Ostpolitik: Transformation through Communication and the Quest for Peaceful Change

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 14-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gottfried Niedhart
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Conflict Behavior ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Main Partner ◽  
International Context ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Willy Brandt ◽  
Communicative Actions ◽  
East West

Ostpolitik during the era of Willy Brandt signaled a new departure in West German foreign policy. At first a latecomer in European détente, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) became its pacemaker. With respect to both security matters and economic relations, the FRG emerged as the main partner of the Soviet Union in Europe. Starting from the international context, the article analyzes the dynamic that emanated from the formula Wandel durch Annäherung (change through rapprochement). The focus is on (1) perceptions and short-term objectives, (2) underlying assumptions and expectations, and (3) the achievements of Ostpolitik. East-West relations were shaped by newly introduced methods of communication that opened avenues for détente and peaceful change. The experience of communicative actions led to a constellation of antagonistic cooperation in Europe. The East-West conflict continued, but conflict behavior had changed for good.

The Economic Dimension of the East–West Conflict and the Role of Germany

1994 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-215
Author(s):  
Dietmar Petzina
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Industrial Country ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Economic Dimension ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
East European ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Willy Brandt ◽  
East West

A survey of the economic problems in East–West relations during the era of the Cold War is of particular interest from the German perspective. First, no other Western industrial country played a comparable role in the economic relations with East European countries; and secondly, East–West trade, especially the economic contacts with the German Democratic Republic (GDR), became an outstanding feature of German Ostpolitik under the conditions of the divided country. It appears to be an acceptable proposition to say that this form of West Germany economic and trade policy was the equivalent of the militarily defined US policy towards the Soviet Union, in so far as the famous dictum of the former Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt, that the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was ‘an economic giant and a political dwarf only partly corresponded to reality. It therefore seems appropriate to discuss the economic dimension of the East–West conflict in the context of German interests and policies – not to the exclusion of all else, but with a certain priority.

"Nicht mehr die herrlichste Nebensache der Welt": Sport, West Berlin and the Four Powers Agreement 1971

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Young
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Soviet Union ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Recent Scholarship ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
West Berlin ◽  
Run Up ◽  
Eastern And Western Europe ◽  
East West

1972 saw the coming to fruition of two events of major importance to the Federal Republic of Germany under Willy Brandt's leadership: the normalization of relations with the Soviet Union and its satellites through the process of Ostpolitik, and the Munich Olympic Games, which were designed to present a new Germany on the world stage. Although recent scholarship has highlighted the intricacies of East-West diplomacy and the political machinations of Cold-War sports relations, there have been few attempts to investigate the latter's role in the former. This essay seeks to investigate sport in the context of politics, and more vitally vice versa. Focusing on events in the immediate run-up to the Four Powers Treaty on West Berlin in 1971, it shows how sport's appeal to broad sectors of public opinion in Eastern and Western Europe made it a prime candidate for the cultural warfare that accompanied political negotiations.

Trust, but Verify

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cold War ◽  
Soviet Union ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Arms Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
East West

This book uses trust—with its emotional and predictive aspects—to explore international relations in the second half of the Cold War, beginning with the late 1960s. The détente of the 1970s led to the development of some limited trust between the United States and the Soviet Union, which lessened international tensions and enabled advances in areas such as arms control. However, it also created uncertainty in other areas, especially on the part of smaller states that depended on their alliance leaders for protection. The chapters in this volume look at how the “emotional” side of the conflict affected the dynamics of various Cold War relations: between the superpowers, within the two ideological blocs, and inside individual countries on the margins of the East–West confrontation.

scholarly journals Good Material: Canada and the Prague Spring Refugees

Refuge ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Madokoro
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Refugee Crisis ◽  
Charismatic Leader ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Good Material ◽  
Prague Spring ◽  
Soviet Invasion ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
East West

In August 1968, the Soviet Union sent troops into Czechoslovakia to crush the burgeoning spirit of reform known as the “Prague Spring”. The Soviet invasion and the return of oppressive government measures triggered the flight of twenty-seven thousand people, eleven thousand of whom came to Canada.Using newly released archival records, this paper explores how the Canadian government approached the refugee crisis and argues that confident officials, buoyed by a charismatic leader and operating in an era of improved East-West relations, manipulated the conventional definition of a refugee and consciously adopted policies that enabled large numbers of Czechoslovakian refugees to resettle in Canada.

scholarly journals INDIA-RUSSIA ENERGY COOPERATION BLOOMING TIES BEYOND THE HORIZON

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 705-709
Author(s):  
Bhagyadhar Sethy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
History Of ◽  
Economic Ties ◽  
Rates Of Growth

Russia and India have a long history of cooperation in the energy sector. The prospects for the development of the energy dialogue are as promising now as they were during the period of friendship between the Soviet Union and India. Since the late 2000s, the Russia–India energy partnership has been enjoying a renaissance. So why is now the time for Russia to think seriously about giving a new impetus to the energy dialogue with India? India is the worlds third largest energy consumer and a major energy importer with steadily growing demand. Russia is a key global producer and exporter of petroleum and natural gas. The two countries needs naturally complement each other. The current energy bilateral cooperation, already strong, can significantly extend to new sources such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Building on these can be an industry in natural gas vehicles and renewable energy, enabling economic instruments, such as energy benchmarks, and a policy framework, including labour mobility, to develop a skills corridor in energy. This paper examines the current state of Energy and economic relations between India and Russia. It flags the major issues that hinder development of economic ties between the two countries and discusses future prospects for growth. India and Russia have a long-standing relationship and securing an economic and energy partnership is important from both the diplomatic and geopolitical perspectives. Russia has a vital role in ensuring Indias energy security in the coming decade. India imports oil, mostly from the volatile region of the Middle East. However, to sustain current high rates of growth, India needs to secure and diversify its energy sources. How Russia is an obvious choice in this respect?

The East-West Politics of Global Modeling

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eglė Rindzevičiūtė
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Scientific Cooperation ◽  
Global Modeling ◽  
Interconnected System ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
History Of ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
National Boundaries ◽  
East West

This chapter focuses on computer-based global modeling, a new technology of knowledge production that emerged in the early 1970s and played an important, transformative role in Soviet governance by opening it up to East-West cooperation. Global modelers conceptualized the planet as a complex, interconnected system, the understanding of which required transnational scientific cooperation, enabling both scientists and data to cross national boundaries and Cold War divides. Moreover, Soviet scientists forged and used models of possible long-term futures of the world to reveal and criticize problems being experienced, but not always acknowledged, in the Soviet Union. Therefore, a history of computer-based global modeling is a history of East-West transfer, the transformation of the late state socialism and globalization.

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