EAST-WEST DETENTE AND MUTUAL ECONOMIC GAINS

This strategic analysis examines the economic dimensions of East-West détente during the early 1980s, investigating the potential for mutual economic gains between Western market economies and Eastern planned economies despite ongoing political tensions. The article explores the theoretical foundations of East-West economic cooperation and analyzes the practical mechanisms through which such cooperation could generate mutual benefits. The research investigates specific sectors where East-West economic complementarities existed, including energy trade, technology transfer, industrial cooperation, and agricultural exchanges. The study examines the institutional frameworks for East-West economic relations, including bilateral trade agreements, credit arrangements, and joint venture mechanisms. The article assesses the impact of political factors on economic cooperation, including human rights concerns, strategic export controls, and linkage politics. The research also evaluates the distribution of economic benefits between Eastern and Western partners and identifies factors that facilitate or constrain mutually advantageous economic relations. Furthermore, the analysis considers the future prospects for East-West economic cooperation in the evolving international environment.

East-West economic relations represented a crucial dimension of international political economy during the Cold War, with this article providing a comprehensive analysis of mutual economic gains potential during the early 1980s détente period. The research begins by examining the historical context of East-West economic relations, tracing the evolution from post-war isolation to emerging cooperation during earlier détente phases and subsequent tensions. The analysis explores the theoretical foundations of East-West economic complementarity, examining how differences in economic systems, factor endowments, and technological capabilities create potential gains from trade and cooperation. The article investigates specific sectors with significant cooperation potential, including energy trade where Soviet resources could meet Western demand, technology transfer where Western innovations could enhance Eastern productivity, and industrial cooperation where complementary manufacturing capabilities could be leveraged. The study examines the institutional framework for East-West economic relations, analyzing bilateral trade agreements, credit arrangements through organizations like COCOM, and joint venture mechanisms that emerged during the détente period. The research assesses the impact of political factors on economic cooperation, including how human rights concerns, strategic export controls, and broader geopolitical tensions influenced economic relations. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article identifies both achieved and potential mutual economic gains and analyzes the conditions necessary for expanding beneficial economic cooperation. The findings provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between political relations and economic cooperation in divided international systems and contribute to understanding how economic interdependence can develop despite fundamental political differences.