The whole postwar atmosphere, New Theology, the Council, and the postconciliar environment all pushed the Vatican to try to be more friendly with the Soviet Union. It is this that created the strategy which, taking its name from the work of Chancellor Brandt in Germany, is called Ostpolitik. Dr. John Rao discusses its rationale and the results of its application. Taken from: My End is My Beginning: The Analogy of Contemporary Christianity With its Ancient Setting - 2001 VonHildebrand Institute