The Prague Spring and the Evolution of the Position of Leonid Brezhnev
The Prague Spring and the Evolution of the Position of Leonid Brezhnev

Summary/Abstract: The subject of the article – the dynamics of Leonid Brezhnev’s views on the reforms and processes in Czechoslovakia of 1968. The choice of Dubček as the successor of Novotný did not cause objections and fears of the Soviet leader. The stronger was the subsequent disappointment in Dubček. Brezhnev was sure that his rivals in the Soviet elite would use against him any weakening of the Communist power in Czechoslovakia and that was the decisive factor which influenced the evolution of his position. After hesitations which lasted some months he made a choice in favor of force decision. The complete failure of the plans to change the government in Czechoslovakia as the result of the aggression showed the weakness of the Soviet leadership. At the same time Brezhnev's caution and indecision, his fear of mass bloodshed in the occupied country made it possible to prevent additional troubles that could occur due to the low level of political culture and to the political mood of the Soviet communist elite of that time.

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