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

The knead of political orientation on the formation of Soviet unconnected policy - Essay ExampleThe notion of a policy-making system led in its international behaviour by a particular set of operational and ideological rules rather than temporary concepts of state concerns is normally hard 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 square up on the formation of Soviet foreign policy, even though in that respect are critical debates over the extent of the relevance of ideological influence. For instance, the policy aim underlying George F. Kennans well-known hold in 1947 defining the justification for what developed into the containment policy (Evans 1993, 44) was clearly to force the Soviet Union to discard ideological frame of thinking and to develop into a more cooperative and pragmatic virtuoso. Kennan tried to accomplish this by challenging Sov iet rulers with geostrategic facts which rendered the policies and analysis originated from the ideology appears inexpedient and bleak (Quimet 2003, 81). A important idea 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 constant cooperation between East and West would make the conditions of international security 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 leaning 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 tw o are inseparable, 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 defense of frontiers and of strategic position leads to expansion, and each successful expansion creates new 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 enforce 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 being referred to, as in Seton-Watsons statement cited above, represent quite evidentl y the old political thinking (OLT) (ibid, p. 3) that is currently challenged by Gorbachev. The Ideological decide 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