前苏联为何要征服东欧及修建柏林墙的原因(英文).doc

Why did the Soviet Union pursue the domination of eastern Europe，including constructing the Berlin Wall？1. IntroductionAfter the World War II, with the famous Iron Curtain speech by Winston Churchill, due to the sharp opposition of ideology between the east and west, the cold war world situation with two opposite camps, the capitalist countries and the socialist countries, had gradually formed and the confrontation had lasted for a long time. (Walker, 1994) In order to maintain the leading position and compete with the United States, the Soviet Union built up a close relationship between socialist countries among eastern Europe. Along with break-up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia since 1948, the Soviet Union began to carry out the purge, snatched Tito members in the eastern European countries. During Khrushchevs governance, as the east Germany (GDR)s economy was bad, people longed for the west Germany, which resulted in the loss of large labor force of the east Germany. Thus Khrushchev gave the order to build the Berlin wall. (McCauley, 2008) The aim of this paper is to analyze the reasons why the Soviet Union pursued the domination of Eastern Europe, including constructing the Berlin Wall.2. Soviet Unions pursuit of dominating Eastern EuropeIn terms of significance of the eastern Europe to the Soviet Union, academic circles have many points of view. American scholar Lincoln Gordons analysis is rather comprehensive. Firstly, as a defensive buffer, eastern Europe is an important military consideration. Eastern Europe is also seen as a potential springboard of offensive strategies. The Soviet Union regarded this area as a pioneer and the first achievement of world communist movement out of ideological reasons, which was also an example for the rest of the world to follow. Besides, the Soviet Union also saw eastern Europe as a core of country union which could provide political and diplomatic support on the world political stage. Thus eastern Europe further became the source of political and legal ideology for Moscow. Lastly, eastern Europe was once regarded as the source of economic fortune. Under the cold war situation, it was not only a successful sign for the Soviet Union to maintain balance in Europe and share the world with the United States, but also had a crucial role in maintaining security and interests of the Soviet Union, as well as had certain effects on peoples psychology. (Gordon& Brown, 1987)Communist countries in eastern Europe is in fact “the epitome of a second self , only when the leader of the Soviet union saw proper reflection from eastern Europe would they feel satisfied. After the Hungarian Incident, Nehru asked about the Soviets invasion into Hungary, he got the official answer that if there was no interference with Hungary, if the forces of imperialism won, if in this case the Federal Republic of Germany made pressure on the German Democratic Republic, it would certainly break the balance in Europe, therefore it would have a direct threat to peace. (Beam, 1978)After Stalins death in 1953, the new leaders of the Soviet Union began to adjust the policy towards eastern Europe. The Soviet Union no longer easily intervened in each countrys affairs and showed some respect towards domestic and foreign affairs of the eastern European countries. However, these measures proposed by Khrushchev were out of strategic considerations, their purpose was still safeguarding the Soviet Unions realistic interests in eastern Europe. (King, 1973) The Soviet Unions foreign policy goals and global strategy remained the same. Eastern Europe was still seen as Soviets sphere of influence, the Soviet Union never allowed the existence of risk of losing control of eastern Europe. In Poznan Event in 1956, Khrushchev threatened Poland with military means, and then ordered troops twice to quell the unrest in Hungary. In 1968, the Soviet Union sent troops to kill Czechoslovakias reform. (McCauley, 2008) All of these actions seemed to be very necessary for the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union could allow eastern European countries gain some degree of independence, but would never tolerate them to completely deviate from the will of the Soviet union. It could stand that eastern European countries improve some degree of democratization, but never allowed to rebel against communism, even appeal to the west. Even after decades of years, during Gorbachev governments leading period, the Soviet Union still treated eastern Europe as an indispensable ally. On the Sophia Conference in 1985, Gorbachev once told the leaders of eastern European countries that, the socialism was just like a leaking boat. He could not allow any of them to jump away to find a safe boat. He ordered them to stay on the deck to help repair this powerful ship. (Luers, 1986)After the 20th Soviet Party Congress, the Soviet Union formally recognized the national characteristics and national sovereignty of the eastern European countries. The national interests for the countries of eastern Europe have been attached but it never became the leading factor in the relations of between the Soviet Union and eastern Europe. The Soviet Union adopted the principle of pragmatism in the realistic diplomatic activities. When the relationship was stable, it stressed their common interests; when in conflicts, it would put international communism above the national interests. (Roberts, 1991) Because the Soviet Union had always thought that if the hostile forces of socialism distorted the development of the socialist countries and resorted capitalism, if the socialism faced serious danger in one country, it would not just be a national problem, but also a problem of all socialist countries. Khrushchev recorded in his memoir that the Soviet Unions choice in the face of the Hungarian uprising in 1956, he thought that no matter which road we choose, what we pursue is not nationalism, but a brotherly proletarian internationalist goal of unity. (Taubman, 2004)Eastern Europe has a significant status, which was an important farmar in the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as maintains the east-west relations. Its political directions decided the pros and cons of the situation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the cold war. In John Campbells book American Policy Toward Communist Eastern Europe: The Choices Ahead published in 1965, the author pointed out that since the Second World War, the eastern Europes fate wad a part of the Soviet Union and western countries relational schema and the balance of the world power. Former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles proposed on a meeting of the National Security Council in 1958 that there is no doubt that from view of the Soviet Union, it regards eastern Europe as the worlds most sensitive area. They are going to view eastern Europe as the Soviet Unions most dangerous area.we have enough reasons to say that eastern Europe is the Achilles Heel of the Soviet Union. 3. The construction of the Berlin WallThe construction of the Berlin Wall by the Soviet Union defended the Soviet society of east Berlin for a certain period of time. During the cold war, the Berlin Wall was an efficient weapon for the Soviet Union campaign to fight against the NATOs campaign. Its effectiveness should be emphasized that at the time, the Soviet campaign was in a passive situation, without the Berlin Wall, the initiative of the cold war would be entirely managed by the US-led NATO campaign. As in the long term plan, the benefit of the Soviet Society was slower then the the Federal Society, if not preventing the personnel drain, the east Berlin would suffer more, thus would cause the Soviet in a more passive condition. (Fowkes, 1999)Without the Berlin Wall, only will be too difficult to implement the Soviet society east Berlin, Germany might have undergone the real split. However, although Germany underwent the storm, nowadays it is still a united country. Besides, without the Berlin Wall, the Soviet society in east Berlin might disappeared itself and be replaced by the Federal system, which also proved that the wall embodied large power to confront the outside society for the Soviet Union. Under the certain environment, the Soviet Union must keep the talents who could develop the society. On the other side, it could not be trapped into the passive situation. So, the construction of the Berlin Wall by Soviet Union is a necessity of history. 4. ConclusionAlthough the Soviet Union called for establishing a truly equal relationship in socialist countries, as it occupied absolute advantages among the socialist countries in eastern Europe, the nature of the so-called equality is an ideal and propaganda of Soviet diplomacy power politic in contemporary international political system. The Soviet Unions policy in eastern Europe countries was based on the criterion of realizing its national interests. All in all, the purpose of Soviet Unions pursuit of dominating Eastern Europe, including constructing the Berlin Wall is to strengthen its power, so as the fight against the Capitalism countries during the cold war. (Sham, 1993)References: Beam, J. D. 1978. Multiple Exposure: An American Ambassadors Unique Perspective on East-West Issues. Norton, pp162Campbell, J. C. 1965. American policy toward Communist E