p Twenty years is an insignificant period in the history of the world. A man who has reached the age of 20 enters a period of maturity. But in international relations two decades are a fairly long period. The Soviet Union’s official relations with independent African countries were established approximately 20 years ago, that is, when the latter won independence and freedom and took the difficult road of bringing society out of its colonial status. In these years substantial experience has been accumulated in international cooperation based on equality, respect for sovereignty, mutual benefit and disinterested assistance.

p As Leonid Brezhnev noted in his report to the 25th CPSU Congress, the Soviet Union has done a great deal to develop friendly relations with African countries. The political content of these links has become richer, and this substantially helps to strengthen the independence of the young states, consolidate the unity and solidarity of the world socialist system and the national liberation movement, and steadily shift the balance of world forces in their favour.

p At the same time it is obvious that the national revival of African countries is an uneven process. In some of them it is impeded by internal reaction, and in all of them by neocolonialism. Many African states are undergoing the complicated process of differentiation of class forces and the class struggle is intensifying. This is a natural pattern of development of the newly free countries and is reflected in their foreign policy which is always organically linked with internal social relations. As class differentiation 309 continues, forces opposing closer cooperation with the socialist world begin to emerge in individual African countries. Not the least role here is played by nationalism and negative external influences. But in the final analysis international relations are a totality of economic, political, ideological, social, diplomatic, military and other links between the peoples in the broadest sense of the word. Hence the basic criterion for the Soviet Union’s relations with independent African countries today and for the future, too, is their conformity with the interests of the peoples of both sides concerned.

p Another important circumstance is that a substantial social and political differentiation has been going on in Africa for several years already. Having taken different roads of social development, independent countries are becoming increasingly unlike in terms of the nature of their administration and, consequently, in their choice of friends and allies. This differentiation is supplemented by their uneven economic development depending either on the abundance or shortage of natural resources and on whether their economic transformations are progressive or not.

p Hence, when examining the dynamics of Soviet-African cooperation, it is necessary to adhere to Lenin’s method: "Only an objective consideration of the sum total of the relations between absolutely all the classes in a given society, and consequently a consideration of the objective stage of development reached by that society and of the relations between it and other societies, can serve as a basis for the correct tactics of an advanced class. At the same time, all classes and all countries are regarded, not statically, but dynamically.... Motion, in its turn, is regarded from the standpoint, not only of the past, but also of the future."  [309•1 

p The content and the forms of Soviet-African cooperation take into account the position of the majority of developing African countries in the capitalist system of economy. Their position depends, first, on their economic backwardness resulting from colonial oppression; second, on dependence stemming from backwardness, which enables the imperialist monopolies to retain, albeit in new forms, 310 important positions in their economies; third, on discrimination and inequality cultivated by the industrialised capitalist states, and, fourth, on imperialism’s countermeasures designed to prevent their economic and social emancipation. In recent years this opposition has been backed by theneocolonialists’ Maoist supporters who evidently believe that the weaker the ’developing countries are economically, the easier it will be to impose their will upon them. All these factors are dialectically interconnected and largely determine the nature of the national liberation struggle in the sphere of international economic relations and also the foreign policy priorities of many African countries.

p There are many obstacles on the way to economic independence. On the one hand, the newly free states have to combine their domestic policy with a determined antiimperialist struggle, and, on the other, to strengthen and deepen their cooperation with the socialist world. Economic independence by no means signifies national economic self-sufficiency. On the contrary, the attainment of such independence depends among other things on the establishment and extensive use of equitable and mutually beneficial international division of labour designed to promote economic progressive reorganisation and development of the former colonies and semi-colonies. The Soviet Union and other socialist states resolutely favour such a system of international relations and want to broaden their economic cooperation with African countries on the basis of full equality and non-interference in internal affairs.

p It is defined in the decisions of the 25th CPSU Congress and fixed in the new Constitution of the USSR that the Soviet Government will continue to act in line with these principles. This is a manifestation of the real internationalism of the USSR, of the class approach of the state of developed socialism to issues of foreign policy which in such a state is always of a general democratic nature, concerns the whole of humanity and conforms to the interests of the people, including those in the developing countries. The class character of the policy which expresses the nature of socialism finds its embodiment in the fact that its purpose is to support the national liberation movement and promote all-round, equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation with the newly free states.

p At the present stage Soviet-African relations fully 311 conform to the changes that are taking place in the developing world, chiefly to the fact that the struggle for raising the economic, social and cultural level of the people, for real national renovation and social emancipation is becoming the main trend of the revolutionary process in African and other liberated countries. It is a multiform struggle with numerous external and internal aspects including the creation of conditions for solving social problems, and also the introduction of such changes in all spheres of society’s life which would help to wipe out exploitation of man by man, the chief factor of social inequality and oppression. The struggle for social emancipation, for the choice of a path of socio-economic and political development is, in the final analysis, a class struggle. That is why cooperation with the Soviet Union and other socialist states is a matter of special importance for the countries which are waging this struggle. Today the main trend of mankind’s social progress is the development of the socialist countries, the growth of their might and enhancement of the beneficial influence of their policy in the world arena.

p The struggle for social emancipation is waged on both the international and national levels. On the international scene it is directed against the exploitation of the imperialist monopolies, for the reorganisation of the entire system of economic relations of the developing countries with the capitalist states on an equitable and democratic basis. Furthermore, it is a struggle against all forms of imperialist aggression, diktat and pressure. In our day it inevitably merges with the efforts to strengthen peace and to supplement political with military detente. If these objectives are not attained, the developing countries will find it extremely difficult, even impossible, to solve the fundamental task, that of creating productive forces which would guarantee their economic independence and, consequently, ensure their social emancipation 

p Such are the aims of Soviet foreign policy. The Programme of Further Struggle for Peace and International Cooperation, and for the Freedom and Independence of the Peoples adopted by \the 25th [CPSU Congress says in part: "Do everything to \deepen international detente, to embody it in concrete forms of mutually beneficial cooperation between states.... Work [for eliminating discrimination and all artificial barriers in international trade, and 312 all manifestations of inequality, diktat and exploitation in international economic relations."  [312•2  This stand created a firm basis for the further development of the Soviet Union’s multifold relations with independent African states.

p The social emancipation of African countries directly depends on their ability to solve a range of internal problems, including employment, organisation of public health and medical care, promotion of culture and higher education, construction of housing in towns with steadily growing populations and, what is especially important, on the solution of the national question. In order to find a cardinal solution to all these issues it is necessary to combat the externally-supported internal reaction, the neo-compradore bourgeoisie, tribal chiefs and the feudal stratum, which is gradually turning capitalist, and in many countries to fight against feudalism as a socio-economic formation, inasmuch as these forces oppose changes in the social structure, democratisation of the administration, and the eradication of social contrasts.

p The Soviet Union helps these countries on an ever increasing scale to solve these problems.

p The peoples of Africa aspire to economic independence, social emancipation and national revival, but the situation is by no means identical in all African countries. While the socialist-oriented states have already introduced important social transformations, the capitalist-oriented countries have to cope with more and more difficult social and political problems. The situation there is characterised by poverty, almost total illiteracy, backward health, increasing unemployment and inequality in the property status of the bulk of the people and the bourgeois upper crust.

p Clearly enough the capitalist-oriented countries cannot solve the basic economic and social problems. Moreover, all the hardships, evils and crises of the capitalist system of economy descend upon them with greater force. Yet, one cannot say that there is no economic growth in countries whose ruling circles have taken the capitalist path. But this growth is illusory and only strengthens their dependence on the capitalist world. Therefore there is a growing awareness 313 in the majority of African states that capitalism, as a system which is historically doomed to extinction, is only capable of reproducing new forms of exploitation. Socialism’s force of attraction has increased to even greater degree against the background of the further aggravation of contradictions in the capitalist countries.

p In this connection progressive African leaders speak about the need to put an end to the predominant (and sometimes even one-sided) orientation on the capitalist world. They emphasise the importance of expanding cooperation with the Soviet Union and other socialist countries whose planned economy is developing without crises or upheavals and is an example of dynamic growth.

p Needless to say, the socialist-oriented states encounter numerous difficulties on the way to their chosen goal, but they accumulate useful experience in the reorganisation of society and build up a basis for further progressive transformations.

p Socialist orientation should become the highway for the development of the newly free African countries because it alone guarantees success in the struggle for economic independence and social emancipation, whereas capitalist development drags the countries which follow this road deeper and deeper into the system of neocolonialism. It is also important that countries which reject capitalist development, strive to build a society free of exploitation, and advance towards socialism can widely rely on the Soviet Union and other socialist states. Their support is essential in view of the shift of the centre of gravity of the national liberation struggle into the socio-economic sphere.

p In his speech on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, Leonid Brezhnev said that the "socialist countries are staunch and reliable friends of these countries, and are prepared to give them all possible assistance and support in their development along the progressive path. This means not only moral and political, but also economic and organisational support, including assistance in strengthening their defences."  [313•3 

p It is necessary to note once again that the USSR is prepared to cooperate with all independent African countries. 314 The reason is that the cooperation of a socialist state with any developing country manifests their mutual interest !n combating imperialism, neocolonialism, and racialism and in building up a truly independent Africa.

p The Soviet Union never fails to take into account that, in spite of their different socio-political orientations, African countries have much in common. So far all of them are part of the capitalist world system of the economy, even if they do occupy a special place in it characterised by their growing antagonism towards imperialism.

p All of them have yet to attain economic independence, and all of them have a common enemy—neocolonialism and racialist regimes in Southern Africa.

p Taking advantage of the unequal status of the newly free African countries in the international division of labour, the neocolonialists now concentrate their main efforts on turning these countries into profitable industrial and raw material appendages of their economic structure and make them shoulder the greater part of costs of capitalist production. In order to achieve this and preserve the capitalist system as a whole, the West at times makes concessions to the African countries, resorts to economic and social manoeuvring and draws them into the system of capitalist integration.

p Industrialised capitalist countries cannot ignore the steadily increasing influence of the developing states on world affairs. But !the growing ’influence, the successes of the peoples of the newly free states in the struggle for economic and social emancipation and their ever stronger political independence encounter fierce opposition on the part of imperialism. As Leonid Brezhnev has noted, imperialism has not reconciled itself to such a course of events, and since its positions in some of the former colonies are still very strong the "imperialists are doing everything they can to try and retain these, and to deepen and extend them wherever possible".  [314•4  Hence the further aggravation of antagonisms between the (developing and the imperialist countries.

p It follows that for all the newly free African countries the movement towards real independence is indissolubly linked with counteraction against the new, renovated and 315 at times masked methods of neocolonialist expansion. On the other hand, the success of this counteraction largely depends on the consolidation of the alliance of these countries with the socialist world. Such is the logic and the objective basis of the prospects for the further development of Soviet-African relations. The problem can be formulated as follows: either friendship and cooperation with the USSR and other socialist countries, and reliance on their support in strengthening independence, or orientation on international capital, which inevitably leads to dependence and exploitation.

p This is the point of view of all realistically minded statesmen and politicians of independent Africa. They have noted time and again that the process of progressive changes in the former colonies could gain in width and depth only given the close cooperation of different national liberation contingents at all levels, unity of all anti-imperialist forces and, most importantly, stronger solidarity with the socialist world which is the main and decisive condition for victory. Reliance on the socialist community, interaction with the USSR and other socialist countries will enable the national liberation forces to score their biggest victories.

p As Leonid Brezhnev told the 25th GPSU Congress, the USSR has always been a reliable friend of the national liberation movement. "We are doing and will continue to do everything to develop and strengthen friendship with those who really want it. We and the vast majority of the states that arose on the ruins of the colonial system are united by a deep common allegiance to peace and freedom, and aversion to all forms of aggression and domination, and to exploitation of one country by another. This community of basic aspirations is rich and fertile soil on which our friendship will continue to grow and flourish."  [315•5 

There can be no doubt as regards the general trend of Africa’s development. The will of millions of African working people who have become aware of their objectives and of their place in life is an earnest of the consolidation of national independence and ultimate victory of a social ;ystem that knows neither exploitation nor oppression.