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Flashcards

Detente

edward.franks845 English 15 cards

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  1. 1Why did the Superpowers chase a policy of Detente after 1969?1) Economic reasons- Vietnam War was draining the US economy, military spending had to be reduced
    2) The USSR had achieved relative nuclear parity by the late 1960s and felt they could negotiate from a position of strength.
    3) The Cuban Missile Crisis led to a need to ease tensions between the superpowers after being on the brink of nuclear war
  2. 2The US' interpretations of DetenteA process based on negotiation rather than confrontation. Nixon and Kissinger saw detente as a means of controlling the conflict with the Soviet Union, a strategy designed to prevent nuclear conflict as the USSR became more powerful.
  3. 3USSR interpretations of DetenteBrezhnev saw detente as a means of overcoming the Cold war, and a way of resolving disputes through peaceful means.
  4. 4Negotiations of Detente1) Moscow Summit 1972- SALT 1, Basic Principles. Established a framework governing superpower relations
    2) Washington Summit 1973- Agreement on the Prevention of nuclear war
    3) Third Soviet American summit 1974- SALT II prospects undermined by MIRV production
    4) The Vladivostok Accord 1974- Kissinger in Moscow, some progress but SALT II still not ratified
  5. 5What did SALT I Achieve?ABM Missile Treaty allowed each superpower to deploy only two ABMS, which undermined the possibility of MAD. The US also had the advantage in ABMS so this worked in the Soviets' favour. Criticisms of Detente emerged in the US after SALT I- Neo-conservatives saw detente as a surrendering US nuclear superiority and national security to the Soviets.
  6. 6What did the Basic Principles achieve?The agreement set out 12 basic principles designed to govern superpower relations- accept each other as equals ,and accept peaceful coexistence. However these principles were not comprehensive.
  7. 7OstpolitikWilly Brandt's appointment as Chancellor in 1969 triggered a new phase in European relations- his objectives were to recognise East Germany and the territorial changes that had occurred at the end of WWII, and the Oder-Neisse border with Poland.
    His negotiations with the Soviet Union led to the Non-aggression Pact of 1970
    1971- treaty signed with Poland recognising its border
    1971- Walter Ulbricht resigned, the last 'stalinist'
  8. 8The Helsinki Accord 1975Agreements in three key areas, known as baskets.
    Basket 1: Contained the USSR's key objective , all european nations recognising the Soviet bloc
    Basket 2: All nations agreed to expand trade and share technology
    Basket 3: Contained the US' key objective- committed all the signatories to respect human rights
  9. 9Significance of the Accords?Basket 2 allowed greater trade and gave communist countries access to Western technologies- the superiority of Western technology implicitly undermined claims that communism was a better system than capitalism. Basket 3 would also be used by Carter to criticise the USSR's lack of respect for human rights.
  10. 10Had the US achieved their goals by 1976?1) US had achieved their objective of reduced military spending- $406 billion in 1970 to $284 billion in 1976.
    2) Watergate scandal led to Nixon's resignation, which led to a distrust of Washington
    3) Normalisation- One of Nixon and Kissinger's aims for detente was the normalisation of superpower relations- achieved to some extent by the Basic Principles and Helsinki Accords.
  11. 11Soviet interventionism in the Third WorldDetente did nothing to stop superpower competition in the Third World.
    - The Angolan Civil War 1975
    -USSR supporting left-wing regime in Ethiopia
    -Communist success in the 3rd world undermined detente. It allowed right-wing politicians in the US to argue that the USSR was taking advantage of the relaxation in US policy to expand its influence.
  12. 12The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 1979- Soviet troops invaded in order to support the left-wing government, fearing it would be overthrown militant Islamic groups. In this sense Soviet leaders believed it to be a defensive moves within their own interests.
  13. 13How did Carter see the invasion of Afghanistan?Carter was shocked by the invasion. He reacted by increasing defence spending 5% and banned grain and technology exports to the Soviet Union. He also announced the US would boycott the forthcoming Moscow Olympics.
  14. 14Domestic Dimensions-Right wing opposition: these neo conservatives rejected Kissinger's pragmatic approach in detente and attacked the achievements of detente and would go on to advise Reagan.
    - The West had economically revived by 1976. The Soviets however were still in decline, with a trade deficit and rise in interest rates.
  15. 15Differing interpretationsIt could be argued that both superpowers had such different views of what detente was and what it achieved that it was bound to fail. All this would take was a significant enough issue to expose these differences.

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Flashcards on Detente, created by edward.franks845 on 02/06/2015.
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