Cold war perceptions : Romania's policy change towards the Soviet Union, 1960-1964 / by Elena Dragomir.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dragomir, Elena.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cold War.

Romania--Foreign relations--Soviet Union.

Romania.

International relations.

Soviet Union.

Soviet Union--Foreign relations--Romania.

Physical Description:

xiii, 281 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Newcastle upon Tyne : Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015.

Summary:

This book investigates Romania's early 1960s change in policy towards the Soviet Union, focusing on two questions in particular: namely, what actually changed and why this change occurred. Drawing from recently declassified archive materials, this book utilises a perceptual approach and a paradigm which argues that post-war Romania allied not against the threat, but with the (perceived) threat - the USSR. Focusing on the proximate causes triggering this policy change, it investigates the emergence of Romania's opposition to the USSR predominantly through two case studies - the CMEA reform process and the Sino-Soviet dispute. The book focuses on the period between 1960 and 1964, between Romania's first categorical (albeit non-public and indirect) opposition to the USSR and the issuing of the declaration marking Romania's first public and official (although indirect) acknowledgement of disagreements with the USSR. This book examines the proximate causes of Romania's policy change towards the Soviet Union and their roots in Romanian leaders' perceptions of the threats posed to the nation's interests by various specific Soviet policies, such as the attempts to impose the CMEA integration or a strong collective riposte against China. Through its findings, the book provides new research perspectives on Romanian-Soviet post-war relations and on the role of the leaders' beliefs in Romania's foreign policy choices. It will also serve as a starting point for a more detailed understanding of the unusual present-day relations between Romania and the Russian Federation. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Romania's Post-war Grand Strategy 22

1.1 Conceptualising Romania's post-war grand strategy

1.2 Bargaining for friendship

1.3 Romania - A loyal bandwagoner

Chapter 2 The Reformation of the CMEA, 1960-1962

2.1 Romania's opposition to specialisation

2.2 Attempts at CMEA integration

Chapter 3 Coping with the Perceived Integration Threat 72

3.1 Re-launching integration

3.2 Romania's first dissent

3.3 Developing new tactics to block integration

3.4 Settling the integration dispute

Chapter 4 Looking for a Balance with China 128

4.1 Romania and the Sino-Soviet dispute, 1960-1962

4.2 In search of an ally

Chapter 5 The April 1964 "Declaration of Independence" 178

5.1 The perceived threats of early 1964

5.2 Attempts at mediation

5.3 Romania's public dissent

5.4 Soviet reactions to the RWP's Declaration.

ISBN:

1443870730

9781443870733

OCLC:

900438405

Publisher Number:

99961965243