Beyond the Warsaw Pact: Russian Foreign Policy in East Central Europe
Abstract
The breakup of the Soviet Union and the head long rush of its former East European satellites to rejoin the West have placed Russia in a difficult position. Faced with seemingly insurmountable political and economic difficulties as it makes its transition from communism and a centrally planned economy to its own form of democracy and a market economy, Russia realizes that it needs Western aid and technology. On the other hand, similar attempts by its former East European satellites threaten to isolate Russia from the rest of Europe. In the immediate post-Cold War era, it is the task of Russian foreign policy to prevent Russia's isolation from Europe. A Russia denied the benefits of European trade and political and economic assistance can only sink into domestic chaos. This thesis examines Russian foreign policy in the immediate post-Cold War era in relation to Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland, the three East European nations which promise to hold the keys to Russian participation in or isolation from the European system. The thesis examines the Russian national interest in the region, as well as tile evolving security and economic relationship between Russia and East Central Europe. The thesis concludes that the task of Russian foreign policy in the immediate post-Cold War era is to develop better economic relations with Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland. Russia, Foreign Policy, Security Policy, Foreign Economic Policy, Eastern Europe, U.S. Post-Cold War Foreign Policy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA257313
Entities
People
- Robert E. Melton Jr.
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School