Word: sovietism
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...feared that China might take direct action in defense of Pol Pot, and even perhaps launch another "punitive" attack like its massive invasion of Viet Nam last February. A Chinese military operation on that scale would again raise the risk of direct Soviet intervention...
...sooner had Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet hobbled home, aching from the loss of three dancers who had defected on the troupe's U.S. tour last month, than Soviet prestige was hit by an even more bruising blow: the defection in Switzerland last week of Figure Skating Champions Oleg Protopopov, 47, and Ludmila Belousova, 43. So alarmed were Soviet officials over the rash of recent defections that they canceled a scheduled 28-concert U.S. tour by the Moscow State Symphony. Before the drastic decision was made, the orchestra's U.S. booking agent, Samuel Niefeld, was suddenly summoned...
...Protopopov and Belousova defection had been the cause of particular consternation in the Soviet Union, where the husband-and-wife couple were among the country's most honored athletes. They had vanished at the end of a four-week exhibition tour of West Germany and Switzerland. When it was reported that they had requested political asylum in Switzerland, shock waves struck Moscow. Said a stunned and baffled Soviet sports official: "For sports personalities of their caliber, there are no problems. They had everything they wanted here...
...titles and two Olympic medals in the 1960s, the Protopopovs were hailed for pioneering the ballet style in pair skating. They also appeared to exemplify political orthodoxy. Unlike Bolshoi Ballet Defectors Alexander Godunov and Leonid and Valentina Kozlov, the Protopopovs were Communist Party members. They were showered with official Soviet honors, including the Lenin Prize and the prestigious title Honored Master of Sport of the Soviet Union. Though touring Soviet athletes and performing artists are always scrutinized for any sign of a desire to defect, the widely traveled Protopopovs aroused no suspicions when they left the Soviet Union...
...Soviet officials are now fearful that the rash of defections that began with the Bolshoi could become an epidemic among the hundreds of athletes who will soon go abroad for international pre-Olympic competitions. Last week party officials were preparing to give prospective travelers special indoctrination lectures. A more forceful method of ensuring loyalty is in store for eleven Soviet boxers who are scheduled to compete in the World Cup Championship matches at New York City's Madison Square Garden this month. Instead of two trainers, as is customary, 18 security men in the guise of coaches will literally...