The influence of ideology on the formation of Soviet foreign policy Essay

The stoop of ideology on the formation of Soviet foreign policy - analyze ExampleThe notion of a political system led in its international behaviour by a particular set of operational and ideological rules rather than temporary concepts of state concerns is usually disfranchised for Westerners to comprehend. Many scholars would agree that the complicated procedures, strategies, and goals making up the official Marxism-Leninism principle have had some influence on the formation of Soviet foreign policy, even though there are critical debates all over the extent of the relevance of ideological influence. For instance, the policy aim underlying George F. Kennans hearty-known article in 1947 defining the justification for what developed into the containment policy (Evans 1993, 44) was clearly to constrict the Soviet Union to discard ideological frame of thinking and to develop into a more cooperative and pragmatic one. Kennan tried to accomplish this by challenging Soviet rulers with geostrategic facts which rendered the policies and analysis originated from the ideology appears inexpedient and bleak (Quimet 2003, 81). A main root underlying the containment strategy was that a non-ideological, specifically normal, Soviet Union would be much more unproblematic to contend with in the post-war period, when continuous cooperation between East and West would make the conditions of international shelter and reconstruction that much simpler to accomplish (Yanowitch 1991, 65). Kennan in the end came to challenge the relevance of the ideological influence (ibid, p. 65)... ev regime, Hugh Seton-Watson, satisfactorily described the continuous Western discussions of the influences of Soviet foreign policy as an outcome of what he refers to as either-or fallacies (Miller 1991, 2) The most widespread is the controversy between those who see ideology as the main force behind Soviet policy, and those who give this place to security. It is our case that the two are insep arable, and there is no need to repeat the argument. Arising from this misleading either-or-ism is the dispute, perhaps even more widespread, as to whether Soviet policy is expansionist or defensive. It is both. Obsession with protection of frontiers and of strategic position leads to expansion, and each successful expansion creates in the altogether positions to defend (ibid, p. 2). The argument of this essay resembles Seton-Watsons assumption. Ideology has consistently been a major influence in the formation of Soviet foreign policy, but definitely not the only one. Also, its influence has usually been indirect rather than direct. Specifically, rather directly imposing policies, it has functioned to form the goals and context of Soviet policymakers, as well as their views of such seemingly normal priorities as defence, security and the requirements for peace (Miller 1991, 2) the influence of ideology cosmos referred to, as in Seton-Watsons statement cited above, represent quite evidently the old political thinking (OLT) (ibid, p. 3) that is currently challenged by Gorbachev. The Ideological Influence The definition of ideology is itself the centre of some disagreement, as well as the characteristic of its contribution in state decision-making. Ideology, as defined by one scholar, is a preconceived set or