ABSTRACT
The main body of the "socialist camp" under Soviet hegemony is made up of the ten full members of the Moscow–dominated Council of Mutual Economic Assistance. This chapter discusses some of the political, ideological, and economic issues underlying the special relationship existing between the Comecon countries and the LDCs characterized by their "socialist orientation." The Kremlin leaders tended to consider a redefinition of Comecon's original organizational scope and political aims in favor of its enlargement by additional Third World members. The uncertain prospects for the success of "socialist–oriented" LDCs in setting up a sufficiently solid "material–technological foundation" for the envisaged construction of and transition to "socialism" became a staple subject for discussions hinging on the feasibility problem. The agreements were intended to defuse accumulated resentment among the observer countries which, although still considering themselves candidates for full Council for Mutual Economic Assistance member status, had become more and more exasperated by Comecon's stonewalling tactics.
