD]