1924-1929: Foreign Policy
"Stalin was always cautious in his foreign policy in the 1920s."
Assess the validity of this view.
Why was Stalin cautious in foreign policy? As this was during the power
struggle, there was already division starting to grow within the Communist Party, and
therefore, it was necessary to focus on and deal with domestic affairs before involving
the USSR in any foreign affairs. Additionally, the NEP could be seen to be failing as the
1920s progressed, and therefore, it could be suggested that the finance wasn’t there to
support any foreign intervention.
Was Stalin cautious in foreign policy? Stalin was somewhat cautious through his
foreign policy. The Treaty of Berlin allowed more security for the USSR through the use of
Article 2 (if either country was attacked by a third country, the other would remain
neutral). However, Stalin heavily intervened in Chinese government by siding with the
GMD, which was far more reckless, as it meant that Stalin was later criticised for his
actions at the Party Congress of 1927 – this highlights that foreign affairs would have an
impact on internal affairs.
How successful was foreign policy? Overall, largely successful. Stalin managed
to secure the Treaty of Berlin, as he had hoped, and he had managed to eliminate his
rivals through his supporting of the GMD in China. He may not have been consistently
cautious, and there may have been limited effects on his foreign policy, but he took
actions that he deemed necessary, and often these paid off.
Factors Within Theme
Domestic Policy – finance (means to support a war), military, resources, securing USSR
through Treaty of Berlin
Communist Ideology – Socialism in One country, no pact with strongly capitalist
countries, interfering in China
Power Struggle – criticised by Trotsky for actions in China
Historiography
Question: "Stalin was always cautious in his foreign policy in the
1920s." Assess the validity of this view.
Conclusion: Overall, Stalin was largely cautious in his approach to foreign policy
throughout the 1920s, which is clear through his relations with Germany and his policy of
Socialism in One Country. However, it’s clear through his relations with China that he
wasn’t always cautious, hence the view is not entirely valid. An underlying theme of
Stalin’s foreign policy, is that his cautiousness coincided with a focus on domestic policy
and the power struggle, as towards the end of the 1920s, there’s a change towards being
more aggressive. This would suggest that foreign policy wasn’t a priority for Stalin at this
time, but it was necessary to secure the borders of the USSR so that he could secure his
position as leader.
Points
Stalin was cautious through relations with Germany.
, Articles
o Article 2 – if one of the two countries was attacked by a third, the other
would stay neutral
o Article 3 - neither country would join an economic boycott against the
other
Purpose of the treaty
o Aimed to build “trustful cooperation between the German people and the
peoples of the USSR”
Benefits of the treaty
o Economically - USSR received huge financial credits from German banks in
June 1926
Continued until Stresemann died - no intention to change it from either side
shows it was effective but also each country was trying to strengthen itself and
focus on internal affairs.
Socialism in One Country shows cautiousness
Change in opinion
o Had wanted to follow Lenin’s wish to spread socialism
o Changed this to one country
o Shows that priority is with domestic affairs
Comintern
o Before 1929, had been a low priority for Stalin
o Clear focus on domestic affairs as the priority changed in 1929
o Wanted to attack all social democratic parties in Europe
However, Stalin wasn’t cautious, which is shown through his relations with
China
Intervention
o Stalin supported the GMD
o He urged CCP to join the GMD
o When this failed, workers’ revolts were suppressed and CCP members were
massacred using funding and military assistance from the USSR
Effect on domestic affairs
o Disagreed with Trotsky on who to support
o Criticised at the 1927 Party Congress
o Trotsky accused Stalin of betraying communism, but it didn’t stick
