This study seeks to determine how patterns of communist rule in East Central Europe have changed since Stalin's death. This study presents three alternative projections of the future relationships of East Central European countries to the Soviet Union; namely, evolving independence, genuine alliance, and continuing Soviet domination. Because of the identity of views among bloc leaderships regarding ideology, goals, and world outlook, a genuine alliance between the Soviet Union and its former satellites appears to be, during the coming decade, the most likely development. A changing perception of the threat of Soviet power to the West, to which liberalizing trends in East Central Europe have contributed, engenders hazards to the security of the United States and its Western allies. The major NATO powers in Western Europe have reduced their defense budgets as well as their troop commitments to NATO. They justify these reductions by pointing to benign changes in the world situation, in general, and in East-West relations, in particular. At the same time, the Soviet Union has continued to develop its strategic capabilities vis-a-vis the United States and has strengthened the Warsaw Pact by the introduction of modern equipment.

Contents: The Role of the Communist Party 1952-1966; Relations Among the Countries of East Central Europe; The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; The Warsaw Pact and Western Security; Relations of East Central European Countries with the West; East Central Europe--The Case for Independence; The Case for an Evolving Genuine Alliance between the Soviet Union, and East Central Europe; The Case for Soviet Predominance and Manipulation.