Stalin hoped to keep peace

The imposition of Soviet-style regimes across 바카라사이트 liberated nations of central and eastern Europe was not Stalin's initial aim after 바카라사이트 second world war, says a leading Hungarian analyst.

Mihaly Fulop, deputy director general of 바카라사이트 Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, currently an academic visitor at 바카라사이트 Paris Sorbonne, argues that Stalin, like his British and American former allies, had hoped that 바카라사이트 wartime alliance could be maintained in peace. It was only when talks over 바카라사이트 peace treaty after Germany's defeat collapsed in 1947 that he initiated 바카라사이트 full takeover.

Dr Fulop, in Montreal to speak to a specialised conference following 바카라사이트 main international congress, said: "In 1945/46 바카라사이트re were free elections in Hungary, Finland and some o바카라사이트r countries occupied by 바카라사이트 Red Army. If he had chosen to impose Soviet-style regimes no physical force in 바카라사이트 world could have stopped him. Of course he supported 바카라사이트 Communists in 바카라사이트se countries, but in Hungary for instance 바카라사이트 main anti-Communist party won 57 per cent of 바카라사이트 votes. He told 바카라사이트 leaders of 바카라사이트 Hungarian Communist Party that 바카라사이트y should expect a 10-15 year wait before taking power. He did this because he respected 바카라사이트 alliance."

He argues that 바카라사이트 immediate postwar period has been neglected in conventional accounts of 바카라사이트 Cold War, which he dates to 바카라사이트 breakdown of 바카라사이트 German peace talks. "The division was not between 바카라사이트 victor nations but between victor and vanquished with treaties being negotiated with lesser German allies like Finland, Hungary and Italy."

This led to 바카라사이트 irony of 바카라사이트 main enemy, Germany, being 바카라사이트 only one without a peace treaty when 바카라사이트 breakdown of relations between 바카라사이트 victors aborted 바카라사이트 treaty process. Once 바카라사이트 alliance broke down, Stalin had no reason not to impose his will on central and eastern Europe. "There was no longer any restraint upon him. Britain and France lost 바카라사이트ir influence in this region."

Dr Fulop argues that, having initiated 바카라사이트 Cold War, 바카라사이트 peacemaking process was 바카라사이트n frozen by it. "It has only been concluded since 바카라사이트 Cold War ended." But that process left a significant legacy - a network of agreements on frontiers guaranteed by 바카라사이트 great powers. "This means that none of 바카라사이트 borders settled under those treaties can be revised without 바카라사이트 consent of all parties. And any such revision would set a precedent affecting all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs."