Sociology Report: Foreign Policy, Realism, and the Soviet Union

This report delves into the intricacies of foreign policy, particularly examining the influence of realism in international relations. It analyzes the collapse of the Soviet Union, highlighting key figures like Aleksandr Yakovlev and the impact of policies such as glasnost and perestroika. The report explores the significance of economic factors and societal ideologies in shaping foreign policy outcomes, emphasizing the importance of realism over political ideologies in times of complexity. The analysis references the works of Leon Aron and K.W. Thompson, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject matter.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SOCIOLOGY
Foreign policy is one of the most difficult and complicated factors for understanding the
politics in the international sphere. Political realism is definitely one of the most crucial factors
in this scenario. In this article, the author has stated the fact that Russia is on the verge of facing
another perestroika moment (Aron 2007). The concept of realism has to go through several other
approaches and the author has discussed about the foreign policies that of China and Russia, two
countries based on communist and socialist thoughts. In the article Leon Aron has tried to
establish the fact that these communist countries have focused on the concept of realism through
which they would be able to establish their foreign policies with different countries.
The control of the East European countries was no more in the hands of Russia and
Kremlin after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Cold War had been one of the major
influences during these times and United States of America became the primary driving force
behind the demise of the Soviet Union. Here the author has discussed about Aleksandr Yakovlev
who was also recognized as the ‘godfather of glasnost’ (Aron 2007). It has been discussed that
Gorbachev did not like the way of violence and he judged the situations with proper realism.
The issue of the spiritual slavery will be one of the most crucial facts that should be
addressed in this scenario. The foreign relations like glasnost and perestroika could not save the
downfall of communism and the Soviet Union. Therefore, it is very clear from the ideals of the
author that realism of the society is more important than the political ideologies when the
complications will arise more (Thompson 2015). The resurgence of a healthy economy will
always be helpful for the growth of realism in terms of countries.

2SOCIOLOGY
References
Aron, L.R., 2007. Russia's revolution: essays 1989-2006. Aei Press.
Thompson, K.W., 2015. Political realism and the crisis of world politics. Princeton University
Press.