A Study Of The Soviet Union's Burma Policy(1948-1962)

This paper studies the evolution of the Soviet Union's policy towards Burma from 1948 to 1962.The author intends to sort out the different changes and restrictive factors of the Soviet Union's policy in different periods,and finally analyze the influence of the Soviet Union's policy in Burma.The text is divided into four chapters.The first chapter introduces Stalin's foreign policy towards Southeast Asia after the Second World War,analyzes Burma's view on the Soviet Union in this period,and then summarizes the history of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Burma.In the early postwar period,the Soviet Union had little time for the colonial powers of Liberation Movement.In Stalin's view,the newly independent colonial powers,especially Burma,which negotiated peace with Britain,were merely imperial vassals.For its part,the government is worried about Soviet interference in the communist insurgency.So even as a significant portion of the population sought rapprochement with the Soviet Union,U Nu turned to Britain and the United States for assistance in national reconstruction.The second chapter analyzes the adjustment of Soviet Union's foreign policy after Khrushchev came to power,and expounds the opportunity of warming up the relations between the Soviet Union and Burma.Different from Stalin,Khrushchev actively interfered in the affairs of third world countries and raised the strategic position of newly independent countries including Burma.The end of the Korean War made Burma's rice unsalable,while the competition with U.S.food intensified Burma's economic crisis.China actively eased Sino-Burma relations during this period,laying a foundation for the improvement of relations between the Soviet Union and Burma.The third chapter mainly discusses the process and results of the state visits of the leaders of the Soviet Union and Burma after 1955.Through the exchange of visits,the two countries have deepened their cooperation in the fields of economy,culture,science and technology.Concerned about Burma's communist state,the United States eased relations with Burma and approved a policy of aid.The fourth chapter analyzes the external factors that affect Soviet Union's policy towards Burma.China has been actively improving the relations between China and Burma and has played a significant role in promoting the detente between the Soviet Union and Burma.Due to the problem of Kuomintang remnants in northern Burma,Burma suspended U.S.aid and the government turned to the Soviet Union and China for help.India,as a big country in the third world,the improvement of the relations between the Soviet Union and India has promoted the development of the relations between the Soviet Union and Burma.The conclusion comments on the Soviet Union's influence on Burma policy from 1948 to 1962.The cultural differences between the Soviet Union and Burma are quite large,and their political status and economic strength are quite different.The two countries also have different strategic demands in developing bilateral relations.The Soviet Union's decision in Burma was not particularly successful.Although it obtained rice,rubber,minerals and other materials,it did not turn Burma into a pro-Soviet country.The Soviet Union's aid to Burma is not enough to deepen Burma's economic dependence on the Soviet Union.Burma,on the other hand,has a relatively strong sense of autonomy and security and adheres to a foreign policy of neutrality,which greatly reduces the aid effect of the Soviet Union.