Soviet satellite states from "summary" of Iron Curtain by Anne Applebaum
The Soviet satellite states were not just countries that happened to be friendly with the Soviet Union. They were countries that had been forced into submission, whose governments had been selected by Moscow, whose economies had been reorganized according to Soviet principles, and whose societies had been restructured to conform to Soviet norms. The Soviet satellite states were not independent or sovereign; they were dependent on the Soviet Union for their security, their economic survival, and their very existence. The Soviet satellite states were not passive recipients of Soviet aid and guidance; they actively participated in the construction of the Iron Curtain, erecting barriers to prevent their citizens from leaving and collaborating with the Soviet secret police to suppress dissent. The Soviet satellite states were not just victims of Soviet imperialism; they were also willing partners in the project of building socialism, eager to modernize their economies, transform their societies, and eliminate their enemies. The Soviet satellite states were not monolithic entities; they were diverse in their histories, cultures, and political ...
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