An assessment of the effectiveness of Soviet policy in controlling Eastern Europe, up to 1961

Control of Eastern Europe

The Soviet Union applied the Brezhnev Doctrine which gave them the power to intervene in any socialist country that was perceived to be under threat from capitalist ideologies.
Countries under Soviet control, like Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, faced military interventions when they showed signs of deviating from Soviet policies, showing an effective control method.
Establishment of puppet governments in Eastern Europe acted as means of controlling these countries.
Eastern European countries were forced into the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance under Soviet control, mirroring NATO in the West.

Economical Aspect

COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance) was established in 1949 to create an economic alliance between socialist countries and provide a counterweight to the Marshall Plan in Western Europe.
Despite its intent, COMECON largely benefited the Soviet Union, who took resources from other member states, showing an exploitation of its control.

Political Impact

Stalinisation saw policies and ideologies of Joseph Stalin imposed upon the satellite states. These policies included censorship, strong state control and the promotion of heavy industry.
Rigged elections to ensure installation and maintenance of pro-Soviet governments in the Eastern Bloc also contributed to the Soviet Union’s control.

Effect on the Populous

Policies and control methods led to significant unrest and rebellion in Eastern Europe. Key examples include the Uprising in East Germany (1953), the Hungarian Revolution (1956), and the Prague Spring (1968).

Key Limitations

Long-term dominance of Eastern Europe was undermined by economic stagnation, and unable to keep up with Western Europe’s prosperity, Soviet control was destabilised.
Despite maintaining control until the late 1980s, Soviet policy in Eastern Europe is often seen as flawed due to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union and end of its control over Eastern Europe.

Studying these points, take note of how Soviet policy initially managed to exert a fair degree of control over Eastern Europe but it eventually led to economic stagnation and significant resentment amongst satellite states towards the USSR. This ultimately resulted in instability and the fall of the Soviet Union itself, calling into question the long-term effectiveness of Soviet policies in Eastern Europe up to 1961.