Soviet Diplomacy: Waging and Winning Its Own War. Introduction to the Forum

This editorial introduces a series of papers based on presentations made at the “Soviet Diplomacy during World War II” conference held at MGIMO on June 30, 2023. It draws attention to notable aspects of Soviet diplomacy during the wartime period. First, it highlights the persistence of Soviet diplomats and their negotiating skills despite significant divergences in interests and approaches. Second, it discusses their ability to strike a careful balance between maintaining one’s position and employing flexibility and pragmatism to achieve the ultimate objective of victory over the enemy. Third, the article examines the history of international negotiations during the Second World War as an illustration of the clash between and interaction of prominent political figures, notably emphasizing how Joseph Stalin often outplayed his counterparts in this personalized “diplomacy of leaders.” The history of the Second World War eloquently shows that diplomacy is crucial both in times of war and in the transition to peace, as well as in the establishment of a new global order.