European Socialist Regimes' Fateful Engagement with the West: National Strategies in the Long 1970s (Cold War History)

This edited volume analyses European socialist countries’ strategy of engagement with the West and the European Economic Community in the long 1970s. The book focuses on a time when the socialist regimes of Central and Eastern Europe banked their hopes for prosperity and stability on enhanced relations with the West. Crossing the traditional differences among diverse fields of historiography, it assesses the complex influence of European and global processes of transformation on the socialist elites’ reading of the international political and economic environment and their consequent decision-making. The volume also explores the debate in each country among and within the elites involved in policymaking as they elaborated this strategic view and coped with shortcomings and unexpected turns. A comparative analysis of national cases shows a shared logic and common patterns, together with national variations and a plurality of views on the desirability of exchanges with their capitalist neighbours and on the ways to promote them. The multinational coverage of seven countries makes this volume a starting point for anyone interested in each socialist state’s foreign policy, intra-bloc relations, economic strategy, transformation and collapse, relations with the European Community and access to the EU. This book will be of much interest to students and researchers of Cold War Studies, European history, and International Relations. The Open Access version of this book, available at https://www.routledge.com/European-Socialist-Regimes-Fateful-Engagement-with-the-West-National-Strategies/Romano-Romero/p/book/9780367356170, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. This edited volume analyses European socialist countries' strategy of engagement with the West and the European Economic Community in the long 1970s. The book focuses on a time when the socialist regimes of Central and Eastern Europe banked their hopes for prosperity and stability on enhanced relations with the West. Crossing the traditional differences among diverse fields of historiography, it assesses the complex influence of European and global processes of transformation on the socialist elites' reading of the international political and economic environment and their consequent decision-making. The volume also explores the debate in each country among and within the elites involved in policymaking as they elaborated this strategic view and coped with shortcomings and unexpected turns. A comparative analysis of national cases shows a shared logic and common patterns, together with national variations and a plurality of views on the desirability of exchanges with their capitalist neighbours and on the ways to promote them. The multinational coverage of seven countries makes this volume a starting point for anyone interested in each socialist state's foreign policies, intra-bloc relations, economic strategy, transformation and collapse, relations with the European Community and access to the EU. This book will be of much interest to students and researchers of Cold War Studies, European history, and International Relations -- Introduction, Angela Romano and Federico Romero -- 1. Socialism Between Détente and Globalisation, Federico Romero -- 2. Pan-Europe: A Continental Space for Cooperation(s), Angela Romano -- 3. Attraction and Repulsion: Hungary and European Integration, Pal Germuska -- 4. From 'Economic Miracle' to the 'Sick Man of the Socialist Camp': Poland and the West in the 1970s, Aleksandra Komornicka -- 5. Drifting Westward? East Germany and Integrated Europe, Maximilian Graf -- 6. Czechoslovakia's Pan-European Relations during the "Long 1970s", Pavel Szobi -- 7. Balancing between Socialist Internationalism and Economic Internationalisation: Bulgaria's Economic Contacts with the EEC, Elitza Stanoeva -- 8. Romania Turns West: National and International Rationales, Elena Dragomir -- 9. From Liberalism to Under-Development: The Yugoslav Elites Facing Western European Economic Integration in the "Long 1970s", Benedetto Zaccaria -- 10. Conclusions, Angela Romano and Federico Romero In the 1970s, the Polish socialist regime substantially broadened its political and economic cooperation with Western Europe. By doing so, it actively participated in the creation of the European de��tente and the enhancement of globalisation. However, while initially bringing promising results, this strategy made Poland the most indebted and politically unstable socialist country in Europe in the 1980s. Examining the socialist elites' attitudes towards cooperation with Western Europe in the late Gomu?ka era and in the Gierek period, the chapter explains the rationale behind decisions such as raising foreign debt, purchasing Western licences or expanding contacts with Western politicians. It argues that Poland's opening was driven by the confidence and unity of the socialist elites, which declined throughout the decade, leaving the socialist regime not only dependent on the West but also in internal decay and seriously undermined in its legitimacy Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of tables Acknowledgements List of abbreviations List of contributors Introduction 1 Socialism Between Détente and Globalisation 2 Pan-Europe: A continental space for cooperation(s) 3 Attraction and Repulsion: Hungary and European integration 4 From 'Economic Miracle' to the 'Sick Man of the Socialist Camp': Poland and the West in the 1970s 5 Drifting Westward? East Germany and Integrated Europe 6 Czechoslovakia's Pan-European Relations During the "Long 1970s" 7 Balancing Between Socialist Internationalism and Economic Internationalisation: Bulgaria's economic contacts with the EEC 8 Romania Turns West: National and international rationales 9 From Liberalism to Underdevelopment: The Yugoslav elites facing Western European economic integration in the "long 1970s" 10 Conclusions Appendix 1: Tables A.1 to A.6 Appendix 2: List of Archival Collections Index This research has been funded by the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement no. 669194) First made available online on the publisher's site on 14 September 2020