The Velvet Revolution

Back in 1968 I had a cat named "Mrs. Alexander Dubcek," referring to the leader of then Czechoslovakia who led the country through the economic and political reforms that ended with the Russian invasion. On the night of August 20, 1968, Soviet, Hungarian, Bulgarian, East German, and Polish troops invaded and occupied Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovak Government immediately declared that the troops had not been invited into the country and that their invasion was a violation of socialist principles, international law, and the UN Charter.

Despite the protests, the Czechoslovak reformers were forcibly and secretly taken to the Soviet Union where they were compelled to sign a treaty that provided for the "temporary stationing" of an unspecified number of Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia. Alexander Dubcek was removed as party First Secretary on April 17, 1969. Later, Dubcek and many of his allies within the party were stripped of their party positions in a purge that lasted until 1971 and reduced party membership by almost one-third.

Perhaps it was this purge of the Communist Party that allowed for the remarkable transformation of the country of Czechoslovakia into the states of Czech and Slovania just twenty years later. The Czech Republic's prosperity is amazing. The Velvet Revolution at the fall of the Soviet Empire began in 1989. How did this country move from Communism to capitalism so quickly, with so few casualties, especially since it split into two upon release from the Soviet hold? Was it because the country was led by the poet and playwright, Vaclav Havel, elected in the first free elections here in June 1990?

Perhaps, like Paris, the city of Prague is just too expensive for poor people, all of whom now live in the suburbs. But when we drove out to Terezin the other day we didn't see any poverty.

Last night we wandered through New Town, filled with spacious apartments, a casino on every corner (yet according to my daughter, they remain empty), shops filled with European and Czech merchandise, restaurants, and bars. The streets are safe; there is virtually no street crime except for pickpocketing, and that is limited to tourist areas. Every restaurant was filled last night; it was Tuesday. Reservations are a must.

No begging, no homelessness, no poverty. We took the Metro at 10:00 at night. It was clean, crowded with passengers, quiet, and cheap. It was $1 a ride to anywhere in the city. No homeless were hovering in corners to keep warm. No trash on the floors.

How does the Czech Republic do it? Manufacturing! Did you hear that W? Did you hear that Paulsen?

The Czech Republic has a well-educated population and a well-developed infrastructure of roads and public transportation.

The principal industries are motor vehicles, machine-building, iron and steel production, metalworking, chemicals, electronics, transportation equipment, textiles, glass, brewing, china, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals. The main agricultural products are sugar beets, fodder roots, potatoes, wheat, and hops.