Kazan and Manchu: Cultural Roots of Soviet Foreign Relations

Abstract

Proceeding from the assumption that there is a living past influencing decision-makers' images of their country and the world, this article discusses probable conscious and subconscious perceptions of the nature of Russia's foreign relations among the present Soviet leadership. The article argues that Soviet leaders have been used to looking upon the foreign relations of their state as one of dominance and surveillance of weak neighbors- the precedence being the incorporation of the Kazan Khanate into Russia in 1552 - and of isolationist peaceful coexistence with strong empires - the precedence being relations with Manchu China in the 18th century. The article maintains that Soviet foreign policy can be interpreted as having attempted to pursue the Kazan-dominance and the Manchu-coexis tence line simultaneously. Relations developed with Finland and Yugoslavia from 1940 are seen as the result of aborted Kazanization. It is concluded that the reaction of the Manchu partner USA to the Soviet Kazan-like treatment of Afghanistan in 1979-80 indicates that the two models interfere with each other and are thus difficult to uphold.