Cold War and the Economic Crisis of the 1950s (the example of maritime transport development in Czechoslovakia)
Abstract
In the first half of the 1950s the Cold War and tensions between the rival powers escalated. This development affected significantly economies of the Soviet bloc - mainly due to the growing arms race, attempts to gain independence from Western countries and the emphasis on the heavy industry development.
This development had devastating effects on the Czechoslovak economic causing the economic crisis. Yet in this crisis period a strange transport sector - maritime business - was developed.
Despite the fact Czechoslovakia was a landlocked country. Czechoslovak ocean shipping was built in a close cooperation with the People's Republic of China.
The text reveals not only strong influence of political interests on economic goals, but also their priority over the needs of the Czechoslovak economy. There is not overlooked the fact that this cooperation, purposeful at its beginning, was an important impetus for the further development of the maritime business in Czechoslovakia.