ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a brief outline of Soviet interests in the eastern Mediterranean in 1967, showing how the pursuit of regional objectives risked a global confrontation. It discusses how focusing on the contradictions between Soviet regional and global objectives helps explain Soviet risk-taking in 1967 and suggests how further research into the effects of value conflict can contribute to the study of crisis decision making and deterrence. The chapter presents a framework for analysis of the effect of value conflict on decision-making and outlines how it may be used to examine Soviet actions during the crisis and war of 1967. When the violence of the Arab-Israeli conflict escalated, the dilemma of Soviet superpower became more acute as the objective of maintaining relations with and influence over Syria and Egypt began to clash with the need to avoid a Soviet-American confrontation. The Soviet press resounded throughout the phase of the conflict with condemnations of the Israeli attack.
