• What Worked
  • Hungary and Suez: These events solidified Khrushchev's position and reduced American influence in Eastern Europe.
  • Soviet Confidence: Soviets felt secure in their regional control.
• What Didn’t
  • Warsaw Pact: Not a fan-club! Showed that satellite states weren't necessarily loyal to the USSR.

Real-World Example: Think of Khrushchev as the popular high school kid who thinks everyone is his friend, but not everyone in his "squad" actually likes him.

• Alexander Dubcek: The cool new leader who wanted “socialism with a human face.”
  • Changes Introduced: Modernized economy, empowered trade unions, and even removed censorship.
• USSR's Response: A big NOPE!
  • Soviet Invasion (1968): USSR, along with other Warsaw Pact members, forcibly ended the Prague Spring.

Real-World Example: Imagine you start changing the rules at home for the better, and your older, control-freak sibling just shuts you down because they don't like change.

• What is it?: A policy saying that what happens in one socialist country affects all, and therefore, the USSR can intervene.
• Impact
  • Killed Reforms: Any attempt at 'liberalism' by a state in the Eastern bloc = not tolerated.
  • Bad PR: Made USSR look like the bad guy internationally, especially among socialist countries.

Real-World Example: It's like your neighborhood's watch group saying they can enter your house anytime if they think you're not following the "community guidelines."

• Lech Walesa: Unemployed shipyard worker who became a hero.
• Solidarity: A massive trade union that became a headache for the USSR.
• Soviet Response: Sent troops to the Polish border but pulled back, possibly due to American warnings.

Real-World Example: Imagine a small-town movement against a big corporation turning into a national sensation, gaining so much support that the corporation has to rethink its actions.