Development of Romanian-Soviet relations in 1950s and 1960s.

This thesis deals with relations between Romania and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 60s. It aims to analyse which elements had an impact on relations between Bucharest and Moscow. After the death of J. V. Stalin, there was relaxation in relations within the eastern bloc. Romanian communists, under the leadership of Gheorgiu-Dej, had very ambitious plans for the industrialisation of the country, which would guarantee them national sovereignty. A significant moment during was the withdrawal of the Soviet troups from Romania in 1958. Khrushchev's criticism of Stalin's Cult of Personality, combined with his policy of peaceful coexistence with the West, enabled Romania to pursue its own way towards socialism based on the polycentric perception of the world communist movement, national sovereignty, and independence. Contradictions existed between the two countries, not only in bilateral relations, but in international organisations of the eastern bloc, such as CMEA and the Warsaw Pact. Soviet proposals for economic specialisation of the CMEA countries and for transforming the Warsaw Pact into an supra-national organisation were considered unacceptable to Romanians. Romania sought support for its economic plans in maoist China. The dismissive position of Romania towards the Soviet proposals differed..