Shaping the Postwar World

This article discusses the role of Soviet diplomacy in shaping key decisions that led to the formation and operation of major UN bodies. The study analyses the period of activity of the UN Preparatory Commission, a topic that has not been extensively studied in historical literature. The author emphasises the importance of this preparatory phase in the history of the UN. This phase began with the adoption of the UN Charter in San Francisco in June 1945 and concluded with the convocation of the first General Assembly in January 1946. The article analyses the divergent approaches of the USSR, the USA, and Great Britain toward establishing an organisation dedicated to maintaining peace. Based on documents from the UN archives, the Archive of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation, as well as memoirs, the article analyses the Soviet approach to the UN. This approach was characterised by ambivalence, as the desire to maintain the status of a great power coexisted with distrust of international institutions. The author demonstrates that the USSR was less influenced by internal factors such as public opinion and parliamentary debates than the United States and Great Britain when making decisions. For the first time, data is provided on the inner workings of Soviet diplomacy, which faced various challenges, including a lack of qualified personnel and resources. These challenges made it difficult for the Soviet delegation to adapt to open diplomacy. The work contributes to a deeper understanding of the specific aspects of the Soviet approach to international relations. It helps to identify the motivations behind the USSR’s actions in the early years of the United Nations’ existence and assesses the contribution of Soviet diplomats to shaping the foundation of the Yalta-Potsdam system. The materials presented demonstrate the interconnection between the processes of the emergence of the Cold War, the formation of the UN, and the development of a bipolar system of international relations

Charter · Commission · Delegation · Diplomacy · Distrust · General assembly · Public opinion · Historical and Contemporary Political Dynamics · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Nuclear Issues and Defense