Socialism and Democracy in Czechoslovakia

1945-1948
Erscheinungsjahr 1981
ISBN: 978-0-521-23668-3
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 292 Seiten, Format (B × H): 138 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 545 g

Reihe: Cambridge Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies

This book is about the political, social and economic changes in Czechoslovakia in the years 1945– 1948. In 1945 the 'national revolution' established the Communist Party as the dominant force within a coalition government. The leading Communists then evolved the idea of a specific Czechoslovak road to socialism that could bypass the 'dictatorship of the proletariat'. By analysing in detail the revolutionary events and the society that emerged from them, the book demonstrates that there was a real possibility of developing a distinct model of socialism containing a plurality of parties and a sizeable private sector. Such thinking, however, was effectively ended in February 1948, when the Communist Party established a monopoly of power. The fundamental causes of this change in the party's strategy are to be found, it is argued, in the international situation. The February events were of international significance as they confirmed the division of Europe into two blocs. The concluding chapter shows how important they were for the subsequent development of Czechoslovak society.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Myant, M. R.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction; 1. The development of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia; 2 War and occupation; 3. The national revolution; 4. The national revolution in Slovakia; 5. Czech political parties; 6. The Gottwald government; 7. Deepening divisions; 8. Prelude to February; 9. The February crisis to Post-February Czechoslovakia.