Ensuring Military-Political Security in USSR and FRG Dialogue (1987–1989)
https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2024-13-6-344-364
Abstract
This article is dedicated to the examination of the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the USSR and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) to ensure military-political security during the period from 1987 to 1989. It explores the factors that contributed to changes in security policy. The analysis focuses on several under-researched aspects, including the strengthening of constructive forces within the federal government in 1987; the convergence of positions between the USSR and the FRG regarding disarmament and arms control; and the process of solidifying a positive trend in Soviet-West German political dialogue. Special attention is given to the role of the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP) in reorienting the governing coalition of the FRG from a policy of confrontation towards seeking compromises with the USSR in the realm of security. The evolution of Bonn’s official stance on the elimination of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles is also examined. It is demonstrated that, during 1988–1989, the course of the federal government became less dependent on the line of its key ally, the United States, thereby allowing for a consideration of the national interests of the FRG in addressing the issue of “nuclear rearmament”. The relevance of this study lies in its exploration of mechanisms through which the degradation of dialogue between the Russian Federation and Western collective countries in the sphere of security may be halted in contemporary times.
About the Author
A. I. Egorov
Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R. E. Alekseev
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Alexander I. Egorov - Doctor of History, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Economics and Humanities
Nizhny Novgorod
References
1. Adomeit, H. (1988). Gorbatschows Westpolitik: «Gemeinsames europäisches Haus» oder «atlantische Orientierung»? Osteuropa, 6: 427—432. (In Germ.).
2. Bojik, K. B. (2022). Priorities of German foreign policy before and after unification: 1945— 2005. PhD Diss. Moscow. 264 p. (In Russ.).
3. Bredow von W. (2006). Die Auβenpolitik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. 299 s. ISBN 978-3-531-90129-9. (In Germ.).
4. Deutsch-russische Zeitenwende. (1995). Krieg und Frieden 1941—1995. Baden-Baden: Nomos. 789 s. ISBN 978-3-789-03683-5. (In Germ.).
5. Frenkin, A. A. (1990). West German conservatives: who are they? Moscow: International Relations. 216 p. ISBN 5-7133-0274-1. (In Russ.).
6. Hacke, Chr. (1988). Weltmacht wider Willen: Die Aussenpolitik der BRD. Stuttgart: KlettCotta. 544 s. ISBN 3-608-91452-8. (In Germ.).
7. Halfendorn, H. (2001). Deutsche Aussenpolitik zwischen Selbstbeschränkung und Selbstbehauptung 1945—1990. Stuttgart-München: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. 536 s. ISBN 978-3-421-05219-3. (In Germ.).
8. Heinrich, A. (1988). Zeitwende: Der Moskauer Gipfel und das Ende des kalten Krieges. Blätter für deutsche und internationale Politik, 7: 775—779. (In Germ.).
9. Istyagin, L. G. (1988). Socio-political struggle in Germany on issues of peace and security (1949—1987). Moscow: Nauka. 166 p. ISBN 5-02-010388-8. (In Russ.).
10. Kaiser, K. (1988). Atomare Abschreckung und Nichtverbreitung von Kernwaffen. EuropaArchiv, 17: 481—490. (In Germ.).
11. Lebahn, A. (1988). Politische und wirtschaftliche Auswirkungen der Perestrojka auf die Sowjetunion sowie auf ihre Beziehungen zu Osteuropa und zum Westen. Aussenpolitik, 2: 107—124. (In Germ.).
12. Maksimychev, I. F. (2014). Russia — Germany. War and Peace. From global catastrophes to European security. Moscow: Knizhny Mir. 510 p. ISBN 978-5-8041-0674-5. (In Russ.).
13. Meissner, B. (1989). Gorbatschows Umbau des Sowietsystems. Osteuropa, 8: 702—719. (In Germ.).
14. Nach vorn gedacht: Perspektiven deutsche Politik. (1987). Stuttgart: Bonn aktuell. 285 s. ISBN 978-3-879-59290-6. (In Germ.).
15. Pavlov, N. V. (1989). Foreign policy of Germany: concepts and realities of the 80s. Moscow: International Relations. 253 p. ISBN 5-7133-0060-9. (In Russ.).
16. Pavlov, N. V., Novikov, A. A. (2005). Foreign policy of Germany from Adenauer to Schroeder. Moscow: Moscow Textbooks — SiDiPress. 605 p. ISBN 5-8443-0024-6. (In Russ.).
17. Pavlov, N. V. (2017). Russia and Germany: a failed alliance (a story with a sequel). Moscow: Aspect Press. 557 p. ISBN 978-5-7567-0854-7. (In Russ.).
18. Pavlov, N. V. (1990). The German question and the “pan-European House” (on the balance of forces and consideration of interests). World Economy and international relations, 6: 5—17. DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-1990-6-5-17. (In Russ.).
19. Pavlov, V. S. (1994). Problems of domestic and foreign policy of West Germany in the historiography of Germany. Nizhny Novgorod: Nizhny Novgorod University Press. 118 p. ISBN 5-85746-068-9. (In Russ.).
20. Schöllgen, Gr. (1999). Die Aussenpolitik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart. München: Beck, Cop. 248 s. ISBN 3-406-42091-5. (In Germ.).
21. Verantwortung für die Freiheit. 40 Jahre FDP. (1989). Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlage. 655 s. ISBN 978-3-421-06500-1. (In Germ.).
22. Watlin, A. Yu. (2002). Germany in the twentieth century. Moscow: Russian Political Encyclopedia (ROSSPEN). 336 p. ISBN 5-82430-293-6. (In Russ.).
23. Ziborova, M. S. (1990). Interaction and contradictions between Germany and the USA. World Economy and international relations, 3: 81—91. DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-19903-81-91. (In Russ.).
Review
For citations:
Egorov A.I. Ensuring Military-Political Security in USSR and FRG Dialogue (1987–1989). Nauchnyi dialog. 2024;13(6):344-364. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2024-13-6-344-364
Views:
168
Email this article 