Peaceful Co-Existence

Abstract

This article deals with some interpretations of peaceful co-existence. The author considers peaceful co-existence as a co-existence, and possibly an active cooperation, of countries of different social orders. But as this is a question of antagonist orders, peaceful co-existence is at the same time a kind of fight between them, without the use of weapons. Several interpretations of well-known authors such as Jaspers, Flechtheim, Raymond Aron, Strausz-Hupé, and Brzezinski are discussed. The author classifies the different points of view discussed as theories of :

a) those who deny the mere fact that two systems exist,

b) those who deny that a struggle exists between the two systems,

c) those who utilize the theory of peaceful co-existence in order to destroy the other system from the outside, and

d) those who find even the atmosphere of and search for peaceful co-existence dangerous to their bellicose aims.