ABSTRACT
This chapter presents survey and interview data which confirm from July 1975 to July 1976 Soviet Area Executives remained solidly in favor of the development of United States (US)-Soviet trade and detente. Viewed in the perspective of the International Trade Politics Model, it also presents specific findings which have several theoretical implications. A basic tenet of the various economic influence theories which argue that US business constitutes a ruling class or "power elite" in the US is that the political views and political behavior of senior-level American businessmen are molded by economic self-interest. A basic proposition of the hypothesis that trade can have a "spill-over" or "ripple effect" on other aspects of Soviet-American relations is that international trading relationships. Because they are founded on reciprocal economic benefit, have an inherent stability not easily disrupted by international political events.
