Andrew Gyorgy
Abstract: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is a fundamental threat to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) hegemony in Eastern Europe. Both the PRC and the USSR realize that an ideological split is inevitable and thus are competing over satellite states. While the PRC and the USSR possess very similar ideologies, PRC influence in Eastern Europe relatively weakens Soviet influence by strengthening the individual national European Communist parties. The PRC strengthens the European parties diplomatically, economically, and politically. Diplomatically, Eastern European states fall into one of four categories within the USSR-PRC-East Europe triangular relationship. Economically, bilateral trade has strengthened both Eastern Europe and the PRC. Politically, the PRC gave Eastern Europe an ideological outlet to defect into. To further complicate relationships, “The Brezhnev Doctrine” idea of Socialist Internationalism contradicts the nationalistic characteristics of individual Eastern states; the EEC and economic success of the Western platform divided Eastern states; and Schmidt’s Ostpolitik demands for the East oppose the Soviet Union’s national security demands. These complications further divide Eastern Europe, allowing for the PRC to more easily attain influence in the region.
Key words: PRC, USSR, Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China, Communism, Influence, Satellite States
