Külpolitika - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet elméleti-politikai folyóirata - 1981 (8. évfolyam)

1981 / 1. szám - KÖNYVEKRŐL - Burchett, Wilfred: Dél-Afrika felkel ( Fodor Erika)

Europe also desired the election of the stable Schmidt government.

Power relations within the coalition shifted as a result of the elections, and this will affect government policy as well, within the limits of the desire to preserve what has been achieved. The FDP strengthened its position, and it can be expected that their voice will grow louder in the discussion of economic and political questions.

For decades foreign policy has dominated elections, and this once again proved true. In 1972 voters had to decide whether or not they desired the agreements with the East. In 1976, and once again in 1980, public opinion, weighing up the international situation, felt that Schmidt was better able to cope with problems that might arise than Kohl, or Strauss.

Sándor M. Aczél:

Japan and trilateralism

Trilateralism implies ' the recognition of Japan’s growing weight in international affairs. It offers opportunities for a more active role in world politics, at the same time establishing the limits. Japan endeavours to exploit the opportunities and at the same time to loosen these limits.

What determines Japanese foreign policy, however, is not trilateralism, but the class interests of the monopoly capitalists. Participation in cooperation with leading capitalist countries is determined not only by the interests of the governing class but also by economic and military vulnerability, dependence on the United States, and the sensitive geopolitical and domestic stituation. Japan uses economic and political instruments to improve her world political position. This implies growing competition with other capitalist countries.

It is also likely that the role of the Third World within the foreign policy of Japan is likely to increase.

Japan supports the maintenance of the system of alliances with the United States, though she wishes to loosen ties of dependence within it. Relations with the countries of Western Europe are growing slowly and in a contrary way. Relations with China will develop in the context of Japanese economic interests, her leading role in the region and American strategy and China policy (and the domestic situation as part of it).

Japan is interested in improving contacts with the Soviet Union and the socialist countries. The latter, basing themselves on the results of mutually advantageous cooperation, may well work towards Japan playing a more positive role in world policy. One

cannot claim that we are partners who cannot do without each other, but a growth of our relations can serve the prosperity of both sides, that is Japan’s interests as well, as against strategic notions entertained by America and Chinese policies that lead to more international tension as well as endangering the peace of Asia.

István Dobozi ■'

Economic conflicts in Black Africa

Relations between the developed capitalist countries and the developing world harbour many contradictions and a clash of interests on many levels. The article discusses the economic contacts, and the contradictions they harbour, of three economic power centres of imperialism (the United States, Western Europa, and Japan) and Black Africa.

Conflicts and cooperation are equally characteristic of the Africa policy of the economic power centres of imperialism. Common pan-imperialist and neo-colonialist interests which integrate their African economic policy are, however, more important than conflicting interests, though they do not exclude competition and conflicts. The Common Market endeavours to institutionalise [relations with developing countries within its sphere of interests, and endeavours to channel the foreign trade of the developing countries in their direction. Such endeavours meet with opposition on the part of the US and Japan. America, Western Europe and Japan also compete for African mineral resources.

Conflicts between countries of Black Africa are also important. Many of these are on extremely low levels of development, and financial resources derived from developed capitalist countries are of decisive importance for economic growth. This financial dependence at the same time leads to a conflict of interests between the developing countries.

Following independence many of the countries of Black Africa concentrated their minds on their serious economic problems. In this process conflicts between them and the imperialist power centres grew more extensive and intensive. Such conflicts are generally due to the fact that the African countries wish to establish their independence in economic matters while the capitalist powers wish to maintain control over their economies. A new aspect of these conflicts arose with the participation, in the seventies, of numerous raw materials producing countries in the establishment and operation of international producers’ organizations.

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