Asses Soviet Foreign Policy in the Period 1924-41

Soviet foreign policy in the period of 1925-1945 under Stalin is viewed by historians in both positive and negative ways. After Lenin’s death in 1924, the course of Soviet foreign policy somewhat changed and there were many key events which many argue changed the course of Russian history. Many people wondered if Stalin would carry on the mantle from Lenin’s somewhat successful foreign policy, but was this the case?

Stalin was different to others in the Bolshevik party, others such as Trotsky wanted to spark a world revolution of communism so that it would spread and grow. Stalin, instead opted for the policy of Socialism in one country. Stalin thought that communism must reach its full potential in Russia for risking the Soviet Union's safety by taking it abroad. Chris Korin suggests that “Nowhere is this policy clearer than in his policy towards the communist party in China”.

Another great aspect of Soviet foreign policy in the early 1930s was collective security, this meant working with other states to stop fascist expansion. The move towards this in the USSR can be seen in Litvinovs speech in December 1933. Some Historians argue that up until the Munich conference in 1938 Litvinov was in charge of Soviet foreign policy while Stalin did very little. However, relations with Germany were never broken off and behind the scenes between 1935 and 1937 there were negotiations on improving political and economic relations.

In 1934, the Politburo had proposed that the USSR joined the League of Nations and they became a member. Litvinov was active in the League and he was hopeful it could be an affective body.

In May 1935, the Soviet Union signed mutual assistance pacts with France and Czechoslovakia. They were obliged to help the Czechs only if France came in too. Although these pacts were good for the USSR’s reputation as a supporter of collective security, neither were backed by military talks. Litvinov had no illusions, “Our security will remain...