Communist Czechoslovakia, 1945-89: A Political and Social History (European History in Perspective, 69)

New Casebook offers a selection of the most lively and innovative contemporary criticism on the four late plays commonly known as Shakespeare's 'Romances': Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale and The Tempest. New historicist, Marxist, feminist and psychoanalytic perspectives are all represented, alongside other readings that engage with less familiar issues such as nationalism, topography, religious politics and medico-moral discourse. Alison Thorne's introduction explores the much discussed question of how these plays should be classified generically, and traces the recurrence of certain preconceptions and critical stances in the reception of the Romances from the seventeenth century onwards. Few Europeans In The Twentieth Century Have Been Subject To The Repeated Buffetings By Foreign Powers, Ideologically Driven Transformations And Internal Upheaval Of The Czechs And The Slovaks. The Period Of Communist Rule Was Complex, And Those Who Gleefully Overthrew The Regime In 1989 Were The Very Grandchildren Of Those Who Had Voted For Communism With Hope In The Free Elections Of 1946. This Concise Account Includes Both Political And Social History, Analysing Half A Century Of Communism From At All Strata Of Society. Kevin Mcdermott Is Equally Intrigued By Those In Power And Ordinary Citizens, Asking What Motivates A Young Czech Worker-believer To Join The Communist Party In The Early 1950s, Enroll In The People's Militia And Remain In The Party During The Dark Years Of 'normalisation,' Yet End Up Welcoming The Tearing Down Of The Berlin Wall In 1989. Using Czech And Slovak Archival Sources And The Most Recent Historiography, Mcdermott Challenges The Still Dominant 'totalitarian' Paradigm And Argues That The Forty Year Communist Experience In Czechoslovakia Cannot Simply Be Dismissed As A Soviet-imposed Aberration-- Abbreviations And Glossary Of Terms -- Glossary Of Leading Figures -- Presidents Of The Czechoslovak Republic, 1945-89 -- Timeline : 1945-89 -- A Note On Czech Pronunciation -- Introduction: Communist Czechoslovakia In Historical Perspective -- 1. Communism On The Road To Power, 1945-48 -- 2. Stalinism Reigns, 1948-53 -- 3. Social Crisis And The Limits Of Reform, 1953-67 -- 4. Czechoslovak Spring, 1968-69 -- 5. Everyday Normalisation, 1969-88 -- 6. 1989 : The Demise Of Communism -- Conclusion: Into The Dustbin Of History? Kevin Mcdermott. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms 12 Glossary of Leading Figures 15 Timeline, 1918–93 18 A Note on Czech Pronunciation 20 1 Introduction – Communist Czechoslovakia in Historical Perspective 22 Historical Background: Czechoslovakia, 1918–45 23 The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, 1921–45 33 Main Themes, Issues and Interpretations 36 2 Communism on the Road to Power, 1945–48 42 The Impact of War 43 Stalin, the Cold War and Czechoslovakia’s ‘Limited Autonomy’ 49 The Communists’ Tortuous Road to Power 56 3 Stalinism Reigns, 1948–53 79 Elite Purges and Mass Repression 81 ‘Constructing Socialism’: Politics, Culture and Labour 94 Anti-Communist Resistance 105 4 Social Crisis and the Limits of Reform, 1953–67 112 Abortive De-Stalinisation 113 Economic Crisis and Social Flux 127 Intellectual and Political Ferment 135 5 Czechoslovak Spring, 1968–69 142 ‘Socialism with a Human Face’ 143 ‘Night Frost in Prague’: Soviet Intervention 155 From Invasion to ‘Normalisation’ 168 6 Everyday Normalisation, 1969–88 173 The Politics of Normalisation 174 Normalisation as a Way of Life 186 The Challenge of ‘Dissidence’ 193 7 1989 – The Demise of Communism 203 Why Did Communism Collapse? 204 A Multiplicity of Revolutions? 213 8 Conclusion – Into the Dustbin of History? 221 Communist Czechoslovakia: A Balance Sheet 222 Notes 227 Bibliography 249 Index 267 "Few Europeans in the twentieth century have been subject to the repeated buffetings by foreign powers, ideologically driven transformations and internal upheaval of the Czechs and the Slovaks. The period of Communist rule was complex, and those who gleefully overthrew the regime in 1989 were the very grandchildren of those who had voted for Communism with hope in the free elections of 1946. This concise account includes both political and social history, analysing half a century of Communism from at all strata of society. Kevin McDermott is equally intrigued by those in power and ordinary citizens, asking what motivates a young Czech worker-believer to join the Communist Party in the early 1950s, enroll in the People's Militia and remain in the party during the dark years of 'normalisation, ' yet end up welcoming the tearing down of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Using Czech and Slovak archival sources and the most recent historiography, McDermott challenges the still dominant 'totalitarian' paradigm and argues that the forty year communist experience in Czechoslovakia cannot simply be dismissed as a Soviet-imposed aberration"-- Provided by publisher Acknowledgements.- Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms.- Glossary of Leading Figures.- Presidents of the Czechoslovak Republic, 1945-89.- Timeline 1945-89.- A Note on Czech Pronunciation.- Introduction: Communist Czechoslovakia in Historical Perspective.- 1. Communism on the Road to Power, 1945-482.- Stalinism Reigns, 1948-533.- Social Crisis and the Limits of Reform, 1953-674.- Czechoslovak Spring, 1968-695.- Everyday Normalisation, 1969-886.- 1989: The Demise of Communism.- Conclusion: Into the Dustbin of History?.- Notes.- Bibliography.- Index. Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms Glossary of Leading Figures Timeline : 1918-93 A Note on Czech Pronunciation Introduction: Communist Czechoslovakia in Historical Perspective 1. Communism on the Road to Power, 1945-48 2. Stalinism Reigns, 1948-53 3. Social Crisis and the Limits of Reform, 1953-67 4. Czechoslovak Spring, 1968-69 5. Everyday Normalisation, 1969-88 6. 1989: The Demise of Communism Conclusion: Into the Dustbin of History? This concise history gives an account of the political, cultural and social trends in Czechoslovakia from 1945 to 1989. With a focus on ordinary citizens, it is an essential contribution to the modern history of a country that is sure to play a key role in the 'new Europe'. A concise political and social history of Czechoslovakia which challenges received interpretations on the 'totalitarian' essence of the regime