1968

Czechoslovakia (1968): Stalinism rocked by crisis - Part Three

Written by Alan Woods Wednesday, 18 June 2008

The intervention of Russian tanks temporarily halted the movement in Czechoslovakia. But, as Alan Woods pointed out at the time, "The rule of the bureaucracy now represents an absolute fetter on the development of the planned economies of Russia and Eastern Europe. The needs of the people can no longer be met by a system whose every pore is choked by bureaucracy, mismanagement and waste."

Czechoslovakia (1968): Stalinism rocked by crisis - Part Two

Written by Alan Woods Wednesday, 11 June 2008

In Part One Alan Woods analysed the meaning of Dubcek and the reform movement within the Czechoslovak bureaucracy. Part Two explains why the Russian bureaucracy intervened and how the Czechoslovak workers were left leaderless in the face of military intervention.

Czechoslovakia (1968): Stalinism rocked by crisis - Part One

Written by Alan Woods Monday, 09 June 2008

To mark the 40th anniversary of the invasion of Czechoslovakia, we are here reprinting an article by Alan Woods, first written on September 4, 1968, and published in the Winter edition of the Spark, in which he clearly relates the momentous events that shook the Stalinist regimes and explains their significance.

1968: a year of revolution

Written by Alastair Wilson Tuesday, 15 May 2001

In 1968 the world turned upside down. The long years of the post war economic upswing had led many to declare that class struggle was obsolete, revolution outdated, the working class bourgeoisified, capitalism invincible. Within a few short months, though, they were all proved wrong.

Czechoslovakia 1968: 'Lenin wake up, Brezhnev has gone mad'

Written by Alan Woods Wednesday, 17 May 2000

'Lenin wake up, Brezhnev has gone mad.' This was one of the slogans chanted on the street of Prague 30 years ago as Russian and Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia. The upheavals in Czechoslovakia had began with a stormy session of the Writers Union which passed a resolution supporting Soviet author Solzhenitsyn's protest against censorship.

May 68: France's month of revolution

Written by Iain Gunn Tuesday, 19 May 1998

On Friday 3rd May a meeting was called in Paris's Sorbonne University to protest against the closure of Nanterre University the day before. This followed a week of clashes there between extreme right wing groups and students campaigning against the Vietnam War.

History & Theory » Historical Analysis