Külpolitika - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet elméleti-politikai folyóirata - 1981 (8. évfolyam)
1981 / 1. szám - KÖNYVEKRŐL - Burchett, Wilfred: Dél-Afrika felkel ( Fodor Erika)
István Kovács: After the American presidential elections On November 4,1980, Jimmy Carter suffered defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan, the candidate of the Republican Party, who took over the residency, for four years, from January 20th, 1980. The elections also shifted power in Congress in favour of the Republican Party. The 1980 campaign had been the longest and most costly so far, and yet citizens had shown considerable indifference, the most important aspect of the elections, according to some observers. Another was that the traditional parties had to take a back seat in some respects. Up to the end of the sixties the party machines had still chosen the candidate and formulated the platform, unchallenged. Financing committees closely linked to circles connected with the candidate’s person have tended to take over. The Anderson-phenomenon was made possible by the obscuring of party boundaries, allowing for a relatively successful independent candidate. In the four years of the Carter administration inflation grew to an unprecedented degree in the US, the social and economic situation deteriorated, rearmament was considerable &c. In foreign policy the Carter administration cannot be said to have any diplomatic successes, or, for that matter, a consistent foreign policy. Disillusionment with Carter thus played a major role in Reagan’s electoral victory, allowing the latter to widen his electoral basis. He managed to reach agreement with the established centre of his party as well, during the 1980 campaign. He was able to rely, both financially and politically, on West Coast, that is primarily Californian, Big Money. It is difficult to predict future US policy so soon after the new administration took office. Many factors must be taken into account when judging to what degree the President carries out the ideas of the most powerful influential circles, how he interprets the mandate he received from the electors &c. East and West expectations manifest a readiness to cooperate in the interests of peace and détente. There is no doubt that the new administration would derive no benefit whatever from continuing the „crisis policy” of its predecessors. Inasmuch as there is a need for stability in American foreign policy, and Reagan emphasizes this as well, there is every hope that American—Soviet relations, which basically define the atmosphere, will be normalized and further developed. István S^erb: The China policy of the US: starting a new stage? The China policy became of strategic importance for the US administration starting with the seventies. One of the most important questions facing the Reagan administration, which will have to be answered within months is whether a practice become general under the Carter administration of joint US—China foreign policy actions—given a coincidence of interests—which mutually strengthen each other, be continued and even become more emphatic, or should they, in the future, endeavour to establish a qualitatively new framework, and rather give shape to a China policy which, presuming international relations in equilibrium, would maintain relations of that sort with China as well. The article goes into details concerning the Carter period, discussing turning points like the establishing of diplomatic relations, and Deng Hsiao-ping’s American journey. It argues that a new chapter in military cooperation was opened up in 1980, since China Is now subject to special treatment concerning the arms embargo to which the socialist countries are subjected. In practice this allows for the export to China of all those technological instruments and systems which cannot be called offensive. At the same time, though offering no incentives,the US nevertheless does not hinder its NATO allies if they wish to sell military technology to China. China is also doing everything to facilitate the trading activities of western firms. Legislation on mixed companies passed in June 1979 serves the institutionalisation of such activities. Imre Tatár: The Federal Republic of Gormany in the light of elections Looking over the election results of the past ten years one can establish a certain equilibrium of forces. Since 1969 the SPD—FDP coalition managed to stay in power, winning four elections, while the CDU—CSU opposition remains the most powerful parliamentary grouping. In the October 5 th 1980 elections the SPD—FDP coalition secured a safe majority of 4J seats. The election results were generally favourably received in Europe. The socialist countries showed themselves to be unambiguously happy, feeling that the results ensure the continuation of détente, and a further extension of East—West relations, and the most important forces in Western VI
