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Summit of Discontent: An Ephemeral 'Spirit of Geneva'
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10723 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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1 / 1986 |
4,145 Words |
| Author
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Albert L. Weeks
Albert Weeks is a professor of history at New York University,
a noted Kremlinologist, and a nationally published author. |
Aristotle distinguished between euphoria--ephemeral contentment-and eudaemonia--well-founded happiness. This profound philosophical distinction was somehow forgotten in the generally euphoric press coverage of the Geneva summit of Nov. 19-21, the first U.S.-Soviet high-level meeting in six years. This is the 14th full-fledged summit meeting between the U.S. and the Soviet Union since our recognition of the U.S.S.R. in 1933.
Print and broadcast media analyses of the three-day summit lacked what Diderot called the indispensable ingredient for rational discourse: incredulity. Of course, there were exceptions. An Israeli newspaper, for instance, bluntly described the results of the Reagan-Gorbachev talks as a "beautifully-wrapped but empty box." The Paris L'Express spoke of traditional "ephemeral summit euphoria [portending], as it did in the past, post-summit reglaciation in East-West relations."
The latest "Spirit of Geneva," the ectoplasmic fallout following the Geneva summit, warranted, it seemed, nine-tenths euphoria one-tenth eudaemonia. Public credulity and naiveté ran high.
For a more profound optimism to materialize, something more than the first ladies holding hands, or a "war of grins" between the two leaders, was required. Something more also was needed than the president's gift to Gorbachev of a Colonial Williamsburg Chippendale-style mahogany box with a silver top, plus a desk set of two pens carrying the theme "peace through communications." The Soviets' gift consisted of a set of bronze medallions in a leather case, each of which was engraved with the seals of the 15 Soviet "republics." They were beautifully
... (1983 of 26615 Characters)
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