The Struggle for the Shaping of the Republic of Guinea Foreign Policy in 1958—1961; [Борьба за внешнеполитический выбор Гвинейской Республики в 1958—1961 гг.]

The given article examines the processes of West Africa's involvement in the Cold War in 1958—1961 through the lens of the foreign policy emergence in the Republic of Guinea, the first independent African country that began to foster close relations with the socialist bloc countries and attempted to make this cooperation a driver of its socioeconomic development. The article examines the major reasons for the shaping of this course during this period, divided into several categories. First of all, the significance of the influence great powers actively involved in the Cold War’ had on Guinea is considered. Separate special attention is allocated to impact on Guinea exerted by regional neighbors utilizing cooperation with great powers to pursue their own regional agenda. And finally, a special emphasis in the study of the aspects of the Guinean foreign policy course emergence in 1958—1961 is drawn to the analysis of the internal political features of the newly independent state. Based on the results of this factor analysis relying on an array of previously unpublished sources, an assessment of their hierarchy is carried out, with attention to the features of Guinean politics later adopted by other African states that declared a socialist orientation. © 2024 Ltd Integration: Education and Science. All rights reserved.