P 15 - Pressure on the USSR

Nk era - was oustered

countries loyal to Soviet union, by being in the Warsaw pact 

conflict bewteen Mao and NK, of ways of leading communism

• CMC + Berlin crisis seen as ailures

• standard living  didn’t improve 

• Sep 1964 - in Kremlin for 5 months , while his party planned for his removal

Brezhnev era

SU reassert itself to lead communism

keeping countries in soviet sphere

-between 1964-68 , movements occurred from working classes demanding changes due to economic issues and lack of consumer good

-appointed general sec but gained power

• associated with corruption and stagnation + economic discontent continued e.g czech

Czechoslovakia crisis 1968

LB - believed economic stability was essential at reducing protests for satellite states

in 1963 - Czech saw negative growth, thinking to part ways from socialism + communism

-revolts occurred in 1960s:

• Prof Ota Sik - economist who proposed ending central planned economy, individual enterprising, consumer rights, more powerful workforce and CCP listen to public opinion

• gained support from intellectuals and students, so felt changes needed to occur with Czech leadership

Prague Spring 1968

Communist leader Alexander Dubček replaced Antonín Novotný

-Jan 1968 - became 1st sec of communist party, introduing idea “socialism with a human face.” 

angry abt economic stagnation + poor living standard

Reforms included loosening censorship greater freedom of speech and travel, limited political openness, and economic reforms

Soviet invasion (night Aug 20-21)

The Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czech (200,000 troops + 2000 tanks) - shows Soviet dominance

-civs passively resisted, but 137 civs killed 

-arrested Dubček and taken to Moscow + forced the rollback of reform

-Jan 1969 - self immolation of studen Jan Palach

-April 1969 - “Normalization” policy under new leader Gustav Husak, replacing Dubcek - stricter control

red army remained in Czech by 1990

US + NATO didn’t intervene, as didn’t want to get involved in soviet sphere 

Brezhnev Doctrine 1968

speech to Polish party congress in NOV, justifying actions in Czech

The USSR claimed the right to intervene in any socialist country if socialism was seen to be under threat, even by that country’s own reforms.

-suggesting all communist sates intervene for the sake of communism together as a whole

-reason their action + put off other from doing this

-abided by 1991

China relations

tensions between NK and MAO, due to accusing him of revisionism, going away from socialism

NK:

• supported india in border disputes with CH 1959

• remove tech from CH by 1960

• didnt tell plans for CMC decision in 1962

• didn’t provide prototype to China of atomic bomb 

Mao:

• bombed Taiwenese held islands Quemoy + Matsu 1958

  • criticised NK for not using nuclear weapons + his removal of missiles in Cuba

Further divisions

Siberia- china want it back from USSR

NK rejected this, but resigned, so LB wanted positive relation

-sent rep to meet Mao, but failed and further strained by Malinovsky incident 1964

Revisionist communist state + imperialistic state

Mao believed USSR purposefully operating as this to keep China in inferior position 

Saw it as imperialistic state, imperialistic targeting Chinese territory

Vietnam

April 1965 - USSR et with CH + NV to respond US escalation

-MAO refused this, as wanted NV dependant only on China

USSR propsed creating soviet air force base in South China - Kunming -for 12 MIG-"21 fighter planes.

• mao saw it as intrusion on territory

Cultural Revolution 1966

Mao’s political move, aimed to reassert control over CCP and preserve communis, by Removing “capitalist” and traditional elements; enforce Maoist ideology.

• Schools and universities closed.

• Mass campaigns and “re-education” in the countryside.

• Destruction of books, temples, and cultural artifacts.

-Millions persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, or killed.

-Social chaos, economic slowdown, loss of cultural heritage.

After Mao’s death in 1976, the movement was officially condemned as a national disaster.

Red Guard

Students/young people attacking intellectuals, officials, and old culture, led the revolution

 -targeted Party leaders (e.g., Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping), teachers, artists, and historical relics.

-attacked a soviet embassy in Beijing, August 22, 1967, threatening to burn it down, with the attack being led by a 16 y.o 

Little red book

Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong.”

Spreading Mao’s ideas and communist ideology, being used as a political tool.

-distributed to Red Guards, soldiers, and the general population.

symbolised  loyalty to Mao.

Carried everywhere; often used to justify attacks on “counter-revolutionaries.”

Border Disputes

FEB 1967 - USSR stationed forces in Mongolia and East Kazakhstan

Brez suggest stronger border, meaning less danger of serious confrontation in east

Active defence - 2 March 1969

-China adopt “active defence” strat to attempt to deter Soviets, using aggression

incident where Soviet patrol near Zhenbao islands ambushed by China forces

Incident 2 - Xianjang Aug 1969

failed border talks, led to even hostile sino-soviet relations by 1970

-Mao turning to work with US, as didn’t think it was been treated as an equal by USSR, wanting global superpowers

Pressures influencing Soviet Foreign policy

-Pressures from China - they want to lead communism

-Border disputes

-Resistance from eastern bloc to retain Warsaw pact members- Czechoslovakia - Brezhnev doctrine

-Creating relations with USA + nuclear arms restrictions - test ban

-changes from NK ideology to Brezhnev ideas

-Vietnam