The Statecraft of Eduard Shevardnadze
Abstract
In the mid-1980s, as the Soviet Union faced the beginnings of what would become a period of almost unprecedented change both domestically and in foreign affairs, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev selected the relatively unknown Eduard Shevardnadze to be his Foreign Minister. Shevardnadze went on to serve in that capacity through the end of the Cold War until his resignation in 1991. This essay describes Shevardnadze's statecraft during his service as Soviet Foreign Minister: the environment in which he operated; his ideals, assumptions, and vision of Soviet national interests; the manner in which he sought to achieve the goals that would fulfill the vision; and an assessment of the successes and failures of Shevardnadze's statecraft during this pivotal period. Eduard Shevardnadze has earned his place among the prominent statesmen of this century. Despite the breakup of the Soviet Union, much of Shevardnadze's strategic vision was realized at least in part: significant reductions in nuclear arms, an end to Soviet isolation and greater acceptance in the world community, and a wave of reforms to support the process of democratization at home. Most importantly, Shevardnadze can claim a large share of the credit for ending a resource-draining Cold War and forging the beginnings of a productive partnership between the United States and the Soviet Union, a chain of events with favorable consequences for the entire world.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA441669
Entities
People
- James L. House
Organizations
- National War College