3.1.2
East-West Relations
Peaceful Co-Existence
Peaceful Co-Existence
When Stalin died in 1953, Khrushchev became the First Secretary of the Communist Party. This led to changes in the way the USSR carried out their foreign policy.
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Khrushchev's Secret Speech
Khrushchev's Secret Speech
- At the 20th Party Congress, Khrushchev gave a speech that criticized Stalin.
- It is known as the ‘Secret Speech’ of 1956.
- In this speech, Khrushchev condemned Stalin's use of terror, totalitarianism and cult of personality.
- Khrushchev suggested that the communist party be rejuvenated and set about making changes to both external and internal policies.
- For Khrushchev, the Soviet system needed to return to the legality of Leninism (the first leader of communist USSR). Khrushchev then set about a policy of ‘de-Stalinisation’ and ‘peaceful co-existence’.
Domestic focus
Domestic focus
- Khrushchev believed that the USSR should focus on internal affairs, particularly on strengthening the Soviet economy.
- Khrushchev thought that a strong economy would show other countries across the world the merit of establishing a pro-communist regime.
- Khrushchev wanted to limit the interference of the USSR in other sovereign states. He thought that if he was ‘peaceful’ and cooperative then other capitalist countries would eventually turn to communism.
- Khrushchev sought to base his political and economic relations on equality and mutual benefit.
War with the USA
War with the USA
- Although still an advocate for the USSR to have nuclear weapons, Khrushchev wanted to eliminate the threat of war with the USA by diplomacy and negotiation.
- Khrushchev was open to the idea of reducing the size of the Soviet military.
- Although this policy showed a significant change in the way the USSR operated with the West, Khrushchev still wanted the USSR to remain the sole leader of communism in the world.
- Khrushchev also wanted the Soviet satellite states to remain under the USSR’s control.
Historical interpretation
Historical interpretation
- Historian D. Low (1982) states that Khrushchev ‘deserves to be remembered for his foreign policy reservations, for the return to comparatively civilised politics and for the improved living standards of the masses’.
The Geneva Summit 1955
The Geneva Summit 1955
France, America, Britain and the USSR met to discuss two main issues: the 'open skies proposal' and the reunification of Germany. All leaders were hopeful of making progress towards disarmament.
The 'open skies proposal'
The 'open skies proposal'
- Eisenhower proposed that Britain, France, the USA and USSR should allow reconnaissance flights over each other’s military bases.
- This was so that all powers could see the militaristic capabilities of each other and be aware of the weapons that they have.
- All countries apart from the USSR were accepting of the proposal.
- Khrushchev branded it as an ‘espionage plot’. Khrushchev’s unwillingness to be transparent over arms was not a shock to the West and it made him seem as if he was unwilling to limit his armaments.
- This was a propaganda win for western leaders.
Germany
Germany
- Secondly, the leaders discussed Europe and Germany.
- The USA wanted Germany to be reunited under one democratic system that had free elections and could be responsible for its own elections.
- The USSR proposed a neutral and demilitarised Germany.
- All of the leaders agreed that Germany should be reunified and that free elections should be carried out.
- Despite the negotiations being a success, no real change for Germany occurred at that stage.
- It did, however, show that the 4 countries could hold negotiations once more.
The Paris Summit 1960
The Paris Summit 1960
Following the new policy of ‘peaceful co-existence’, there was a series of goodwill visits between the leaders of the West and USSR.
Goodwill visits
Goodwill visits
- In February 1959, Harold Macmillan (Britain’s Prime Minister) made a ten-day visit to Moscow and a few months later so did USA’s Vice President, Richard Nixon.
- Then in September 1959, Khrushchev became the first Soviet leader to visit the West.
- He went to America to show ‘goodwill’ and met President Eisenhower at Camp David.
- In October 1959, Khrushchev wrote an article which was published in the American journal Foreign Affairs. In this article, he made his commitment to peaceful co-existence very clear.
Relations between the USSR and China
Relations between the USSR and China
- At the same time, relations soured between the USSR and China.
- Mao believed in world revolution but Khrushchev believed in peaceful co-existence.
- Mao wanted a war against Capitalists and Khrushchev instead wanted to improve relations with the United States who believed in Capitalism.
- Mao disagreed with Khrushchev's handling of the Cuban missile crisis. There were often disputes over the Russo-Chinese border over India.
- Russia refused to provide China with nuclear support and so hurled abuse at the USSR. Khrushchev retorted by removing all Russian technicians working in China.
Relations on the eve of the Paris Summit
Relations on the eve of the Paris Summit
- With this soured Chinese-Russian relationship and the promise from Khrushchev for peaceful co-existence, the West had high hopes for future negotiations with the USSR.
- Both Khrushchev and Eisenhower had high hopes for the 1960 Paris Summit.
- However, on the eve of the summit, the Soviets shot down an American U-2 spy plane.
- The intelligence gathered from the Americans was that the USSR's nuclear capabilities were not as advanced as the Americans'.
- Khrushchev was outraged at the US reconnaissance mission. Relations between the two countries began to sour.
1Origins of the Cold War, 1945-9
1.1Events of 1945
1.2The Collapse of the Grand Alliance
1.3Developing Tensions
1.4US Involvement in Europe
2Widening of the Cold War
2.1US Containment in Asia
2.2The Korean War
2.3Increasing Cold War Tensions, 1949 -1953
3The Global War
3.2Cold War Rivalries
3.3Conflict in Asia
3.4Confrontation Between Superpowers
4Confrontation & Cooperation
4.2Cooperation
4.3Pressures on the USSR
5Brezhnev Era
5.1Detente
5.2Second Cold War
5.3Developments in Africa & Americas
6Ending of the Cold War
6.1Gorbachev
6.2Cooperation between US & USSR
6.3Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
6.4End of Tensions Across the World
Jump to other topics
1Origins of the Cold War, 1945-9
1.1Events of 1945
1.2The Collapse of the Grand Alliance
1.3Developing Tensions
1.4US Involvement in Europe
2Widening of the Cold War
2.1US Containment in Asia
2.2The Korean War
2.3Increasing Cold War Tensions, 1949 -1953
3The Global War
3.2Cold War Rivalries
3.3Conflict in Asia
3.4Confrontation Between Superpowers
4Confrontation & Cooperation
4.2Cooperation
4.3Pressures on the USSR
5Brezhnev Era
5.1Detente
5.2Second Cold War
5.3Developments in Africa & Americas
6Ending of the Cold War
6.1Gorbachev
6.2Cooperation between US & USSR
6.3Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
6.4End of Tensions Across the World
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