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New Directions for the Soviet Union
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17703 |
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Section : |
EDITORIAL
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| Issue
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6 / 1990 |
1,430 Words |
| Author
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Morton A. Kaplan
Editor and Publisher |
During the week of April 9 I was in Moscow for the World Media Conference. The activities surrounding the conference made clear the great importance President Gorbachev is giving to new directions in Soviet foreign policy. This was made even more clear by the front page story in Pravda of Gorbachev's meeting with Reverend Moon, the founder and sponsor of the conference.
The Soviet Union headed by Gorbachev is radically different from previous Soviet incarnations. It is a potential ally of the free world and can play constructive roles with respect to Africa, the Middle East, the Far East including Korea, and particularly Europe. But Gorbachev is limited by the enormous economic and nationality problems he faces. Perestroika so far has not gotten off the ground. The Soviet GNP has dropped by perhaps 15 percent. There are extreme shortages of foodstuffs and other necessities. Soap is scarce in the mining regions. And the immediate consequences of a free market in terms of rising prices and increased shortages likely would be riots in the streets that would shake the regime.
Nationality problems are potentially explosive. Gorbachev has no problem with giving independence to the Baltic states. The problem arises from the effects of a grant of immediate independence upon other nationalities before Gorbachev can even attempt to negotiate a loose confederation. Already resistance to change is significant among important elements of the population and some military leaders who fear for their ability to carry out their defense functions. Perestroika, glasnost, and democracy within the Soviet Union could founder. And our hopes for a better world would receive a severe setback if precipitate change were allowed to undermine
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