On The Ideological Factors In The Evolution Of Sino-Arab Relations (1961-1979)

During the Cold War,contradictions and conflicts erupted within the Eastern Bloc frequently.The evolution of the relations between China and Albania was one of them.The Sino-Albanian relations developed from closeness in the 1960 s to deterioration in the 1970 s was ups and downs.The ideological factor played an important role in the evolution of the relations:the identical ideology caused the formation of Sino-Albanian Alliance,while the contrary ideology caused the alliance split.At present,the research about the Sino-Albanian relationship is still deficient in the academia.This paper mainly investigates the ideological influence on the evolution by using comparative analysis method combined with the relevant ideological theory to analyze the evolution of the relationship.The identical ideology caused the formation of Sino-Albanian Alliance.From 1961 to 1967,it was the period of high approval of the ideology between China and Albania,which manifested in four aspects.Firstly,they both opposed the U.S.-led imperialist camp.Secondly,they opposed the “revisionism” of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union jointly.Thirdly,they both advocated the thought of revolution and appealed “world revolution”.Lastly,they both “took class struggle as the central task” and launched “ideological and cultural revolution” at home.However,in 1960 s,there were ideological differences in the identity which foreshadowed the following contradictions.Difference and identity is contradictory and identical.With the transformation of international situation in the late 1960 s and the early 1970 s,the leaders of the two parties and countries made different judgments for the relations between the national interests and ideology and different selections about their own ideology what they believed in.China began to abandon traditional diplomatic ideas,of which foreign policy gradually focused on national security interests and economic interests.What's more,China gradually abandoned the Stalin pattern and carried out the reform and opening up policy.However,Albania still stuck to the Cold War mentality and the Stalin pattern.There were four aspects of ideological contradictions between China and Albania in the period of contradictory ideology.Firstly,China advocated uniting America to against the Soviet Union,while Albania firmly opposed imperialism and“revisionism”.Secondly,China put forward the theory of “three world” and “a line ”,“a large”strategic thoughts,which were criticized by Albania.Thirdly,Albania disagreed with China to change the thought of “taking class struggle as the central task” and smash “the Gang of Four”.Lastly,China abandoned the Stalin pattern and carried out the reform and opening up policy,while Albania still stuck to the Stalin pattern.National interests are the starting point and ultimate purpose of foreign policy of the state.Ideology influences foreign policy by definiting natioanal interests.From the late 1960 s to 1970 s,the Sino-Albanian ideological confrontations led to the diplomatic opposition of the two countries,which related to the improvement in the Sino-Yugoslavian relations,the detente of the Sino-Soviet relations and the normalization of Sino-U.S.relations.The ideological confrontations collapsed the foundation of Sino-Albanian Alliance and led to sharply diplomatic opposition to them.The Sino-Albanian relations eventually broken down coupled with the disputes in the economic and military assistance.This paper can further enrich the research of the Sino-Albanian relations in the academia because the evolution of the relations was been paid little attention before.The paper also helps to understand the relations between ideology and national interests correctly and the Sino-Albanian relations by analyzing ideological factors in the evolution of the relations.