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What was the Cold war?

Political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union
1947 to 1991
World Division: two blocs: the Western Bloc (USA) X the Eastern Bloc (USSR)
Competition in the development of nuclear weapons and other military technologies
Ideological Conflict: Liberal democracy and capitalism (USA) vs. socialism and communism (USSR)
Indirect Conflicts: e.g., Korean War, Vietnam War

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What was the Prague spring?

“socialism with a human face“ - more freedom and democracy within the framework of a socialist system
January 5^th,1968 – August 21^st, 1968
Political liberalization and mass protest
In Czechoslovakia – the communist government led by Alexander Dubček
Key Reforms:

Time for the freedom

Greater Freedom of Speech & Press: Censorship was relaxed, open discussion of political issues and critiques of the government. Newspapers and TV began to cover topics that were previously banned
Personal Freedoms: freedom for the people, traveling abroad, less state surveillance, more personal autonomy
Cultural Revival: artists, writers, and musicians gained more freedom to express themselves = Czechoslovakia became a hub for intellectual and artistic activity

Soviet Reaction: a threat to the stability of the communist bloc
Invasion of Czechoslovakia: : On the night of August 20-21, 1968, Soviet troops – Warsaw Pact (SU, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland) invaded Czechoslovakia. Over 200,000 soldiers and 2,000 tanks entered the country
Public Resistance: protests, holding up signs or standing in front of tanks, general strike

Outcome: The reforms were stopped, and Czechoslovakia remained a Soviet state until 1989
Long-Term Impact: The Prague Spring = symbol of the struggle for freedom in Soviet-controlled countries and a reminder of the brutality of the communist regime
Iconic Symbol: "the Tank Man"

Dubcek X Husak

The End of Reform: After the Soviet intervention – Dubček was forced to retract many of the reforms. Czechoslovakia returned to a more authoritarian communist regime
Impact on Dubček: After the invasion, Dubček was removed from power and sent to Moscow - replaced by Gustáv Husák, who led Czechoslovakia in a more hardline communist direction until the 1980s

Inspiration for future generations

Reformers and dissidents in Eastern Europe, especially as 1989, when the Berlin Wall would fall and communist regimes across Central and Eastern Europe would collapse
The Prague Spring also gave momentum to the "Charter 77" movement in Czechoslovakia, a human rights group that protested the government

The Prague Spring in Popular Culture

The Prague Spring has been the subject of books, films, and documentaries
the 2012 film "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" based on Milan Kundera's novel