ABSTRACT
Western policy toward Eastern Europe should set aside philosophical debate about extremes. Direct Western military intervention is next to impossible, as is a massive uprising throughout the region that would "liberate it" from the Soviet Union. The central issue is Western skill, creativity, and level of effort in trying to achieve this goal. Between the extremes of passivity and force there is an extraordinary terrain, and in it the opportunities for Western engagement are growing at an unprecedented rate. A clear concept of Western economic participation in Eastern Europe could realistically set as a goal that within the next twenty-five years, the six countries will become mixed economies with a much greater role for the market and greater economic involvement with the West. Many meaningful and regular policy discussions should take place among Western countries and could include Japan and other Asian countries whose role in the region is growing.
