The Brezhnev Doctrine, 1968 (AQA GCSE History) : Revision Note

How did the Brezhnev Doctrine fit into Brezhnev's leadership style? - Summary

Brezhnev introduced his doctrine after the Soviet response to the Prague Spring reforms in Czechoslovakia.

A doctrine is a set of beliefs or a philosophy about a certain issue. For Brezhnev, introducing his doctrine in 1968 was important for his rule. Brezhnev had only assumed sole leadership of the Soviet Union in 1966. He wanted to enforce his style of rule over the Soviet Union. Brezhnev had a reputation for being authoritarian. He believed that the previous leadership style of Khrushchev had weakened communism. Khrushchev denounced Stalin and hinted at the Soviet Union's openness to reform. Brezhnev did not agree with reforming communism. 

The Brezhnev Doctrine strengthened the core values of the Soviet Union. It reasserted the Soviet Union's dominance over the satellite states in Eastern Europe. It also enforced the Soviet Union's commitment to the Warsaw Pact. The Brezhnev Doctrine helped to restore the Soviet Union's reputation as a superpower.

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine and why was it introduced?

• By September 1968, the Soviet Union had faced a number of challenges in its influence in Eastern Europe

  • In 1955, the Soviet Union introduced the Warsaw Pact

    • The Warsaw Pact was a direct competitor to NATO

    • The Pact tied the Soviet satellite states into providing military support to protect communism

  • In 1956, the Soviet Union repressed Hungary

    • Imre Nagy, the leader of Hungary, attempted to remove the country from the Warsaw Pact

    • Khrushchev reacted by sending 1,000 tanks and killing 20,000 Hungarians

• During the 1960s, some communist countries in Eastern Europe fought against Soviet influence

  • Yugoslavia broke away from the Soviet Union's influence in 1948

    • Its leader, Tito, considered a closer relationship with the Soviet Union in 1956

    • The events of the Hungarian Uprising changed Tito's mind

    • Khrushchev accused Yugoslavia of inspiring the Hungarians to revolt

  • Romania refused to attend Warsaw Pact meetings

• The Prague Spring forced Brezhnev to reassert his power over the satellite states in Eastern Europe

  • Brezhnev discovered that Czechoslovakia's leader, Dubcek, invited Ceausescu and Tito, the leaders of Romania and Yugoslavia, to Prague for talks

    • Brezhnev could not allow Czechoslovakia to form an alliance with Romania and Yugoslavia

  • On 20th August 1968, Brezhnev sent 500,000 Warsaw Pact soldiers to enforce Soviet control in Czechoslovakia

    • The invasion was successful for the Soviet Union

  • The Prague Spring had reinforced Brezhnev's beliefs. Satellite states should not attempt to reform communism

    • The Brezhnev Doctrine listed Brezhnev's expectations for the Warsaw Pact. It stated how the satellite states should behave

The aims of the Brezhnev Doctrine

• Brezhnev published his doctrine in the communist newspaper, Pravda, on 26th September 1968

• The Brezhnev Doctrine aimed to bring the satellite states under more direct Soviet control:

Reactions to the Brezhnev Doctrine

•  Pro-Soviet leaders in Eastern Europe welcomed the doctrine

  • Governments like East Germany and Poland faced resistance from protestors within their countries

  • The Brezhnev Doctrine suppressed protest within these states. The doctrine set extreme consequences for dissent

• Some communists pushed further away from the Soviet Union

  • Yugoslavia and Romania condemned the actions of the Soviet Union

    • The relationship between these countries and the Soviet Union remained strained throughout the Cold War

  • The communist parties in France and Italy cut all links to the Soviet Union

• Internationally, the Brezhnev Doctrine concerned Western powers

  • It reinforced the Soviet Union's supremacy in Eastern Europe

    • The Brezhnev Doctrine tightened the Warsaw Pact

    • This increased the threat and the power of the Soviet Union

  • The USA did not want to fight against the Soviet Union

    • The Brezhnev Doctrine stated the extent of force that Brezhnev would use to keep his influence over Eastern Europe. The power of the Soviet Union scared the USA

    • The US government became more determined to pursue friendly relations with the Soviet Union. The process is often referred to as détente