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CZECHOSLOVAK CZECHOSLOVAK COMMUNIST SYSTEMCOMMUNIST SYSTEM

Doc. PhDr. Vlastimil Fiala, CSc.Doc. PhDr. Vlastimil Fiala, CSc.

1. Introduction1. Introduction

history of the Czechoslovak communist shistory of the Czechoslovak communist systemystem and current and current situationsituation

Czechoslovak, Soviet and East European communist system - Czechoslovak, Soviet and East European communist system - differences differences

Differences Differences The party systems The party systems The election systems, The election systems, The role of army in society, The role of army in society, The attitude to the opposition and dissidents politicsThe attitude to the opposition and dissidents politics SimilaritiesSimilarities Marx-Leninist/Communist partyMarx-Leninist/Communist party Marxist-Leninist IdeologyMarxist-Leninist Ideology Leading role in society of the communist partyLeading role in society of the communist party

2. Main Features of the 2. Main Features of the Communist SystemCommunist System

2.1. The existence of the dominant 2.1. The existence of the dominant position of the Communist party position of the Communist party

2.2. The role of the Marxist-Leninism 2.2. The role of the Marxist-Leninism as a leading scientific ideologyas a leading scientific ideology, ,

dominating public lifedominating public life dominating/non-dominating private life dominating/non-dominating private life

(Arkadij Gajdar: Čuk a Gek)(Arkadij Gajdar: Čuk a Gek)


2.3. The principle of the leading role of the 2.3. The principle of the leading role of the Communist partyCommunist party

dominated and corrupted all politicaldominated and corrupted all political, , economic, cultural and socialeconomic, cultural and social structures structures

creation of the quasi democratic facade of the creation of the quasi democratic facade of the communist regime communist regime

control of all repressive and powerful state control of all repressive and powerful state institutions - policy/secret policy, armyinstitutions - policy/secret policy, army

control of judicial systemcontrol of judicial system


2.4. An existence of strict censorship2.4. An existence of strict censorship (newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, books(newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, books, , monopoly for information)monopoly for information)

2.5 The restriction of the individual 2.5 The restriction of the individual freedoms and creating of the closed societyfreedoms and creating of the closed society

limited possibility to travel abroadlimited possibility to travel abroad restriction of the opposition and dissident restriction of the opposition and dissident

groupsgroups 2.5. Communist party directed all economy 2.5. Communist party directed all economy

and professional activitiesand professional activities

2.1. Dominant role of the 2.1. Dominant role of the Communist PartyCommunist Party

2.1.1. Structure of the communist party2.1.1. Structure of the communist party 2.1.2. Personal policy (nomenklatura)2.1.2. Personal policy (nomenklatura) 2.1.3. Main organisational communist 2.1.3. Main organisational communist

principle called Democratic centralismprinciple called Democratic centralism

2.1.1 Structure of the 2.1.1 Structure of the Communist partyCommunist party

see scheme of the structure of the communist see scheme of the structure of the communist partyparty

Scheme illustrates the full extent of the Scheme illustrates the full extent of the massive party bureaucracies to dominate all massive party bureaucracies to dominate all society activities. society activities.

Territorial basis of communist party - territorial Territorial basis of communist party - territorial divisions (district, city, county, province and divisions (district, city, county, province and nation) corresponding to electoral nation) corresponding to electoral constituencies. constituencies.


Extra-territorial basis – Primary party Extra-territorial basis – Primary party organisations based at the workplace (schools, organisations based at the workplace (schools, factories, shops, farms, theatres, universities factories, shops, farms, theatres, universities and military barracks, etc.)and military barracks, etc.)

PPO controlled all state institutions from below PPO controlled all state institutions from below to aboveto above

PPO and their committees managed all PPO and their committees managed all political, economic, and social activities. political, economic, and social activities.

PPO (chairman or general secretaries) PPO (chairman or general secretaries) influenced also personal policy.influenced also personal policy.


Structure of the Communist party at Palacký Structure of the Communist party at Palacký University before 1989University before 1989

personal policy (rector, vice-rectors, deans, personal policy (rector, vice-rectors, deans, vice-deans, heads of the departments, vice-vice-deans, heads of the departments, vice-head of the departments, academic staff)head of the departments, academic staff)

learning programmeslearning programmes no academic senate or scientific councilno academic senate or scientific council selection of the studentsselection of the students preference to worker’s and communist cadrespreference to worker’s and communist cadres


Communist structure on territorial basis (each Communist structure on territorial basis (each communist was a member of two PPO)communist was a member of two PPO)

Organisation of party electionsOrganisation of party elections Role of the party conferences and congressesRole of the party conferences and congresses Role of the Central Committee of communist Role of the Central Committee of communist

partyparty Role of the Political bureau and General Role of the Political bureau and General

SecretarySecretary

2.2. Personal policy 2.2. Personal policy (nomenklatura)(nomenklatura)

Party control of the society was assured by its personal Party control of the society was assured by its personal policypolicy

Party organisations controlled all major appointments in Party organisations controlled all major appointments in their area. their area.

State levels (CC Secretariat = ministerial posts, key State levels (CC Secretariat = ministerial posts, key jobs in the military, security and foreign services, the jobs in the military, security and foreign services, the appointments of directors of major economic concerns appointments of directors of major economic concerns and regional party and governments leaders)and regional party and governments leaders)

Local levels (town or cities) the party committee and Local levels (town or cities) the party committee and First secretary would control the appointment of school First secretary would control the appointment of school headteachers, PPO chairs, local council chairs, shop headteachers, PPO chairs, local council chairs, shop aannd small factory managers, etc. d small factory managers, etc.

2.2.1.1.2. Personal policy 2. Personal policy (nomenklatura)(nomenklatura)

The nomenklatura was literally the list of jobs controlled by the The nomenklatura was literally the list of jobs controlled by the partyparty

At the lowest level the membership in communist party was not At the lowest level the membership in communist party was not important for some leading jobs, but this post-holder and their important for some leading jobs, but this post-holder and their secret personal file were vetted by the Communist party before secret personal file were vetted by the Communist party before the appointment was made. the appointment was made.

Nomenklatura was came to stand for the ruling elite of Nomenklatura was came to stand for the ruling elite of communismcommunism

Certain jobs were reserved only for party members;Certain jobs were reserved only for party members; Preconditions – the passing so-called one year evening university Preconditions – the passing so-called one year evening university

of Marxism - Leninism which was obligatory also for the people of Marxism - Leninism which was obligatory also for the people with university educationwith university education

Czechoslovak CP membership vs. family needsCzechoslovak CP membership vs. family needs

2.2.1.1.3. Organisational principle 3. Organisational principle

Democratic centralismDemocratic centralism Uniformity within the party was enforced by the principle of Uniformity within the party was enforced by the principle of

democratic centralism, specific to CP. democratic centralism, specific to CP. Democratic centralism was variously defined in the rules of CPDemocratic centralism was variously defined in the rules of CP - All leading party bodies are elected- All leading party bodies are elected - Party bodies report periodically to their organisations - Party bodies report periodically to their organisations

and to higher bodiesand to higher bodies - Strict party discipline and subordination of the minority to - Strict party discipline and subordination of the minority to

the majoritythe majority - Decisions of higher bodies are obligatory for lower - Decisions of higher bodies are obligatory for lower

bodies.bodies. * Characteristic of the Democratic centralism* Characteristic of the Democratic centralism * Noun is centralism, the adjective democratic, so the basic tenet * Noun is centralism, the adjective democratic, so the basic tenet

is centralism, not democracyis centralism, not democracy

2.2.1. 1. 3. Organisational principle 3. Organisational principle Democratic centralismDemocratic centralism

Party secretaries approved who was elected to attend Party secretaries approved who was elected to attend and serve on committeesand serve on committees

LLimited electoral choice, democratic element did not imited electoral choice, democratic element did not work work

Factional activity inside party was banned Factional activity inside party was banned DDiscussion of policy was non-existent because iscussion of policy was non-existent because

decisions from the centre could not be questioned. decisions from the centre could not be questioned. Lower bodies and individual members had to accept Lower bodies and individual members had to accept

decisions from above.decisions from above. Example – election of the members of the University Example – election of the members of the University

Socialist Union of YouthSocialist Union of Youth

2.2. Marxist-Leninism as 2.2. Marxist-Leninism as a leading scientific a leading scientific ideologyideology

The main ideology and ideological motor of communist The main ideology and ideological motor of communist party was Marxism-Leninism, party was Marxism-Leninism,

The body of ideas culled from the writings of Karl Marx The body of ideas culled from the writings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin and Vladimir Lenin

According CP the M-L was scientific and provided the According CP the M-L was scientific and provided the means to understand all human development, means to understand all human development,

Only CP leaderships could interpret and apply M-L. Only CP leaderships could interpret and apply M-L. Only CP members knew the true interests of the Only CP members knew the true interests of the

people, and could represent them and guide them to people, and could represent them and guide them to communism, the highest stage of human development. communism, the highest stage of human development.

Who disagreed with it had to be wrong and was enemy Who disagreed with it had to be wrong and was enemy of communist system. of communist system.

2.2. Marxist-Leninism as 2.2. Marxist-Leninism as a leading scientific a leading scientific ideologyideology

The communist system was very inefficient. The communist system was very inefficient. The party stood above the law and exhibited The party stood above the law and exhibited

little sympathy for society's concerns. little sympathy for society's concerns. The criticism of some decision at workplace The criticism of some decision at workplace

was understood as direct attack of party was understood as direct attack of party politics. politics.

The party's enormous power encouraged The party's enormous power encouraged arrogance and corruption, arrogance and corruption,

There were no checks on bad policy. There were no checks on bad policy.

2.3. The principle of the 2.3. The principle of the leading role of the leading role of the CPCP party party

Communist Constitutions and leading role, Communist Constitutions and leading role, LLegal basis for Communist poweregal basis for Communist power, , dominated and corrupted all political dominated and corrupted all political

structures – Czechoslovak National frontstructures – Czechoslovak National front election procedure – polling booth was not used, system of minor election procedure – polling booth was not used, system of minor

sanctions (travel abroad, education, professional career etc.), Charta 77 sanctions (travel abroad, education, professional career etc.), Charta 77 dominated and corrupted all economic structures – PPO, no private dominated and corrupted all economic structures – PPO, no private

sector, Five years economic plans, planned economy, Congress of the sector, Five years economic plans, planned economy, Congress of the CPCP

Dominated and corrupted all cultural, social and professional structures – Dominated and corrupted all cultural, social and professional structures – all organisations controlled by communist, concerts, trade union etc.all organisations controlled by communist, concerts, trade union etc.

creation of the quasi democratic facade of the communist regime creation of the quasi democratic facade of the communist regime control of all repressive and powerful state institutions - policy/secret control of all repressive and powerful state institutions - policy/secret

policy, armypolicy, army control of judicial systemcontrol of judicial system

2.4. An existence of strict 2.4. An existence of strict censorship censorship

newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, booksbooks, ,

Communist monopoly for information (no Communist monopoly for information (no information from foreign mass medias)information from foreign mass medias)

Role of the Radio Free Europe, BBC Role of the Radio Free Europe, BBC Czech broadcasting, USA broadcastingCzech broadcasting, USA broadcasting

Underground pamphlets, books, Underground pamphlets, books, newspapersnewspapers

2.5 The restriction of the individual 2.5 The restriction of the individual freedoms and creating of the closed freedoms and creating of the closed societysociety

limited possibility to travel abroadlimited possibility to travel abroad no possibility to compare level of the living no possibility to compare level of the living

standardstandard no civic society (no civic society (civil society is the sum of non-civil society is the sum of non-

state and extra-familial activities in a nation)state and extra-familial activities in a nation) mass organisation (Pionyr, Socialist Union of mass organisation (Pionyr, Socialist Union of

Youth, Revolutionary Trade Union, Union of Youth, Revolutionary Trade Union, Union of Women, Svazarm, etc.)Women, Svazarm, etc.)

restriction of the opposition and dissident restriction of the opposition and dissident groupsgroups

3. Totalitarian and 3. Totalitarian and Authoritarian RuleAuthoritarian Rule

discussion about character of the discussion about character of the communist systemscommunist systems

H. Arendt, Aaron, C. Fridrich – J. H. Arendt, Aaron, C. Fridrich – J. Brzezinski, G. Sartori, J. Linz, A. Brzezinski, G. Sartori, J. Linz, A. PerlmutterPerlmutter

Differences among communist states, Differences among communist states, during their developmentduring their development

4. Conclusion4. Conclusion

Communism in eastern Europe and the USSR was not Communism in eastern Europe and the USSR was not uniform. uniform.

Huge political differences between Stalinist Albania, the Huge political differences between Stalinist Albania, the political turmoil in Poland caused by Solidarity, the fetid political turmoil in Poland caused by Solidarity, the fetid orthodoxy of Czechoslovakia and the GDR, and the orthodoxy of Czechoslovakia and the GDR, and the struggling superpower politics of the USSR.struggling superpower politics of the USSR.

The crises of the communist regimes were broadly The crises of the communist regimes were broadly similar at all Central European countries (politically similar at all Central European countries (politically illegitimate, the economic systems were inefficient and illegitimate, the economic systems were inefficient and decaying, the political systems they headed were corrupt decaying, the political systems they headed were corrupt and unresponsive to pressures for change)and unresponsive to pressures for change)

Very fast re-established the individual freedom of Very fast re-established the individual freedom of citizens, new political institutions, political parties, free citizens, new political institutions, political parties, free and fair electionsand fair elections