Stalin's Foreign Policy Objectives: Defending the Soviet Union?

Stalin's main aim in foreign policy was to defend the Soviet Union from attack. This shift in policy can be seen through his departure from the promotion of world socialist revolution, which was advocated by Lenin and Trotsky, towards a focus on "Socialism in One Country." Stalin argued that the Comintern would not be able to achieve revolution elsewhere and that it was not necessary to foment world revolution for socialism to be successfully built in the Soviet Union. As a result, he changed the focus of the Comintern to protecting the security of the Soviet state rather than aiming for world revolution.

Stalin consistently favored a policy of collective security against Nazi Germany. In 1934, the Soviet Union joined the League of Nations and signed mutual assistance pacts with France and Czechoslovakia in 1935. The Comintern also shifted its stance, no longer denouncing social democratic and Labour parties as "social fascists" and instead aiming to create anti-fascist popular fronts, such as in France and Spain. However, it became apparent with the Munich Conference in 1938 that the Soviet Union could not rely on support from Britain and France, and that collective security had failed. This realization necessitated a new policy, leading to the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939.

Contrary to popular belief, it was Hitler rather than Stalin who departed from the stance of good relations between Germany and the Soviet Union. There were continued contacts and negotiations between the two nations from 1933 to 1937, and it was Stalin's flexibility and willingness to reach agreements that was most beneficial to the Soviet Union. An agreement with Germany would allow the Soviet Union to carry out an aggressive foreign policy by expanding its territory and sphere of influence into Poland and the Baltic States.

Stalin's attitude towards China and Japan also displayed some inconsistency. While there was conflict with China in 1929 over the Manchurian Chinese Eastern Railway and in 1934 with the Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang, this gave way to a Non-Aggression Pact in 1937, supplemented by military and financial aid for China. This shift in policy was influenced by the deteriorating relationship with Japan, following the 1931 Invasion of Manchuria and the signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact between Germany and Japan in 1936. These factors may have partially influenced the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939.

In conclusion, Stalin's main aim in foreign policy was to defend the Soviet Union from attack. He shifted the focus of the Comintern towards protecting the security of the Soviet state rather than promoting world revolution. His preferred policy was one of collective security against Nazi Germany, but the failure of collective security led to the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Stalin's flexibility and willingness to reach agreements were driven by what was most beneficial to the Soviet Union, as seen in his negotiations with Germany. The inconsistency in his attitude towards China and Japan can be attributed to the changing dynamics of international relations during that time.