Külpolitika - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet elméleti-politikai folyóirata - 1977 (4. évfolyam)

1977 / 3. szám - Idegen nyelvű tartalomjegyzék

Pál Rmz■' The October Socialist Revolution and international relations

The beginnings of socialist foreign policy coincide with the October 1917 Russian Revolution. Major changes and achievements in international relations are the signposts along its successful progress: the taking shape of the socialist system, the gathering strength of the international Communist and working class movement, the growing importance of independence and liberation movements, and the radical shift in power relations in favour of the forces of progress. Imperialism has been forced into a defensive position, and socialism has now taken the initiative. The foreign policy of the socialist countries, and the united struggle of the forces of progress influences international affairs and the solution of the problems of our time in a decisive way. Aims which only loomed in the distance in 1917, such as maintaining world peace and peaceful coexistence have become realistic. It is thanks to the untiring efforts of the socialist forces that the trend of international affairs these days generally points away from confrontation towards international security, and cooperation between the nations, though the process has certainly not been trouble-free.

The author of this paper prepared on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the October 1917 Russian Revolution, Pál Rácz, Minister of State in the Foreign Ministry, discusses those major changes in international affairs which owed theirorigin to processes initiated by the Bolshevik Revolution. He stresses the importance of foreign policy aims defined by the 25th Congress óf the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, including the creation of collective security, disarmament, and the making effective, without exception, of the principles laid down at Helsinki. Finally, he discusses the relationship between the aims and objectives the October Revolution stood for, and Hungarian foreign policy.

Mihály Simái: The reform of UN economic agencies and world economic conditions

Huge changes have taken place in international affairs and the world economy since the foundation of the UN. As developing countries increased in number, and their requirements grew, so did the importance of world economic problems and the interdependence of countries. All this makes it obvious that the framework and conditions of cooperation within the UN ought to be extended.

Article 55 of its Charter empowers the UN to concern itself with the economic problems of member states. New duties and needs led to new international institutions. The ”UN-system” at present consists of tnelve independent programmes, five regional economic commissions, fifteen specialized agencies, and numerous intergovernmental commissions, coordinating bodies and ad hoc teams. This article discusses the major fields and results of economic cooperation within the UN framework, and then goes on to more recent demands the UN has to cope with, particularly those made on the basis of the Declaration On the New International Economic Order, the Action Programme and the Charter concerning the economic rights and duties of states. It is stressed that the recognition of reforms cannot be interpreted as a revision or amendment of the proven principles of the Charter. In numerous fields the present UN structure is perfectly suitable for the carrying out of growing duties if opportunities are properly exploited and work is made more effective.

Countries with differing social and economic systems must cooperate in the solution of common problems. Governments must accept in their own interests that national political decisions and world problems are closely interrelated. Since national states and governments will continue as decisionmaking centres, greater efforts will have to be made to ensure that all parties carry out their obligations under particular agreements in the interests of a solution to the problems.

Coordination within the UN must be significantly improved. Overlapping and parallel action at present reduces efficiency. The UN appears incapable of coordinated planning within the ’’family” at present. The specialized agencies compete with each other. Further developments should be in the direction of functional centralization, and decentralization in execution.

Three stages, the definition of objectives and policy, planning and decision making, and implementation ought to be more clearly distinguished, to make it more obvious where the responsibility for particular functions lies. The system of evaluating the work of UN agencies, and the operation of the UN Secretariat, ought to be improved.

Apart from reforms the UN needs more support from member states and their governments in order to be able to carry out its new duties concerning world wide cooperation in the interests of the whole of mankind.

István Szerb: Chinese - Western European Re la - tions (1970—1975)

The article discusses relations between China and the Federal Republic of Germany, Great Britain and France. The author points out that since China lacks the military and industrial potential to implements -its hegemonist ambitions, and will very likely lack them in the immediate future as well, the Maoist leadership is forced to adapt its principles to the needs of the day, being unable to carry out a long term foreign policy that accords with its plans. European policy has always been a part of world policy for China, though of changing importance.

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