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Prague (1968): Causes and Consequences, This ensured the stability of…
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This ensured the stability of Eastern Europe, which the Kremlin believed was worth the cost to its popularity at home. [Judt 446]
It was so important for them because of the “reverse Imperial” structure of the USSR; they depended heavily on the industry and manufactured of its subjects. If Eastern Europe fell, their economic collapse would worsen.
Security interests are also at play, as Eastern Europe was still conceived by Brezhnev as a “buffer” against aggression.
This doctrine led to a worsening of relations with China, because it was seen as a threat to its sovereignty --> a cause in the Sino-American rapprochement of the 1970s.
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The crucial importance of this objective is shown by a Red Army Marshall's claim that: “The invasion will take place even if it leads to a third world war” (Judt 444).