FINLAND AS A ROLEMODEL HUNGARY AND ROMANIA DURING

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FINLAND AS A ROLE-MODEL: HUNGARY AND ROMANIA DURING EUROPEAN DÉTENTE March 21, 2005 Katalin

FINLAND AS A ROLE-MODEL: HUNGARY AND ROMANIA DURING EUROPEAN DÉTENTE March 21, 2005 Katalin Miklóssy University of Helsinki www. valt. helsinki. fi/staff/miklossy/ e-mail: katalin. miklossy@helsinki. fi

Today’s lecture • Why on Earth is that interesting? • Basic concepts to navigate

Today’s lecture • Why on Earth is that interesting? • Basic concepts to navigate with • An exceptional era…or is it? • Survival strategies: Hungary and Romania • Détente from the midgets’ perspective • ‘Wish we were Finlandised’ – The Model

Cold War Studies: a new point of view • The burden of Sovietology •

Cold War Studies: a new point of view • The burden of Sovietology • Small states in focus: diversity and complexity of national strategies • Disintegrative tendencies inside of the Eastern bloc • 1960 -70 s: the beginning of the end

The key concepts • Socialist or communist countries? • Satellites, slave countries, members of

The key concepts • Socialist or communist countries? • Satellites, slave countries, members of the socialist commonwealth, minor partners of the Soviet Union or what exactly? • The small state syndrome • The period: the miraculous 1960 s

An Era of Reformism • The Khrushchevist dawn • The problem: • - socialism

An Era of Reformism • The Khrushchevist dawn • The problem: • - socialism is an expensive system - the extensive method of economic development is out The solution: to apply elements of market economy into the socialist framework

Survival strategies – in opposition • Different spheres of • • influence Making the

Survival strategies – in opposition • Different spheres of • • influence Making the best out of the status quo Different medicines for the same illness

Late-1960 s: Troubles in the Communist World

Late-1960 s: Troubles in the Communist World

Kádárism and the New Economic Mechanism • The shadow of 1956 • The social

Kádárism and the New Economic Mechanism • The shadow of 1956 • The social contract • Sacrificing foreign • • policy The troubled year of 1968 Soviet demand of halting the reform in 1972

Ceausescu and the quest for sovereignty • Declaration of • • Independence 1968 –

Ceausescu and the quest for sovereignty • Declaration of • • Independence 1968 – the turning point The ultimate issue: right of self-determination Romania, the outcast Ceausescu: the favourite communist of the West

Détente • • • Turning Soviet initiative into something useful Getting out from the

Détente • • • Turning Soviet initiative into something useful Getting out from the stalemate situation Establishing contacts with the West Hungary: economic relations Romania: independent role on the international arena

The Tempting Finnish Model • For both: • • - Extraordinary balance with the

The Tempting Finnish Model • For both: • • - Extraordinary balance with the Soviet Union - Kekkonen’s virtuosity - The very next step toward the West For Hungary: - Economic relations with the West - Human rights issue: minorities For Romania: - Visibility of a small state on the international stage - The role of mediator - Military neutrality