Brezhnev doctrine ap world history definition
key term - Brezhnev Doctrine
Definition
The Brezhnev Doctrine was a Soviet foreign policy principle articulated in 1968, asserting that the Soviet Union had the right to intervene in countries where socialism was threatened. This doctrine reinforced the USSR's commitment to maintain communist rule in Eastern Europe and counter any movements towards liberalization, reflecting the intense geopolitical tensions of the era.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The Brezhnev Doctrine was first publicly articulated after the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 to suppress the Prague Spring, emphasizing the USSR's commitment to protect communist regimes.
It justified military interventions in Eastern Europe whenever there were threats to socialist governments, ensuring that reforms were limited and tightly controlled.
The doctrine led to a more rigid and conservative approach within the Eastern Bloc, discouraging reformist movements and enforcing strict loyalty to Moscow.
The Brezhnev Doctrine was a response to Western criticisms of Soviet imperialism but was also indicative of internal fears within the USSR regarding dissent and potential uprisings.
Although it rein
Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia, 1968
On August 20, 1968, the Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact troops in an invasion of Czechoslovakia to crack down on reformist trends in Prague. Although the Soviet Union’s action successfully halted the pace of reform in Czechoslovakia, it had unintended consequences for the unity of the communist bloc.
Czech youths holding Czechoslovakian flags stand atop of an overturned truck as other Prague residents surround Soviet tanks in downtown Prague on Aug. 21, 1968. (AP Photo/Libor Hajsky/CTK)
Before the Second World War, the nation of Czechoslovakia had been a strong democracy in Central Europe, but beginning in the mid 1930s it faced challenges from both the West and the East. In 1938, the leadership in Great Britain and France conceded the German right to takeover the Sudetenland in the Munich Agreement, but the Czech government condemned this German occupation of its western-most territory as a betrayal. In 1948, Czech attempts to join the U.S.-sponsored Marshall Plan to aid postwar rebuilding were thwarted by Soviet takeover and the installation of a new communist government in Prague. For the next twenty years, Czechoslovakia remained a st
key term - Brezhnev Doctrine
Definition
The Brezhnev Doctrine was a Soviet foreign policy principle articulated in 1968, asserting the right of the Soviet Union to intervene in the affairs of socialist countries to maintain their communist regimes. This doctrine emerged as a response to the Prague Spring and aimed to solidify Soviet control over Eastern Europe, reinforcing the division between the Eastern Bloc and the West.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The Brezhnev Doctrine was declared by Leonid Brezhnev during a speech at a Soviet Communist Party meeting in November 1968.
This doctrine justified the invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, effectively crushing the Prague Spring reforms led by Alexander Dubček.
The Brezhnev Doctrine marked a shift from previous policies that focused on coexistence, emphasizing that any threat to socialism was a threat to the Soviet Union itself.
The doctrine contributed to tensions between Eastern European countries and the Soviet Union, as it limited their autonomy and suppressed nationalist movements.
It remained a guiding principle of Soviet foreign policy until the late 1980s, ultimately being challenged by Mikhail Gorb
AP World Guide: Unit 8- Decolonization & Cold War
Detente-
Relaxation of strained relations between nations
SALT-
Strategic Arms Limitation treaty, froze the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles the US & USSR could keep
Detente pros-
US was economically burdened with unpopular Vietnam War, USSR was in an economic crisis, Eastern Europe Soviet Bloc countries were rebelling, & was in conflict with China (break from Cold War to focus on other conflicts)
Soviet-Afghan War-
Soviets invaded Afghanistan to install a communist government against Muslim fighters
SDI-
Strategic Defense Initiative, system that could destroy Soviet nuclear missiles targeting US or allies
Perestroika-
Restructuring Soviet economy to allow free enterprise
Glasnost-
Policy of opening up Soviet society & granting greater freedoms
INF-
Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, restricted immediate range nuclear weapons