A legitimacy belief froze reform and confirmed itself via Prague Spring

Evidence

There was no need for greater pluralism or reform, the leadership reasoned, since the party had been legitimated decisively in 1948. There was no need to test this image by liberalizing the economic or political strictures. Fears of the destabilizing effects of competing policy initiatives and leadership changeover were only confirmed by the nature of the Prague Spring. As the last party secretary, Jakesˇ, explained, “the anti-socialist opposition would rise up whenever the party changed its policies or self-criticized.” — Anna M. Grzymala-Busse, Redeeming The Communist Past, 232

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Czechoslovak party’s past rejection of 1968 reforms nullified its reform rhetoric — Anna M. Grzymala-Busse, Redeeming The Communist Past: The…, 342; Post-1968 Czechoslovakia froze policy rather than courting society — Anna M. Grzymala-Busse, Redeeming The Communist Past: The…, 233; Fear of losing control froze the Czech party against all reform until 1989 — Anna M. Grzymala-Busse, Redeeming The Communist Past: The…, 200 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Post-1968 Czechoslovakia froze policy rather than courting society #corroborates (0.95) — Anna M. Grzymala-Busse, Redeeming The Communist Past, 233
• Czechoslovak party’s past rejection of 1968 reforms nullified its reform rhetoric #corroborates (0.92) — Anna M. Grzymala-Busse, Redeeming The Communist Past, 342