Å. Egge. Soviet diplomacy in Norway and Sweden during the interwar period — the role of Alexandra Kollontai // Petersburg historical journal, no. 3, 2022, pp. 153–171

Abstract:
This article analyzes the activities of Soviet diplomacy in Norway and Sweden during the interwar period and the role of Alexandra Mikhailovna Kollontai in the development of Soviet-Norwegian and Soviet-Swedish relations during those years. Between 1923 and 1930 (with a brief interruption in 1926–1927, when she served as Ambassador Plenipotentiary to Mexico) and in Sweden from 1930 to 1945 (from 1943, already with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary), Kollontai was chief of the Soviet diplomatic mission in Norway. Kollontai actively established contacts and promoted initiatives that could enhance the prestige of the Soviet Union. She possessed a tremendous capacity for work and open-mindedness. Kollontai always remained loyal to her country. However, she had an independent mind and did not hesitate to voice her own opinion and give advice to her superiors.

Keywords:
Alexandra Kollontai, Soviet diplomacy, Norwegian-Soviet relations, Soviet-Swedish relations.

Author:
Egge, Åsmund — Emeritus Professor at the University of Oslo (Norway).
E-mail: asmund.egge@iakh.uio.no

FULLSCREEN TEXT

Similar Posts

PHJ No 3 (35) 2022 – L. V. Vyskochkov. Notes and projects of M. M. Speransky in the historiography of Russian source studies

The article discusses the main stages of the publication of the notes and projects by M. M. Speransky (1772–1839), who created hundreds of works on philosophy, jurisprudence, morality, religion, realized and unrealized projects of the state system, which were published and republished from 1802 to the present. In historiography, his early works are the most studied, in particular, his constitutional draft of 1809.

PHJ No 3 (35) 2022 – V. V. Mirkin. Mobilization forms of labor organization in telecommunications (1940s–1980s, on the example of Siberia)

On the basis of publications of communications periodicals (Vestnik Svyazi, Elektrosvyaz magazines), regional periodics, departmental publications, as well as archival materials, on the example of the Siberian departments, the personnel policy of the Soviet telecommunications industry in the post-war period is considered, the use of various mobilization forms and methods of labor organization. A brief review of such practices is provided.

PHJ No 3 (35) 2022 – M. N. Baryshnikov. Gorchakovs and operations of Russian steam navigation and trading company in Western Mediterranean

The article examines the nature of the emerging relations between the Minister of Foreign Affairs A.M. Gorchakov and his son Mikhail and the Russian steam navigation and trading company in connection with the functioning of the Western Mediterranean shipping lines focused on the development of transport links with the ports of France and Spain. The study allows not only to evaluate the effectiveness of these relations, but also to more fully present the reasons for the company’s reorientation to the Middle East and Persian areas of operations, determined by Russia’s long-term interests in these regions.

PHJ No 1 (37) 2023 – L.Sadova. The abolition of the “Customs Convention” (Mellomrikslov) in 1895: the perception of contemporaries and the impact on the Swedish-Norwegian union

The article examines the question of the degree of influence of the abolition of the “Customs Convention” in 1895 on Swedish-Norwegian relations, as well as the degree of involvement of economic issues in the political struggle between the two countries. The main objective of the study is to try to answer the question — whether the termination of the convention was a political action or had economic expediency.

PHJ No 1 (37) 2023 – G.N.Ivanov. The Treaty of Nystad in the history of Sweden and Swedish historiography

In Russian scientific literature the signature of the Treaty of Nystad is seen as a milestone event. A great number of scholarly works focused on the significance of the Treaty of Nystad to Russia and its place in Russian history. However, such approach overlooks the views of Swedish society on its significance and subsequent reflection of the Treaty of Nystad in the history of the country. The present work is intended to fill this gap and reveal whether the Treaty of Nystad is perceived as a significant event in the history of Sweden.

PHJ No 3 (35) 2022 – A. B. Gekht. Under the scrutiny of criticism: financial and industrial group of the Wallenberg family and public sentiment in Sweden in the 1960s

This article is devoted to the consideration of the diverse public rhetoric in the 1960s towards Sweden’s largest financial and industrial group controlled by the Wallenberg family. A discussion about the nature of Wallenberg’s activities outside the kingdom, primarily in the developing countries of Latin America and Africa, became especially noticeable. Among the consequences of the harsh criticism of the Wallenbergs was the subsequent strengthening of government regulatory measures in the Swedish economy in the late 1960s, which affected the financial sector, which was so important for the financial and industrial group under their control.