Definition: Movement of reform and liberalization in Czecholslovia in 1968, which began with Alexander Dubèek's appointment as First Secretary on January 5th and ended with a Warsaw Pact invasion on August 21st that same year to crush the changes. Dubèek's 'Action Program', launched in April, called for some freedom in the press, multi-party government, more consumer goods and even a division of Czechoslovakia into two nations. The programme was followed by the formation of a Social Democrat political party and increasing anti-Soviet agitation.
Afraid that Dubèek's actions would undermine the communist Eastern Bloc of Soviet dominated nations, Soviet leader Brezhnev first conducted negotiations but then invaded on the night of August 20-21, a large Warsaw Pact army replacing Dubèek with Gustáv Husák, who oversaw a reversal of policy. Thousands died. Warsaw Pact troops would remain in Czechoslovakia until 1987. The term ‘Prague Spring’ was originated by western media, referring to a thaw after the cold 'winter' war.
Examples: Despite the tensions and fear of nuclear war, the Cold War division between East and West proved surprisingly stable after 1961, despite France anti-Americanism and Russia crushing the Prague Spring.
