Perceptions of Soviet Power and Influence

Abstract

Concepts like power and influence, however precisely they might be defined, have many intangible elements. I hope therefore you will be tolerant of my imprecisions and impressionistic judgments. Moreover, the notion of perceptions has become a fashionable way to describe any problem or inconsistency — one simply says: ‘that’s my perception and somebody else may have a different perception’. Nothing is what it really is; it is only a perception. Thus that part of my topic, too, lends itself to a certain amount of vagueness.