1. Research Proposal “Sino-Soviet Split” Designing Social Inquiry Sakhayaana I34028

2. Puzzle WHY did the Sino-Soviet split occur and how it affected the international world order? Sub-question: Why USSR despite their plight during the Cold War succumbed to Chinese provocations?

3. Background On 1 October 1949, Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China 1950 Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance 1949-1957 Sino-Soviet relations appeared in perfect harmony. Mao: “The socialist camp must have one head, and that head can only be the USSR.”

4. Sino-Soviet Split 1953 Stalin death, Khrushchev leadership 1958~ mutual criticism and hostility between Mao and Khrushchev 1959 USSR cancels Sino-Soviet Agreement on atomic cooperation 1960 USSR withdraws all economic aid and advisers from China 1965 USSR develops policy of trying to isolate China in international affairs 1969 Heavy fighting at Damansky Island on the Ussuri River when Chinese troops attack Soviet border guards 1971 US table team visited China at invitation of its government (Ping-Pong diplomacy) 1972 Nixon visits Beijing

5. Importance Overall, the Sino-Soviet confrontation, which reached its peak in 1969, paved the way to a profound transformation in the international political system. Mao had begun to turn his interests to other Asian, African, and Latin American countries to develop newer, stronger alliances and further the PRC’s economic and ideological redevelopment “the beginning of the end..”

6. Existing theories Ideological difference National Interests Economic factors

7. Hypothesis Constructivism Human factor Bad leadership

8. Methodology Qualitative aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. Interviews, descriptive and case studies IV: Khrushchev policy making DV: Sino-Soviet relationship

9. Literature Review The Sino-Soviet Split: Cold War in the Communist World by Lorenz M. Lüthi Two Suns in the Heavens: The Sino- Soviet Struggle for Supremacy, 1962- 1967 by Sergey Radchenko Khrushchev: The Man and His Era by William Taubman