The term Brezhnev Doctrine appeared outside the Soviet Union and came into use only after many years. The so-called foreign policy of the USSR under Brezhnev's rule stretched from the 60s of the 20th century until 1990, when Gorbachev completely changed the course of his predecessor.
After World War II, all of Eastern Europe and part of central (Germany) came under the control of the USSR. Nominally, the countries of the socialist bloc, excluding Yugoslavia, were independent democracies, but the practice of relations with the USSR showed something completely different. Starting from 1945-1944 in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, leaders came to power who were the protégés of the Soviet leadership. With the apparent stormy activity within the political sphere of these countries, the heads of the Communist Parties were completely dependent on the leaders from Moscow. This was the case until 1968, when a young democratic reformer Alexander Dubcek appeared in Czechoslovakia, pursuing a broad liberal policy in his country up to the federalization of Czechoslovakia.
The beginning of the implementation of the Brezhnev doctrine
In the 1960s, the transition to the so-called "socialism with a human face" began in Czechoslovakia.
"Socialism with a human face" is an economic system that prioritizes the well-being of the people. Military expenditures under such a system were significantly reduced.
The reforms carried out in Czechoslovakia did not suit the Soviet leadership. The official reason for the discontent was the departure from the ideals of socialism, and Dubcek was accused of violating the principle by which the class proletarian consciousness was placed above the national one. Dubcek led Czechoslovakia along the path of independence from the USSR, introduced freedom of speech, movement, and began administrative reform. After several months of Dubcek's reforms, the USSR sent troops into the territory of Czechoslovakia. This military operation went down in history as the Danube. August 21, 1968 can be considered the day of the emergence of the Brezhnev doctrine - the method of military and economic coercion of the countries of the socialist bloc to follow the unquestioning leadership of the USSR. The Brezhnev doctrine implied open interference in the internal affairs of the countries of Eastern Europe in order to impose their will, primarily in the public sphere of the life of the state. Since the events in Czechoslovakia in 1968, Soviet special services have persecuted dissidents in Eastern Europe with the same tenacity as in their homeland. The actions of the USSR, called by Western political scientists the Brezhnev doctrine, originated long before the Prague Spring. So, back in 1956, Khrushchev by military force suppressed the liberation movement in Hungary, which demanded the withdrawal of the pro-Soviet leadership of his country.
Brezhnev Doctrine after the Prague Spring
In the 60s, the growth and strengthening of the military-political bloc of the Warsaw Pact began, which in fact was necessary for the USSR to deploy troops on the border with Western Europe. The failure of the revolution in Czechoslovakia led to the fact that Soviet troops stayed on the territory of this country until 1990.
The Prague Spring has become a kind of symbol in the struggle of people for their rights. By analogy with the events in Prague in 1968, the revolutions in the Arab countries in the 21st century were named.
The same circumstances affected Hungary and the GDR. After 1968, the military contingent of the Soviet Union was present throughout Eastern Europe. Now, to any attempts to deviate from the channel of the Soviet foreign policy, the USSR could react with immediate forceful intervention. The Brezhnev doctrine as a foreign policy course lasted for almost half a century.
