De-Stalinization and Non-Alignment: the international scenario from 1953 to 1962

Abstract

In this thesis we are going to analyse international situation and international relations during the process of de-Stalinization. In the first part, we will provide a historical overview of the de-Stalinization process, which can be divided into different phases, and which, since the death of the Stalin, has represented an important phase of Soviet history. Analysing the transcription of the Chruščëv’s “Secret Speech”, we will understand that this was a complex and well orchestrated political move made by Chruščëv to get power in his country. In the second part, the attention will be paid to international relations between those countries that were under the control of the Soviet Union during the post-WWII period. We will also see how the international situation has changed thanks to the de-Stalinization. In particular, we will focus on the case of the Yugoslavia, a country that was able to escape the Stalinist control, and that represents also the line of connection with the next part of this work. In the final part, we will to study the Non-Aligned Movement as a product of de-Stalinization. Using the final documents of the Summits of the movement and some resolutions of the United Nations, we will examine the parallels between these two inter-governmental organizations, because both of them have given significance contribution to the issue most considered in this script: development and disarmament. Thanks to de-Stalinization and to the progressive political removal from the control of the Soviet Union, some poor States found the courage to ask for help from industrialized countries, changing the international scenario. The de-Stalinization represents the turning point of the situation.