Brezhnev Doctrine

Brezhnev Doctrine

Map of the Eastern Bloc

The Brezhnev Doctrine was a policy promoted by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev that asserted the right of the Soviet Union to intervene in the affairs of Communist countries to strengthen Communism. This doctrine was primarily used to justify the Soviet military interventions in countries within the Eastern Bloc that were perceived to be straying from the Soviet model of socialism.

Historical Context

The Brezhnev Doctrine emerged during the Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States along with their respective allies. The doctrine was articulated in response to the Prague Spring of 1968, a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia that was seen as a threat to Soviet hegemony in Eastern Europe.

Key Principles

The main principle of the Brezhnev Doctrine was that the Soviet Union had the right to intervene in any socialist country that was deemed to be threatened by internal or external forces hostile to socialism. This was based on the belief that the security of the socialist community as a whole was paramount and that individual countries could not pursue policies that might undermine the socialist bloc.

Implementation

The Brezhnev Doctrine was first applied in 1968 when Soviet and other Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia to halt the reforms of the Prague Spring. The doctrine was also invoked in other instances, such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, although this was not a Warsaw Pact country.

Impact

The Brezhnev Doctrine had a significant impact on the political landscape of Eastern Europe. It effectively limited the sovereignty of Eastern Bloc countries, ensuring that they remained aligned with Soviet policies. This doctrine contributed to the suppression of political dissent and reform movements within the bloc.

Decline and Abandonment

The Brezhnev Doctrine remained in effect until the late 1980s when Mikhail Gorbachev introduced policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). Gorbachev's approach marked a shift away from the Brezhnev Doctrine, leading to greater autonomy for Eastern Bloc countries and eventually contributing to the end of the Cold War.

Related Pages

• Leonid Brezhnev
• Prague Spring
• Warsaw Pact
• Cold War
• Mikhail Gorbachev