ABSTRACT
The historical context of contemporary dissent, opposition, and independent social activism in Eastern Europe will be assessed here by surveying the major political developments since the post-World War II Communist Party takeovers. The Communists also exploited patriotic and nationalist sentiments to promote their authority and legitimacy. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia obtained several key ministries in the coalition administration, including those of the Interior, Agriculture, Information, Education, and Social Welfare. The Communist power apparatus embraces all governmental, military, judicial, police, economic, and other pyramidical bureaucracies. Janos Kadar's "normalization" program banned all autonomous organizations and re-established Communist controlled bodies in all areas of public life. Once the resistance had been crushed and order restored, Kadar endeavored to gain the trust if not the loyalty of citizens through an unwritten "social contract" in which society would forsake political involvement in exchange for economic security and rising living standards.
