Brezhnev Doctrine

Definition

The Brezhnev Doctrine was a Soviet foreign policy principle established in 1968, asserting that the Soviet Union had the right to intervene in the affairs of socialist countries to maintain communist rule. This doctrine was a response to the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia and emphasized the importance of protecting socialist governments from counter-revolutionary movements, reinforcing a geopolitical stance of interventionism within Eastern Europe.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Brezhnev Doctrine was formulated after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, which sought to halt reforms and maintain strict communist control.
2. This doctrine effectively justified Soviet military interventions in Eastern Europe, including events like the suppression of uprisings in Hungary in 1956 and Poland in the 1980s.
3. Under the Brezhnev Doctrine, any threat to socialism in a Warsaw Pact country was seen as a threat to the entire bloc, leading to collective action by the USSR.
4. The doctrine marked a significant shift from the earlier policy of peaceful coexistence and set a precedent for more aggressive interventionist policies.
5. It remained influential until the late 1980s when internal pressures and reform movements began to challenge Soviet control over Eastern Europe, leading to its eventual decline.

Review Questions

• How did the Brezhnev Doctrine shape Soviet foreign policy towards Eastern European countries during the Cold War?
  • The Brezhnev Doctrine fundamentally shaped Soviet foreign policy by establishing a clear mandate for intervention in Eastern European nations where socialism was threatened. This doctrine justified military actions, such as the invasion of Czechoslovakia, to suppress any movements perceived as counter-revolutionary. By doing so, it aimed to uphold communist regimes and prevent any potential domino effect that could destabilize the region.
• Discuss the implications of the Brezhnev Doctrine on the relationship between the USSR and its satellite states within the Warsaw Pact.
  • The Brezhnev Doctrine created a framework that allowed the USSR to exert significant control over its satellite states within the Warsaw Pact. It sent a clear message that any deviation from strict adherence to communist principles would not be tolerated, leading to a climate of fear and repression. As a result, while it aimed to ensure stability within these countries, it also fueled resentment and resistance movements that sought greater autonomy and reform.
• Evaluate how changes in global politics in the late 20th century challenged the relevance of the Brezhnev Doctrine and contributed to its decline.
  • In the late 20th century, shifts in global politics—such as rising nationalist sentiments, economic crises within communist regimes, and growing calls for reform—challenged the relevance of the Brezhnev Doctrine. The failure to adapt to these changes weakened Soviet influence over Eastern Europe, culminating in movements like Solidarity in Poland. As these countries began to assert their independence from Soviet control, it became clear that the Brezhnev Doctrine could no longer sustain its hold on Eastern Europe, leading to its eventual abandonment as communist governments fell across the region.

Related terms

Prague Spring: A period of political liberalization and reform in Czechoslovakia during the spring of 1968, which was suppressed by a Soviet-led invasion.

Warsaw Pact: A military alliance of Eastern Bloc socialist republics led by the Soviet Union, created in response to NATO as a means to ensure collective defense among its member states.

Détente: A period of improved relations between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War, characterized by negotiations and arms control agreements.