Attempts to Reduce Tension Between East and West, 1969-79 Flashcards
Explain why the Arms Race Led to the Policy of Détente
-The USA and USSR soon both had a stockpile of nuclear weapons to completely destroy the other. With this firepower, the result of war would be ‘Mutually Assured Destruction’.
-As a result, neither country’s leaders wanted to risk a war that would lead to their own devastation.
-However, the Cuban Missile Crisis showed that even if the leaders of the USA and USSR didn’t want war, they could lose control of events: a war could break out by accident.
-In turn, during the 1970s, there was a genuine attempt to have a more co-operative and stable relationship.
Explain why the USA’s Internal Problems Led to the Policy of Détente
-In 1968, Nixon was elected president. He was determined to take America out of the Vietnam war. It had cost the USA billions of dollars and resulted in the death of 60,000 American soldiers.
-There had also been large scale demonstrations against the war and many Americans thought the USA should take a less active role in international affairs.
-Inequality between rich and poor, white and black led to urban rioting on a massive scale in 1968.This was triggered by the assassination of civil rights leader martin Luther King.
-A policy of détente with the USSR would allow the USA to spend less money on weapons and more on trying to solve the social problems that had led to the riots of 1968.
Explain why the USSR’s Internal Problems Led to the Policy of Détente
-The Soviet Union was facing economic problems and wanted to cut spending on weapons and devote more resources to improving living standards and updating its economy.
-The Soviets also felt that this was a relatively good time to look for better relations with the USA.
-They felt they were the USA’s equal in nuclear weapons capability and the Vietnam War had shown that the US military was not unbeatable.
-Improving relations and spending less on weapons would be a ‘safe’ policy.
Explain why External Pressure Led to the Policy of Détente
-There was also pressure for improved relations coming from Europe. In 1969, Willy Brandt was elected Chancellor of Germany.
-He followed a policy of ‘Ostpolitik’ which involved building better relations between East and West Germany.
-Other European nations followed his lead and began establishing better relations with East European countries.
Describe the Purpose of SALT 1
-In May 1972, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty was signed.
-The Treaty was the result of several years of difficult negotiations between the USA and the Soviet Union.
-It discussed which weapons should be limited.
Describe the Agreements Made as Part of SALT 1
-The Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty stated that ABMs were allowed at only two sites. Each site should have a maximum of 100 missiles.
-The Interim Treaty placed restrictions on the number of ICBMs and SLBMs each country could have.
-The USA was allowed 1,054 ICBMs. The USSR was allowed 1,618. Both were allowed 740 SLBMs. The USSR was allowed more ICBMs because the USA already had more strategic bombers.
-The Basic Principles Agreement laid down rules for the conduct of warfare (such as banning the placing of warheads on the seabed) and set out steps to avoid nuclear war.
-For example, both countries agreed to exercise restraint in their relations.
Describe the Weaknesses of SALT 1
-In reality, if nuclear war looked likely, it was unrealistic to expect it to be avoided just because both countries had signed a piece of paper.
-This was made especially worse as both countries still owned more than enough nuclear weapons to destroy the other many times over.
-It was also true that the treaty did not cover the latest technological development (MIRVs) which carried multiple nuclear warheads on a single missile.
Describe the Impact of SALT 1 on International Relations
-Whatever its weaknesses, SALT 1 had major symbolic importance. Both the USA and the Soviet Union wanted to reach agreement and wanted to demonstrate their better relations publicly.
-Shortly after signing SALT 1, Nixon visited Brezhnev in Moscow and in 1973, the Soviet leader came to Washington.
-In 1974, negotiations began for SALT 2 in which it was hoped agreement would be found on matters not resolved in SALT 1.
Describe the Purpose of the Helsinki Accords
-In 1973, 33 nations from NATO and the Warsaw Pact met to build on the spirit of co-operation which had been established in SALT 1.
-In August 1975, an announcement was made to say agreement had been reached in three areas, which the conference described as baskets.
Describe the Agreements Made at the Helsinki Accords
Basket 1 - Borders are inviolable, they cannot be altered by force.
Basket 2 - Work for closer relations between Western countries and Soviet-controlled countries. This will include trade agreements, technology exchanges and a joint space mission.
Basket 3 - Respect human rights and individual freedoms such as free speech, religion, and free movement across Europe.
Describe Attitudes Towards the Baskets From the Helsinki Accords
-What Brezhnev wanted from agreements was recognition of existing borders and an opportunity to boost the Soviet economy.
-So while he was very pleased with Baskets 1 and 2, some American politicians were very unhappy with them.
-What the USA wanted was an extension of human rights into Soviet-controlled territories, which would undermine communist authority and weaken the power of the Soviet Union.
-So, while the Americans were pleased with Basket 3, the Soviets were concerned that organisations would be set up to monitor Soviet policies in its satellite states.
Describe the Impact of the Helsinki Accords
-The Helsinki Accord was the high point of détente. It seemed to mark the dawn of a new approach to international relations.
-But even in drawing up the agreements, the USA and the USSR were still, to some extent playing Cold War politics.
-Basket 1 was the first time that the boundaries between East and West Germany and the existing boundaries of the Soviet-controlled countries were formally accepted.
-The spirit of co-operation described in Basket 2 was followed up that same year with a joint US-Soviet space mission.
Describe the Purpose of SALT 2
-Talks working towards a second SALT continued until 18 June 1979, when Carter and Brezhnev signed a highly complex and technical agreement.
-It included restrictions on missile launchers and strategic bombers, as well as a ban on testing or deploying new types of ICBMs.
-However, the improved relations between the Soviet Union and the USA that had existed for much of the 1970s were beginning to fade.
Explain why SALT 2 was Unsuccessful
-In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, bringing an the period of détente to an end.
-When the Soviet Union entered Afghanistan, SALT 2 was still going through the process of ratification by the American government.
-President Carter felt he could no longer support the treaty and it was withdrawn from the Senate.
Explain why the Period of Détente Ended
-There was a growing belief amongst both Republicans and Democrats, that the Soviets could not be trusted.
-An increase in Soviet support for communist groups in countries such as El Salvador meant any agreement made with the USSR was seen by some Americans as a sign of weakness.
-In November 1979, Islamic militarists had captured the American embassy in Tehran and held the diplomats hostage.
-Many angry Americans wanted to see an end to détente and for America to restore its position as a powerful nation that took strong measures against anyone that threatened its interests.
-Within Carter’s own administration, advisors such as Brzezinski called for a stronger stance to be taken against the USSR.
