Implications of the transformations in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union for economic relations among East, West and South

Author(s):  
1976 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 568-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Korbonski

The paper attempts to examine the impact of East-West trade on the process of economic integration in Eastern Europe, carried out under the aegis of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA). The discussion is focused on the proposition that, other things being equal, the continued growth of East-West trade is at the present time incompatible with the increase in the level of economic integration in that part of Europe.The problem is analyzed in the context of several factors: the process of regional economic integration; the attitude of the Soviet Union and of the East European political and economic elites toward both integration and East-West trade before and after détente; the influence of economic reforms in Eastern Europe; and the impact of the energy crisis and of the developing global shortage of raw materials.The conclusion emerges that, on balance, the chances of economic cooperation if not integration in the region are today better than in the past, albeit at the expense of closer economic relations between Eastern Europe and the West.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 14-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gottfried Niedhart

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.


Author(s):  
Wendy Coleman ◽  
Witold K

The following paper was completed in June 1990 and was written primarily as a policy paper for the Polish Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations. While revising this paper for publication, we faced a dilemma of how to update our earlier analysis, which rapidly became outdated due to the speed of changes taking place in Poland, the Soviet Union and the rest of Eastern Europe. After much thought, we decided against simply updating data in the paper, as we realized that it could destroy the logical cohesiveness of our original analyses and recommendations. Therefore we decided to leave the earlier work unaltered, to stand as a document of thought about the change process then underway. We thought it more appropriate to provide readers with an epilogue, elaborating on major developments within the last six months and evaluating changing prospects for Polish trade.


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