My relatives in Slovakia told me what it was like to live under this rule.

Contrary to western propaganda, citizens in Czechoslovakia had quite a bit of freedom in their lives: Travel within the country, choice of jobs, lovers, etc.

As long as citizens did not criticize government, all these freedoms were available. But when that line was crossed, life became more difficult. So it was just good practice not to say anything bad of government because one never really knew who the spies for the government were.

These thing do effect the psyche of the nations.