Gorbachev's Policies Toward Western Europe: A Balance Sheet. Executive Summary
Abstract
Since Mikhail Gorbachev became General Secretary in March 1985, his strategy toward the West Europeans has exhibited three broad characteristics. First, despite all the changes he has made, much of Gorbachev's conduct toward the Western Alliance has shown strong continuity with long-established and central aspects of Soviet strategy. Most fundamental has been his broad diplomatic and propaganda offensive against the political foundations of Western Europe's nuclear deterrent and the European connection with the United States signified by that deterrent. Both Gorbachev's efforts to build domestic pressures against European governments and his conciliatory gestures toward those governments have been shaped to serve the purposes of this offensive. Gorbachev has thus used a multitude of expedients to continue, update, and improve pursuit of an aim that dates back to Stalin's day. Keywords: USSR; Western Europe; International relations; East West relations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA212917
Entities
People
- Harry Gelman
Organizations
- RAND Corporation