Russia and Its Neighbors - Comparing Environmental Policies in 16 Countries - page 233

People formed tramping clubs to wander in the mountains similar to the
wandervogels in Germany or the ramblers in Britain. Czechoslovakia at
the time was not an independent nation, but part of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire, ruled from Vienna. Moreover, historically it was not one but two
countries joined by the person of the Emperor. They were similar in lan-
guage, religion, and traditions but not identical. In 1918 following the
defeat of the Austrians in World War I, it became independent in a form
combining the Czechs in the west with the Slovaks in the east. Democracy
took hold, and for 20 years the new nation enjoyed freedom and relative
prosperity due to a modern, industrial economy and a high level of educa-
tion. It seemed to be a beacon of hope. Unfortunately, in 1938 Adolf Hitler
took over the country and mobilized it for the Nazi war machine.
With Hitler's defeat in 1945, the way seemed clear for a return to democ-
racy, but the Red Army that had liberated it stayed in place as an occupying
force. Homegrown Communist Party members were placed in influential
posts in the reconstituted government, and in 1948 a Communist coup
took it over completely. The government appropriated industry. As in the
Soviet Union, the party believed in materialism, so raw production was
valued more than the environment, or even efficiency. Many factories made
weapons and armaments. Clean air and water meant nothing. Politics was
completely under the sway of the party. Within a few years, old civic orga-
nizations were abolished or reorganized under party dominations. Oppo-
nents of the regime were arrested, subjected to show trials, and sent to prison
for long sentences. The few nature clubs that still existed disappeared.
In early 1968 Czechoslovakia abruptly tried to break away from the Soviet
domination. People were dissatisfied with the sluggish economy and lack
of consumer goods. The Party Writers Union called for an end to censor-
ship. A reformer, Alexander Dubcek, was elected to head the Communist
Party. He announced an Action Program of freedom of the press, freedom
of speech, more consumer goods, limits on the secret police, and better
relations with Western countries. It foresaw multiparty government
within 10 years. The reforms soon gained the name of the Prague Spring.
However, the movement threatened the Soviets. On the night of August
20-21 Soviet troops, joined by allies from Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria,
invaded Czechoslovakia. Dubcek was arrested, and a pro-Soviet govern-
ment was installed. It was as if the Prague Spring had never happened.
Although political freedom had proved unattainable, in the following
years environmentalism provided an alternative. In response to the 1972
Stockholm Conference, people organized a group called Brontosaurus