SUMMIT MEETINGS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
In: Journal of peace research, Band 1, Heft 1, S. 36-54
ISSN: 0022-3433
`Summit meetings' are defined as ad hoc meetings where heads of state &/or heads of gov &/or foreing ministers from at least 2 of the big powers are present. 147 meetings of this kind in the period Jun 1941 to Jun 1961 are analyzed using as independent variable the diff phases in East-West relations. As dependent variables use is made of a number of indicators of how limited or restricted the meetings were in scope &/or participation. The data give a certain support to a combination of hyp's about the effects of polarization & predictability in soc relations, but there are also alternative interpretations. The data seem to indicate that summit meetings are used most often & in a least restricted way when: (1) there is an alliance against a 3rd power, or (2) there is conflict, with bloc-formation (relatively) completed. The standard polarization hypothesis in sociol'al theory is then modified so as to be valid only till the conflict org's have been completed & predictability has been obtained, but it is indicated that contact in this late phase of the history of a conflict may be of little instrumental value. Finally the need is pointed out for a permanent pattern of summit contact, perhaps within the framework of the UN while the big powers can use ad hoc meetings as pol'al sanctions. HA.