The Czechoslovak Communist Party's revolution, 1986-1990
This thesis argues that the Czechoslovak Communist Party (KSÄ) and its policies precipitated the course of Czechoslovakiaâs 1989 revolution. It draws upon both opposition and Communist Party documents across twenty-five state, regional and local archives in the Czech and Slovak republics, as well as secret police reports, interview testimony, audiovisual materials and newspaper reports to offer a comprehensive reappraisal of both Czechoslovakiaâs 1989 revolution, and the last few years of Communist rule which preceded it. This thesis analyses the responses of grassroots, district and regional Communist Party committees to the KSÄ leadershipâs own version of perestroika, known asâpĆestavbaâ (restructuring), between 1986 and 1989. In contrast to Michal Pullmannâs (2011) work, which focussed only on the Party âeliteâ, the contention presented here is that the KSÄ leadership used pĆestavba to put more responsibility onto local officials,whilst simultaneously preventing reform of the top Party structures. Local Party minutes show how this led to increased resentment and distrust among the Party membership,which affected the extent to which pĆestavbaâs policies were implemented. The instability
Green, David Alexander
The Czechoslovak Communist Party's revolution, 1986-1990. This thesis argues that the Czechoslovak Communist Party (KSÄ) and its policies precipitated the course of Czechoslovakiaâs 1989 revolution. It draws upon both opposition and Communist Party documents across twenty-five state, regional and local archives in the Czech and Slovak republics, as well as secret police reports, interview testimony, audiovisual materials and newspaper reports to offer a comprehensive reappraisal of both Czechoslovakiaâs 1989 revolution, and the last few years of Communist rule which preceded it. This thesis analyses the responses of grassroots, district and regional Communist Party committees to the KSÄ leadershipâs own version of perestroika, known asâpĆestavbaâ (restructuring), between 1986 and 1989. In contrast to Michal Pullmannâs (2011) work, which focussed only on the Party âeliteâ, the contention presented here is that the KSÄ leadership used pĆestavba to put more responsibility onto local officials,whilst simultaneously preventing reform of the top Party structures. Local Party minutes show how this led to increased resentment and distrust among the Party membership,which affected the extent to which pĆestavbaâs policies were implemented. The instability
communist_party revolution argues communist_party policy precipitate course czechoslovakia revolution draw_upon opposition communist_party document across twenty state regional_local archive czech slovak republic well secret police report interview testimony audiovisual material newspaper_report offer_comprehensive reappraisal czechoslovakia revolution communist rule precede analysis response grassroots district regional communist_party committee leadership version know restructure contrast work focus party elite contention present leadership use put responsibility onto local_official whilst simultaneously prevent reform top party structure local party minute show lead increased among party membership affect extent policy_implement instability