Abstract
This paper considers the development of democracy in former Soviet bloc countries. It focuses on how the countries of the former Soviet bloc have had to make a number of political and economic changes in a relatively short time, with most moving toward some form of free market economy and with many attempting as well to develop more democratic governments as well. The paper specifically focuses on Poland and Czechoslovakia.

From the Paper
"The countries of the former Soviet bloc have had to make a number of political and economic changes in a relatively short time, with most moving toward some form of free market economy, and with many attempting as well to develop more democratic governments as well. Poland and Czechoslovakia are two such countries, and they have achieve some level of democracy to differing degrees, though each has much further to go to reach the desired end. Western-style democracy is alien to these countries, and each has adapted to it in different ways. The change came in Poland in 1990 with the dissolution of the Polish United Workers' Party (PUWP) after 41 years of one-party rule."

Tags:democracy, poland, czechoslovakia

Abstract
This paper explains the ways that, from 1919 to 1993, the United States, Germany and the USSR exerted their political power and sometimes their military power to manipulate Czechoslovakia in order to achieve their own political. The author points out that, from the restructuring of the European landscape through the 1919 Paris Negotiations, to Nazi occupation from 1939 to 1945 and to the Soviet domination from 1948 to 1989; finally, in 1993, the Peoples of Czechoslovakia made a choice of pluralist democracy and peacefully divided into two countries, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

From the Paper
"In reaction to Dubcek's Spring Reforms (otherwise known as the Action Program) of 1968, Soviet leader Lenoid Brezhnev perceived the reform as a break from Marxist-Leninist tradition and a move towards capitalist democracy. On 29 July, 1968, Dubcek met with Soviet leaders met at Cierna to discuss the situation. On August 20-21, WTO troops invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the Prague Spring, proving little violence as compared to the 1956 WTO invasion of Hungary. In the following months, negotiations between Brezhnev and Dubcek continued."

Tags:dubcek, treaty of saint-germain, sudentenland comecon, pluralist democracy

Abstract
This paper examines how anti-Semitism persisted in Czechoslovakia during the Communist era primarily because of the pervasive and troubling presence of anti-Semitism through European history. Because of negative European cultural attitudes about the Jewish people, anti-Semitism was manifested in nearly every aspect of life in Czechoslovakia and at every level of society.

From the Paper
"In analyzing how Heda, Rudolf, and other Czechs experienced anti-Semitism between 1941 and 1968, it is evident that their experiences of oppression and prejudice reflected historic anti-Semitism in Europe. The Soviet domination of Czechoslovakia through the puppet leaders in Prague resulted in the oppression of all Czechs, regardless of their race or religion. But Heda, Rudolf, and other Jewish people experienced oppression between 1941 and 1968 not only because of politics and Communist ideology, but because of prevailing anti-Semitic attitudes in Central Europe. Essentially, anti-Semitism persisted in Czechoslovakia during the Communist era primarily because of the pervasive and troubling presence of anti-Semitism through European history."

Tags:under, cruel, star

Abstract
This paper compares the process of the collapse of Communism in the three states of Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Poland and Hungary were most successful, but for entirely different reasons.

Tags:EUROPEAN STUDIES (HISTORY, CULTURE) / EASTERN EUROPE, RUSSIA, collapse communism poland

Abstract
This paper deals with the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. The author examines the historical relationship between West Germany and the former Soviet Union from the Cold War period. The paper discusses the opening of economic ties between West Germany and the rest of Western Europe.

From the paper:

"The war in Vietnam greatly increased US government spending on weapons and other supplies, the demand for which American industry could not fully meet. To fill the rest of the orders, the US turned to the other Western industrialized countries, in many cases West Germany and Japan. This increased spending helped jumpstart the economies of these countries, moving both West Germany and Japan from debtor to creditor nations as they achieved large trade surpluses. As it grew more powerful economically, West Germany took a more independent path politically."

Tags:cold, invasion, oestpolitik, states, union, united, war, west, industrialization, money, finance, reform, control

From the Paper
"This research examines economic and political stability in Czechoslovakia and Poland from 1945 through 1993. Czechoslovakia separated into two sovereign nations--the Czech Republic and Slovakia--as of 1 January 1993. Thus, Czechoslovakia is treated as a unity in the greater part of this examination.

Background on Economics and Politics in Eastern Europe: 1945- ... "

From the Paper
"The disestablishment of communism in Czechoslovakia at the end of 1989 was surprising in both the way it happened and the extent to which it happened, leading to question whether a revolution had actually taken place. However, Webster's Dictionary defines "revolution" as "a sudden, radical, or complete change," and a political revolution involves fundamental changes in the structure of a society, its basic beliefs, and individual behavior. This, experts argue, is what has and is still taking place in Czechoslovakia, a one-time stable and closely-tied Soviet Union ally.

The purpose of this research will be to discuss the revolution in Czechoslovakia, including the events leading up to it, the "10-days of revolution," and the revolution's consequences for the nation and its Eastern European neighbors."

From the Paper
"The decision on the part of the Soviet Union to invade Czechoslovakia came about because of a combination of forces and crises. The invasion followed what has come to be known as the Prague Spring, a period of liberalization of policies in Poland, which came at a time when the Soviets were faced with problems in Romania. Efforts at liberalization by the Dubcek regime in Czechoslovakia raised fears in the Soviet leaders that this would be only the beginning of widespread demands for changes of the same sort in other East European countries. In addition, there were changes taking place in Czechoslovakia in terms of self defense and foreign policy which threatened the membership of that country in the Warsaw Pact, and the Soviets could not abide any potential defection from the apparent unity of the Eastern bloc."

Abstract
This paper examines how the Soviet intervention of Czechoslovakia was a violation of rules shaping international relations. It looks at how the Russians had to invade, due to their geopolitical position within Europe and on account of a "counterrevolutionary" situation in Czechoslovakia. It argues that socialist countries cannot be indifferent to the erosion of one of the links in the world system of socialism and how alterations in one state immediately influences all. It also discusses how, in order to keep the balance of forces against NATO, the Soviets sustained that three USSR's nuclear weapons sites in Czechoslovakia were crucial. However, Czechoslovakia refused Soviet troops on its soil and the political and social unrest of Prague Spring disorganized the rigorous security system that was required.

From the Paper
"Dubcek's liberalization of Czechoslovakia's socialist system alarmed Brezhnev and other Soviet leaders into reasoning that "revolutionary" elements in other Soviet-bloc nations would ensue the Prague Spring's pattern and shift away from their own form of socialism. The Soviets were also concerned that elements in their own country would emanate and oppose the Communist Party should they let the Czechoslovakian undertaking proceed. The modest liberalization was not limited to Prague. Soviet cinema and literature began to inspire "critical analysis of the system,'' Underground publications cropped up from Moscow to Berlin (Kundera). The KGB perceived the Prague Spring to be a threat to the external and internal security of the Soviet Union. Deliberations in Czechoslovakia about the past violations of the StB intensified apprehension that comparable debates would inevitably take place in Moscow about the Soviet security organs (Skoug 48)."

Tags:communism, dubcek, eastern, europe, invasion, reforms, revolution, socialism

Abstract
This paper discusses forced sterilization as a brutal method of population suppression that is occurring in modern history. It specifically focuses on the forced sterilization of Native-American women by the United States government in the 1970s and of Roma women in the former Czechoslovakia. It describes the background of the issue and the investigations into their occurrence.

Table of Contents:
Sterilization and Native American Women
Targeting the Roma
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Forced sterilization is one of the most brutal abuses of reproductive rights occurring in modern history. The practice, which is often part of racist policies meant to control so-called nuisance populations, has even been widely used by modern, advanced nations such as the United States, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Forced and coerced sterilization was used by doctors employed by the Indian Health Services during the 1970s to deprive thousands of Native Americans the ability to grow their families. Methods ranging from pressure to outright deception were used to control Native American populations and, in some cases, for the doctors to benefit financially. Czechoslovakia used similar methods, and even financial incentives, to force and coerce thousands of Roma women into sterilization procedures as part of a racist government policy that has continued in some form at least until the past few years. Although international pressure and legal challenges have helped stem the practice of forced and coerced sterilization in America, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the racism that allowed for such policies remains a modern challenge in all three nations."

Tags:population, minority, racism, reproduction