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Paper short abstract:

The paper compares Czechoslovakia's strategies towards Angola and Mozambique after 1974. The aim is to contribute to the academic discussion about the approach of the small European state of the East towards two similar countries of the Global South during their transition to independence.

Paper long abstract:

Numerous research in recent years, inspired by the New Cold War History, shows that the smaller states of the Soviet bloc did not just blindly follow Moscow's instructions in the Global South but also pursued their interests there. However, little attention has been paid to comparing their strategies in different states.

The paper compares Czechoslovakia's official strategies towards Angola and Mozambique after 1974. Both Lusophone African states were similar in many aspects (e.g., shared history of Portuguese colonialism and decolonization, language, geography) but different in others (e.g., economic potential, geopolitical importance). The first aim is to explore if Czechoslovakia, a small European socialist state, reflected these differences in its approach. The second aim is to contribute to the academic discussion about the official strategies of a smaller member of the East towards two similar countries of the Global South during their transition to independence. It will be examined by analyzing official strategic documents, main agreements, crucial Czechoslovak projects in both states and the narratives represented in the Czechoslovak media. Where possible, the findings will be confronted with the perspective of other members of the Soviet bloc and African counterparts. The research will be based mainly on declassified archival materials and interviews.