bailey_187
13th April 2011, 23:19
Was the USSR trying to maintain (atleast what it thought was) Socialism, as a fellow Socialist society?
If so, why was Hungary allowed after the events of 1956 had calmed, slowly allowed to implement market 'reforms' under Janos Kadar, to the point where it wasnt really a planned economy?
This could be because at the time of the invasion, the CP of Czechoslovakia was enjoying lots of popularity abroad, and so their "alternative" version of socialism could genuinly compete with the USSR for supremacy in the World Communist Movement maybe?
It could be justified on security grounds, if the leadership became more "pro-Western", it posed a security risk to the Soviets as Czechoslovakia boarderd both West Germany and the USSR's territory. But the Soviets never actually cited this as a reason, and did not (according ot what i read atleast), claim Western forces were attempting to move into the country or that Czechoslovakia was even seeking neutrality.
Increased freedom of speech in Czechoslovakia threatend Walter Ulrbicht in East Germany, as similar freedom of speech probably would have led to increased calls for reunification, could be a small reason, although hardly substatial.
Another reason could be that Czechoslovakia would, with its "market reforms", move more towards Western states as trading partners. Such a move would, as was its stated wish in 1968, move towards convertability for the Czechoslovak currency. If this happend the 'finishing process' that the industry of Czechoslovakia performed for the Eastern Bloc would become impossibly expensive.
So yeah, those are the reasons i know of. What are the reasons other think? Any dissagrements with these?
If so, why was Hungary allowed after the events of 1956 had calmed, slowly allowed to implement market 'reforms' under Janos Kadar, to the point where it wasnt really a planned economy?
This could be because at the time of the invasion, the CP of Czechoslovakia was enjoying lots of popularity abroad, and so their "alternative" version of socialism could genuinly compete with the USSR for supremacy in the World Communist Movement maybe?
It could be justified on security grounds, if the leadership became more "pro-Western", it posed a security risk to the Soviets as Czechoslovakia boarderd both West Germany and the USSR's territory. But the Soviets never actually cited this as a reason, and did not (according ot what i read atleast), claim Western forces were attempting to move into the country or that Czechoslovakia was even seeking neutrality.
Increased freedom of speech in Czechoslovakia threatend Walter Ulrbicht in East Germany, as similar freedom of speech probably would have led to increased calls for reunification, could be a small reason, although hardly substatial.
Another reason could be that Czechoslovakia would, with its "market reforms", move more towards Western states as trading partners. Such a move would, as was its stated wish in 1968, move towards convertability for the Czechoslovak currency. If this happend the 'finishing process' that the industry of Czechoslovakia performed for the Eastern Bloc would become impossibly expensive.
So yeah, those are the reasons i know of. What are the reasons other think? Any dissagrements with these?