Chapter 7 : Foreign and international policies

Question 1

Explain the term Détente ?

Answer 1

the diplomatic term used in the west to describes the relaxing of international tensions.

Question 2

why might the USA choose to pursue détente ? (economic)

Answer 2

• the 300,000 troops station in Europe were costing the US
  -economically the USSR was potentially huge market for Western industrials and agricultural products
• to would offer them an opportunity to uphold their interest without the need of military intervention that might not succeed

Question 3

why might the USA choose to pursue détente ? (politically)

Answer 3

• the Vietnam war changed public opinion in the US, they now needed the USSR help in negotiating a treaty with north Vietnam.
• the west needed new suppliers outside of the middle east and west Germany was particular keen to establish gas suppliers with the USSR.

Question 4

why might the USSR choose to pursue détente ? (economically)

Answer 4

• the soviet economy was under great strain and resources needed to be diverted away from the military sector it would be a benefit if the West invested in Soviet oil and gas
  -they would benefit if they could agree to mutually reduce weapon numbers with the US
• nuclear parity posed a threat to the economy of both

Question 5

why might the USSR choose to pursue détente ? (politically)

Answer 5

• there was a growing awareness of the potential dangers of confrontation leading to nuclear destruction if the USSR didn’t withdraw its missile base from Cuba.
• Brezhnev 1969 Peace Programme coincided with the USSR had achieved nuclear parity with the USA .
  -it would ensure a strong USSR since they hoped to gain recognition for their influence and control over the eastern bloc
• increase the number of third world countries following their socialist approach.
• the nuclear arms race led to the development of even more efficient missiles the fear of war continued.

Question 6

What was the SALT

Answer 6

• It was the strategic arms limitation talks which aimed at arms control and eventually a reduction in nuclear weaponry

Question 7

When was SALT I signed ?

Answer 7

• signed in May 1971

Question 8

What was the Helsinki Final Act ?

Answer 8

it was an act that committed participants to respecting human rights and fundamental freedom including freedom of thought, conscience, religion and a whole range of other human rights. Plus stated that that both the USSR and USA would freeze their number of missile system .

Question 9

What did the USSR want in return from signing the Helsinki Accords ?

Answer 9

-the USSR wanted recognition from the West of the boundaries that were created in Eastern Europe by the Red Army advanced in 1945
-USSR agreed to greater freedom in communication between Eastern and Western Europe.

Question 10

What did the KGB do in response to the Helsinki Accords?

Answer 10

• they used a progressive level of response by firstly getting the dissidents and pressured them to conform, next it would be threats or prison and lastly they would put dissidents into mental institution.

Question 11

why did the KGB used progressive level of respond ?

Answer 11

• this was to keep a level of control with the dissidents in the USSR without getting caught by the monitor soviet observance this was because they didn’t want to be confronted by the inevitable scrutiny abroad.

Question 12

what did SALT II state ?

Answer 12

this was an agreement between the USSR and USA that would place further limits on their nuclear weapons and launch platforms

Question 13

When was SALT II singed ?

Answer 13

June 1979

Question 14

why was SALT II stop for a while ?

Answer 14

• because the USSR invaded the Afghanistan which started a nine year war

Question 15

When did the USSR invade Afghanistan ?

Answer 15

• in December 1979

Question 16

Why did the USSR invade Afghanistan ?

Answer 16

-Afghanistan was very significant since it was very close to Turkestan
-Soviets were afraid of Islamic fundamentalism infiltrating the USSR and influencing its large Islamic population
- feared that the USA would use them as a boarder ally against them after losing Iran

Question 17

why might the achievements of détente prove difficult ?

Answer 17

-USSR still believed they could promote their ideology to so called third world countries

Question 18

what happened in Czechoslovakia in 1968 ?

Answer 18

• got invaded by the USSR following the Prague spring

Question 19

What did Brezhnev 1969 peace programme coincide with ?

Answer 19

• the point which at the USSR calculated it had achieved nuclear parity with the US

Question 20

which US president signed the SALT I ?

Answer 20

Richard Nixon

Question 21

what happened during the Moscow 1980 Olympics games ?

Answer 21

the largest boycott of the history of the Olympics movement where 60 countries didn’t attend to Moscow in alliance with the USA

Question 22

what does the Moscow 1980 boycott show about the impact of the invasion ?

Answer 22

• highlights the importance of Afghanistan and the danger that it presents since it led to a 9 year war

Question 23

how many death did the USSR suffer from the Afghanistan war ?

Answer 23

• 15,000 death and many injuries

Question 24

what led to the end of the Afghanistan war?

Answer 24

an agreement between USA, Pakistan and Afghanistan where they agreed to withdraw its troops

Question 25

when did the USSR withdraw its troops?

Answer 25

February 15 1989

Question 26

Where else had the USSR had military success in anti- socialist uprising

Answer 26

• Czecklovakia 1968
• Hungry 1956

Question 27

what impact did the boycott have on the USSR

Answer 27

• embarrassment

Question 28

What was the impact of the soviet invasion ?

Answer 28

• reputation was doomed and cost reparation

Question 29

What was the Strategic Defence Initiative ?

Answer 29

it orbited satellites that would shoot down enemy missile before they could reach the USA

Question 30

why did many people mock the SDI ?

Answer 30

many people in the western press saw this idea as totally unrealistic and widespread suspicion that It was impractical

Question 31

why were the USSR concerned about Regan’s SDI ?

Answer 31

this was a great concern as the USSR need to lower their spending on nuclear weapons and not being able to keep up with nuclear parity.

Question 32

was détente already doomed before the election of Ronal Regan in 1980 ?

Answer 32

Yes because even before his election the USSR hold a really bad reputation due to their invasion of Afghanistan and clearly show that any sign of peace was hard to introduce after the cancelation of SALT II