Külpolitika - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet elméleti-politikai folyóirata - 1987 (14. évfolyam)
1987 / 1. szám - A tanulmányok orosz és angol nyelvű tartalmi kivonata
Gyula Horn: New dimensions of peaceful co-existence The years of 1985—1986 will surely be considered by historians as the starting period of new tendencies emerging in world politics. Signals indicating new processes have come from Moscow—this is the main feature of far—reaching changes. The basic concept of foreign political strategy approved by the 27th congress of the CPSU can be called irregular in the history of the Soviet Communist Party. The essence of Soviet foreign policy is that the preservation of universal peace has become the main priority in the foreign political activity of the Soviet Union instead of the thesis of theoretical validity: to secure the victory of socialism all over the world. At the same time the neo-conservative mentality of the American leadership constitutes an insurmountable obstacle in its attitude towards the Soviet Union. The essence of tendencies prevailing in Washington at present is that the United States is shaping its relations with regions and countries exclusively with a view to the assertion of American interests with less and less allowance made for the interests of other regions, states, and political factors. The evolution of peaceful co-operation as well as the consolidation of detente cannot be possible without balanced East—West economic relations. Nevertheless, in our days, the exchange of goods is stagnant, the share of socialist countries in world trade—especially in foreign trade with capitalist countries— is decreasing, a setback can be experienced in concluding new co-operation agreements. The continuation of negative tendencies can unfavourably influence the international political situation, including progress in disarmament. The inner, economic problems of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries are among the significant causes. In a world political situation like this the continuity of the all-European processes has acquired increased significance. All basic elements of East—West relations are concentrated in it. The development of relationship between the Warsaw Treaty Organisation and the NATO, the activity of the Helsinki forums, and the system of bilateral relations between European states are inseparable from the all-European (Helsinki) process. The Hungarian People’s Republic is also a partner in the new Soviet initiatives, because these are in general the products of consultations among socialist countries. This practice and these proposals obviously correspond to Hungary’s national and international interests, because they are aimed at creating a better world with less tension and with normal ties among its states—and this is extremely important for a small, open country like Hungary. Rezső Bányász: To the political portrait of Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan’s first series of appearance with nation-wide significance took place in 1964, when he was making speeches for the ultra-conservative Republican presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater. After Goldwater’s defeat Reagan became the N° 1 political favourite of conservative businessmen in California. Apart from the traditional Californian businesses like oil-industry, production of consumer goods, entertainment, the micro-electronical enterprises of the Silicon Valley in California—which acquired world-wide fame and importance in the past two or three decades—have become the real supporters of Reagan’s neo-conservatism. Reagan was elected governor of California state in 1966. His re-election four years later showed him to have some very important abilities of a statesman. Ronald Reagan got into the White House on the crest of the neo-conservative wave. The first four years of his presidency showed in many respects that the simplifying anti-communist world view of President Reagan did not become more realistic and tinged in spite of his experiences obtained in the White House. From among his pronouncements—prepared by diplomats holding more balanced views—the American missionary zeal—known from earlier periods—has shot out again and again, sometimes quite unexpectedly, with political messianism reborn in the thinking of the American administration. During his first term—obsessed by X
