Beyond the Warsaw Pact : Russian foreign policy in East Central Europe in the 1990s

Abstract

The breakup uf 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 period 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 inmediate 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. This thesis examines the Russian national interest In the region, as well as the evolving security and economic relationship between Russia and East Central Europe. The thesis concludes that the task of Russian forelgn policy In the immediate post-Cold War era is to develop bettler economic relations wIth Czech!oslovakia, Hungary. and Polalnd.