Külpolitika - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet elméleti-politikai folyóirata - 1974 (1. évfolyam)
1974 / 1. szám - A tanulmányok orosz és angol nyelvű tartalmi kivonata
extremely complicated. Obviously the interests of the big companies seeking further expansion abroad have always had a more or less direct influence on US foreign policy and international economic policy. At the present time, however, as the most powerful American monopolies extend their activities to the whole capitalist world economy, this influence is much more complex. The structure of the capitalist world economy built up after the Second World War changed at the beginning of the 70’s. The change in world economy relations can best be seen in the grave and lasting crisis of the international monetary system. It is the relative decline of the United States’ international position which serves as the background to this. The United States still plays a very considerable role in world trade and especially in the international flow of capital. But its lead over its main rivals is not so wide and dramatic as it was two decades ago. It has become essential for the United States to increase the competitiveness of its economy, to speed up technical development and increase the quantity of exportable know-how. Winning new markets for its export goods is also important and there is a close connection here with its growing interest in developing economic relations with the socialist countries. The formation of new international economic institutions as a result of the shift in the balance of forces and the signing of agreements which provide their basis are a subject of special concern for the United States. Conflicts arising out of this will have an effect on the relations between the leading states in the capitalist world economy for many years to come. László Salgó: Neo-Colonialist and Global Interests in the Indochina Policy of the United States American imperialism, unlike its British and French counterparts, was compelled by historical circumstances to look for new forms and methods of colonization at the end of the 19th century. The article quotes from a letter written by Nehru in 1933, in which the Indian politician pointed out that the United States did not bother with the annexation of countries, but established an „invisible empire” by means of economic penetration. In the period that began with the Spanish—American War (1898) and the „open door policy” and continued up to the Atlantic Charter of 1944, the American opposition to classical colonialism was more apparent than real. Even during and after World War II, the US continued to use her economic, military and political power in order to increase her „invisible empire” to the detriment of her imperialist competitors. The upsurge of the national liberation movements and the spreading of socialism after 1945 have led to the creation of a network of imperialist interests with the United States as the leading representative. In Asia, the hold of imperialism was challenged in Vietnam, China and Korea. Simultaneously with the ousting of the Japanese conquerors, Vietnam witnessed a revolutionary process from the North to the South, that aimed at the creation of a progressive, socialist society. After the proclamation of the DRV in September 1945, the French returned not simply to restore their colonialist rule but also to check the revolutionary process. While in the last stage of World War II the US had favoured the idea of „internationalizing” Indochina and had opposed the return of the French colonialists, she now began to support French intervention on the basis of the global imperialist interests. After the USA failed to prevent the victory of the Chinese revolution in spite of several milliards of dollars in aid rendered to Chiang Kai- shek, she began to attribute more and more importance to the South East Asian bridgehead, Vietnam, and to Korea. With the defeat of France the United States became increasingly involved in the war in Indochina. Partnership (1950—1954); indirect intervention (1954—1960); direct intervention (1960—1964); escalation, de-escalation (1964—1973) — these are the successive phases of the longest war in the history of the United States. The article illuminates the clash of American and French interests in the early stages of the war, points out how the USA sabotaged the implementation VI
