Initial Stages of the Soviet-Liberian Relations in 1972—1974: New Horizons and Impediments

Abstract

The given article is devoted to the topic of Soviet-Liberian relations development at the outset of 1970s, the era of greatest mutual expectations and openness upon William Tolbert’s assent to power in Liberia. It was this particular timeframe that saw Liberian leadership willing to divert from its traditional Western-oriented foreign policy course for the sake of the country’s more rapid development and elevation within African political landscape and to promote relations with previously highly mistrusted socialist commonwealth nations. USSR and Liberia took advantage of new opportunities to develop their relations and by the end of 1972 exchanged the embassies, opening a new page in direct bilateral diplomatic engagement. The given publication covers the aspects that have had the most profound effect on the occurring relations development and dynamic, political, economic, and humanitarian ties, their regional and international context. Historical-political and polycentric analysis to determine the key diplomatic and political figures interested in rapprochement between the two countries, external and internal trends limiting the capacities of both parties and causing disruptions in relations’ development. The article is based on a broad body of documents connected to the evolving Soviet-Liberian diplomatic relations, predominantly from the Russian Federation Foreign Policy Archive (AVPRF), as well as materials from the Russian State Modern History Archive (RGANI), the Russian Federation State Archive (GARF) and the US National Archives and Records Administration (US Embassy in Liberia documentation), along with interviews with immediate participants of the events examined representing the Liberian side.