What does solidarity really mean when words and actions do not line up? And how far does solidarity go once political interests and international relations enter the picture?
In this article, Claudia Pelgrims takes us back to Czechoslovakia 1968, a moment when a communist country tried to bring democratic reform to society, only to be crushed by Soviet military force. Drawing on extensive archival research, the article examines how the Belgian socialist movement responded to the crackdown on the Prague Spring, raising questions about what solidarity looks like in theory and practice, and where ideals give way to political reality. A fascinating and often overlooked piece of history that still resonates today.
A must-read for anyone interested in solidarity, political history and the hard choices that emerge when principles collide with reality.
This article was published in the magazine Brood en Rozen a publication produced by Amsab-ISG