ABSTRACT
In "normalized" Czechoslovakia, the Gorbachevian philosophy of "acceleration" and "restructuring" presented the sharpest contrast to the prevailing immobilism. Under these circumstances, the central issue for the Czechoslovak regime was adaptation to the new dynamism of the Kremlin. The Czechoslovak media found the presentation of Soviet developments a relatively easy, though delicate, task. The regime opted for the tactics of de-emphasizing the calls for restructuring and letting the Soviets themselves explain the rationale behind the new policies. The key articles in the Czechoslovak press on the subject of change in the Soviet Union were translations from Soviet authors. Gustav Husak's speech confirmed that Czechoslovakia was under continued pressure to bring its policy into line with that of the Kremlin. At variance with the Hungarian and Chinese type, the Czechoslovak regime opted for a minimalist approach. The Hungarian and Chinese leaderships were more open to genuine change; willing to sacrifice ideological orthodoxy in return for economic gains.
