7

The Russian language edition of this book was brought out in the autumn of 1970. In the two years that have passed the world has witnessed major events that have a direct bearing on the subject discussed in the book. I should like to say a few words about some of these events in the -4 foreword to this edition, which, with the exception of a few amendments and specifications, faithfully reproduces the Russian original.

The principal event, unquestionably, was the 24th -3 Congress of the CPSU, which enriched Marxist-Leninist theory with new propositions and conclusions and mapped out the CPSU’s home and foreign policy for the immediate future. The Peace Programme formulated by the Congress is of especially great significance to the subject dealt with in this book.

That programme may be justifiably regarded as a major contribution not only to the struggle for world peace and security but also to the ideological struggle in the world between the two social systems, as a document dealing a crushing blow at the foundations of anti-communism, which is trying to intimidate the peoples with fabrications about a "communist threat”, as a document that helps to educate the masses and activate their struggle for peace, an improved jinternational situation and international co-operation.

The Congress decisions derive their enormous strength from the fact that they are backed by the policy consistently pursued by the CPSU and the Soviet Government. This fully applies also to the Peace Programme. By steadfastly -3 carrying it out during the two years that have elapsed since the Congress, the Soviet Union has secured some -5 momentous changes in the international situation.

p Above all, this concerns the situation in Europe. The USSR-FRG and Polish-FRG treaties have helped to remove the most formidable barriers to an improvement of the 8 GEORGI ARBATOV ") political atmosphere and create favourable conditions for a further drive towards setting up a system of collective security and fostering constructive co-operation between the peoples of Europe. Also, this concerns Soviet-US relations, in which the outlines can now be seen of a marked shift towards normalisation. President Richard M. Nixon’s visit to Moscow and the treaties and agreements that were signed as a result of the talks are a considerable contribution not only towards improving the relations between the two countries but also towards strengthening world peace and security.

p Recent developments have given evidence that in our epoch of transition from capitalism to socialism one of the factors introducing far-reaching changes in international relations and diplomacy is the active struggle of the peoples for their foreign political interests. This is one of the principal factors that predetermined the new tendencies in the policies of the USA, the Federal Republic of Germany and many other countries, where with growing determination public opinion is demanding the eradication of manifestations of the cold war and denouncing military adventures and the arms race.

p A major source giving the Soviet Union’s principled peace policy its strength is that its aims have the support of the working class, of broad sections of public opinion throughout the world, and activate the massive struggle for peace, security and international co-operation.

p At the same time, recent developments have shown that the international situation can be changed only as a result of a resolute struggle against imperialist reaction. The ideological front, the battle for people’s minds, remains one of the principal bridgeheads of that struggle. The 24th Congress of the CPSU drew special attention to the tasks that in this field confront the communist movement and all the other forces of peace and progress. All the more is this true in view of the fact that far from dying down, the ideological struggle remains acute in spite of the relaxation of international tension.

p It seems to me that these considerations have a direct bearing on all the chapters of this book.

G. Arbatov