The CSCE Follow-up Meeting in Vienna (1986–1989)

The project deals with the CSCE Follow-up Meeting in Vienna (1986-1989). In spite of growing interest in the CSCE process this conference has not yet been analyzed by contemporary historical research. The humanitarian dimension and the aspect of military security the two core matters of negotiation as well as the involved state and civil society actors are of central importance for this project. At the end of the meeting a broad agreement was reached in both fields, so that the end of the East-West conflict already came within reach in early 1989. This research project will analyze how this came about, where this was due to a certain logic inherent in the CSCE process and where to external influences, by studying six key themes which will complement one another in terms of their content. The aim is to define the CSCE process as a dynamic element in the final phase of the Cold War, establishing its significance as a factor of détente in the East-West conflict.

The end of the Cold War is often associated with symbolic events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall or the opening of the Austrian-Hungarian border. However, a significant process preceding these events by over two decades was the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which established a platform for dialogue across Cold War bloc divisions. Involving 35 states, the CSCE aimed to negotiate the framework for inter-state relations. The third CSCE follow-up meeting in Vienna (1986-1989) represents a pivotal moment in this process, second only to the initial 1975 conference. The Vienna meeting achieved substantial progress, particularly in humanitarian domains. The project examined the factors and actors contributing to these accomplishments by analyzing documents from various archives, conducting interviews with contemporary witnesses, assessing media reports, and consulting diplomats' writings and memoirs. The analysis of these sources highlights several factors that facilitated the success of the Vienna meeting. Firstly, the improvement in East-West relations, particularly between the superpowers, positively influenced the negotiations. Additionally, civil and human rights organizations played a growing role, exerting both direct and indirect influence. They engaged delegations through letters and personal discussions while also mobilizing public support via events and discussion forums, thereby drawing attention to key issues. This public visibility constituted another significant factor shaping the negotiations. A crucial element in the dynamics of the Vienna meeting was Mikhail Gorbachev's leadership in the Soviet Union. His new approach to human rights, introduced prior to the meeting, affected the course of negotiations. Moreover, changes within Eastern European states had a considerable impact, as the Warsaw Pact was no longer a unified bloc with the Soviet Union as its sole voice. Instead, individual states increasingly advocated for their own interests during the negotiations. These factors collectively enabled discussions on previously taboo subjects. The meeting's significant outcomes included eased conditions for family reunification, improved working conditions for journalists, and expanded freedoms for human rights organizations. The most notable innovation was the Vienna Mechanism, which allowed human rights violations to be addressed outside of CSCE meetings, thereby increasing pressure on states to respond. In conclusion, the final document of the Vienna CSCE Follow-up Meeting resulted from a confluence of factors, including geopolitical shifts, increased activism by civil society, and the evolving dynamics within the Eastern bloc. Together, these elements contributed to the meeting's substantial achievements.