The study examines the evolving political options of the Soviet bloc countries within the East-West European political contex. It also describes the degree of autonomy of the bloc regimes from the Soviet Union through an examination of various issues known to have been a source of conflict among them, and it defines the sources of bloc cohesion in an era that has witnessed a significant decline of Soviet authority over the world Communist movement. These factors, together with an examination of transbloc predilections articulated and pursued by the East European regimes before and after the invasion of Czechoslovakia, provide the basis for a projection of the future political options of the bloc countries to the mid-1970s and an assessment of the implications of the conclusions reached for US policy. (Author).

American Policy Toward Communist Eastern Europe was first published in 1965. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. Perhaps no aspect of American foreign relations has been in greater need of clarification and understanding than our policy toward the Communist nations of Eastern Europe, both as to what has happened in the past and what is possible for the future. In this book a former State Department Official, now on the staff of the Council on Foreign Relations, provides objective information which will help students, professors, members of adult study groups, and others concerned with American foreign policy to understand and discuss this important subject. Mr. Campbell reminds us that the cold war began in Eastern Europe in the aftermath of the second World War. Since that time, the question of what to do about Eastern Europe has been in the forefront of American foreign policy. For some years, he contends, we have been uncertain of our objectives and ambivalent in our policies. Meanwhile, changes since the death of Stalin have created new situations both for the Soviet Union and for the West.In analyzing what has happened, the author emphasizes the forces which have shaken the unity of the Soviet bloc to create new perspectives and possibilities. He discusses the effects of the Soviet- Chinese split, the relationship of the German question to that of Eastern Europe, and the phenomenon of national Communism as it has appeared in different forms in Yugoslavia, Poland, Rumania, and elsewhere. After presenting the historical background, the author discusses American aims and current policies and outlines the choices he sees ahead. He does not plead for any one of the alternative lines of action, presenting them, rather, as a basis for reasoned consideration and debate.

This report examines the importance of Eastern Europe to the USSR, the Soviet approach toward the region in the past, and possible future short-term and longer-term Soviet policies toward Eastern Europe. It examines dilemmas facing the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe and the Soviet "preferred vision" for a European order that would overcome these dilemmas. It assesses the collapse of the Brezhnev policy toward Eastern Europe, Soviet assessments of its causes, and likely responses.

This text asks whether Eastern European societies can escape from the grip of totalitarian domination, and build up Western democratic systems. The author describes recent events in Hungary and compares them with those in other East European countries, before suggesting policies for the future.

A comprehensive look at both the diversity of Eastern Europe and the multiplicity of Soviet concerns in the region.

..". lucid and stimulating... " The New York Times Book Review "Essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the new Eastern Europe and the collapse of Soviet control over it informative and incisive." Zbigniew Brzezinski "Gati s book... is the most current and best-informed study of this rapidly changing world.... Professor Gati is uniquely qualified to understand and give perspective to the impact of perestroika and Soviet new thinking on the events in Eastern Europe." William H. Luers, Former U. S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia ..". a superb synthesis of the postwar evolution of Soviet-East European relations and the first up-to-date analysis of the revolutionary events in that part of the world in 1989." Michael Mandelbaum, Council on Foreign Relations "An up-to-date and lucid overview of the troubled course of Soviet-East European relations at time of momentous change in the Soviet bloc." Sarah M. Terry ..". excellent analysis and synthesis... " Foreign Affairs "this book is written in a lively style and is a good scholarly synthesis of the post-Second World War evolution of Soviet-East European relations ending in the revolutionary events of 1989." Canadian Journal of Political Science ..". a lively and perceptive account... " Military Review "Clearly and simply written, this book is particularly useful as a compact introduction to the prehistory and transformation of East European politics." Choice "It is well organized, readable, and sensitive to complexity; find the time to read it." History"

The collapse of Communism has created the opportunity for democracy to spread from Prague to the Baltic and Black Seas. But the alternatives—dictatorship or totalitarian rule—are more in keeping with the traditions of Central Europe. And for many post-Communist societies, democracy has come to be associated with inflation, unemployment, crime, and corruption. Is it still true, then, as Winston Churchill suggested a half-century ago, that people will accept democracy with all its faults—because it is better than anything else? To find out, political scientists Richard Rose, William Mishler, and Christian Haerpfer examine evidence from post-Communist societies in eastern Europe. Drawing on data from public opinion and exit polls, election results, and interviews, the authors present testable hypotheses regarding regime change, consolidation, and prospects for stabilization. The authors point out that the abrupt transition to democracy in post-Communist countries is normal; gradual evolution in the Anglo-American way is the exception to the rule. While most recent books on democratization focus on Latin America and, to some extent, Asia, the present volume offers a unique look at the process currently under way in nine eastern European countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Belarus, and Ukraine. Despite the many problems these post-Communist societies are experiencing in making the transition to a more open and democratic polity, the authors conclude that a little democracy is better than no democracy at all.

SCOTT (Copy 1): From the John Holmes Library Collection.