The JNA's Assessment of Political and Security Situation in Czechoslovakia after the Intervention of the Warsaw Pact Countries (1968–1969) Cover Image

Процене врха ЈНА о политичким и безбедоносним приликама у Чехословачкој након интервенције Варшавског уговора (1968–1969)
The JNA's Assessment of Political and Security Situation in Czechoslovakia after the Intervention of the Warsaw Pact Countries (1968–1969)

Author(s): Nenad Ž. Petrović
Subject(s): Military history, Political history, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Post-War period (1950 - 1989), Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Institut za strategijska istraživanja
Keywords: Czechoslovakia; Yugoslav People's Army; Warsaw contract; politics; security; military intervention;

Summary/Abstract: The military intervention of five Warsaw Pact countries in Czechoslovakia is one of the events in the postwar history of Europe that marked the era of the Cold War. The so-called Brezhnev Doctrine on limited sovereignty reached its practical manifestation. This doctrine meant that the member country of the WP cannot act independently eighter in national or in international relations. It is logical that member country of any military political alliance does not have full capacity of sovereignty. Member country renounced it for other values and objectives, which they can achieve by being members of a particular alliance. In connection with this there is a particular problem if the „limited sovereignty" is possible at all, or does every partial violation of sovereignty actually mean its complete abolition? Military invasion of five armies into Czechoslovakia did not meet the planned and systematic response of the Czechoslovakia National Army and law enforcement. The Yugoslav military and diplomatic authorities as well as envoys of the League of Communists, were carefully monitoring and reporting on the ferment in the former Czechoslovakia. During the crisis, Yugoslavia did not behave like a non interested observer, but it supported the new management, wishing it to take the path of a „self-governing socialism“ as well by the Yugoslav model. However, things in Czechoslovakia went too far in just a few months, the Yugoslav example was outdone, the multi-party system was renewed and the Communists were unseated from all the crucial positions in society, mostly in the media. After the intervention, Yugoslavia continued for some more time to support the political course that ruled in the former Czechoslovakia between January and August 1968, in that way getting on the wrong side of Moscow.

  • Issue Year: 2010
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 172-200
  • Page Count: 29
  • Language: Serbian