Vladimir V. Kusin

In this survey of the development of reformist ideas among the Czech intelligentsia from 1956 to 1967. Basically, an intellectual pre-history of the Prague Spring of 1968. Kusin believes that incongruity between the political, social, economic and cultural organization imposed on Czechoslovakia after 1948 and the national disposition of the people was at the root of reformist thinking. The desirability of change gradually found expression in the formulation of a national aim to make the system more democratic, humane and even in a sense 'pluralistic', while preserving its socialist character. It all ended, of course, with Russian tanks in the streets in 1968; although I suppose one could say that it didn't "end" there, either, since the tread marks of those tanks are all but erased by now.… (meer)