Détente Flashcards
What did part of the developing arms race involve?
Developing missile which could carry nuclear warheads into enemy territory. Each country’s scientists worked to develop weapons to give their side an advantage
With the arms race causing weapons which could annihalate rivals, what would the result of wars be?
‘Mutually Assured Destruction’ (MAD)
What did MAD cause?
Neither country’s leaders wanted to risk a war which could lead to their own destruction
What event showed that even when a war wasn’t wanted war could almost break out by accident?
Cuban Missile Crisis
What happened in the 1970s?
Genuine attempt to have a more co-operative and stable relationship between superpowers - policy of détente
What is détente?
A period of peace between two groups that were previously at war or hostile towards each other
What was developed in 1957?
USA developed inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and USSR also had them within a year
What was developed in 1960?
USA developed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). Soviets had these from 1968
What else did USSR develop in 1968 and what for?
Anti-ballistic missiles (ABM) to intercept ICBMs. Americans developed them four years later
When was Richard Nixon elected president?
1968
What was Nixon determined to do?
Take his country out of the Vietnam War, which had cost the USA billions and resulted in almost 60,000 dead American soldiers
How did Americans view war and international affairs?
. There were large-scale demonstrations against the war in USA
. Many Americans thought the USA should take a less active role in international affairs
What social problems did the USA have?
Inequality between rich and poor and black and white led to urban rioting on a massive scale in 1968
What was urban riots in 1968 triggered by?
Assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King
What would a policy of détente allow the USA to do?
Spend less money on weapons and more on tryinv to solve social problems that had led to 1968 riots
Why did Soviet Union want to to cut spending on weapons?
Was facing economic problems so wanted to devote more resources to improving living standards and updating its economy
Why did the Soviets also feel it was a good time for détente?
They felt they were USA’s equals in nuclear weapons capability
Vietnam War showed the USA military wasn’t unbeatable
Improving relations and spending less on weapons would be a ‘safe’ policy
How was there pressure for improved relations coming from Europe?
1969, Willy Beandt became chancellor of West Germany. He followed a policy of ‘Ostpolitik’ which involved nuilding better relations between East and West Germany. Other European countries followed his lead and established better relations with Eastern European countries
Who was one of the key figures in America’s policy of détente?
Henry Kissinger, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in negotiating an end to US involvement in Vietnam
What was perhaps the most important agreement between the superpowers during the period of détente?
Strategic arms limitation treaty (SALT 1) signed in May 1972
What was SALT 1 a result of?
Several years of difficult negotiations between USA and Soviet Union about which weapons should be limited
What three areas of agreement were in SALT 1?
. Anti-ballistic missile treaty
. Interim Treaty
. Basic Principles agreement
Why was the Interim Treaty named so?
It was temporary, only up to 1977
What did the Anti-ballistic missile treaty state?
ABM’s were allowed at only two sites. Each site could have max 100 missiles
What did the Interim Treaty do?
Placed restrictions on the number of ICBMs and SLBMs each country could have
. USA: 1054 ICBMs and 740 SLBMs
. Soviet Union: 1618 ICBMs and 740 SLBMs
Why was Soviet Union allowed more ICBMS in the Interim treaty?
USA already had more strategic bombers
What did the Basic Principles agreement do?
Laid down rules for the conduct of nuclear warfare and set out steps to avoid nuclear war. E.g, both countries agreed to exercise restraint in their relations and if war looked likely, ‘to make every effort to avoid the risk.’
What were weaknesses of SALT 1?
. If nuclear war did seem likely it was unrealistic to expect it to be avoid just because a piece of paper was signed
. The treaty didn’t cover the latest technological development, multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), which carried multiple nuclear warheads on a single missile
What did SALT 1 have a significant impact on international relations?
Had major symbolic importance despite faults
Both USA and Soviet Union wanted to reach agreements and demostrate better relations publicly
What happened shortly after signing SALT 1?
Nixon visited Brezhnev in Moscow, and in 1973 the Soviet leader came to Washington.
What happened in 1974?
Negotiations began for SALT 2, which was hoped to find agreements on matters which hadn’t been resolved in SALT 1
What happened in 1973?
33 nationa from NATO and Warsaw Pact met to build on the spirit of co-operation which had been established in SALT 1
What happened in August 1975?
An announcement was made to say agreement had been reached in three areas, which the conference organisers described as ‘baskets’
What was in Basket 1?
European borders:
. Borders are to be inviolable, cannot be altered by force
What was in Basket 2?
International co-operation:
. We will continue to work for closer relations between West and Soviets. This includes trade agreements technology exchanges and a joint Space mission
What was in Basket 3?
Human rights:
. We will respect human rights and individual freedoms such as free speech, religion and free movement across Europe
Why was Basket 1 very significant?
Was the first time the boundaries between East and West Germany and the existing boundaries of the Soviet-controlled countries were formally accepted
How was the spirit of co-operation described in Basket 2 followed up?
In the same year with a joint USA-Soviet space mission
What can the Helsinki Accords be described as?
The high point of détente. Seemed to mark the dawn of a new approach to international relations
Even though the Helsinki accords drew up agreements, what was there still?
USA and Soviet Union still somewhat playing cold war politics
What did Brezhnev want from the Helsinki agreements?
Recognition of exisiting borders and an opportunity to boost the Soviet economy
Who was and wasn’t happy with baskets 1 and 2?
Happy: Brezhnev
Less happy: some American politicians
What did the USA want from the Helsinki agreements?
An extension of human rights in to Soviet-controlled territories, which could undermine communist authority and weaken the power of the Soviet Union
Who was and wasn’t pleased with Basket 3?
Happy: Americans
Less happy: Soviets concerned organisations would be set up to monitor Soviet policies in its satellite states
How long did talks working towards a second SALT continue till?
18th June 1979, when President Carter and Brezhnev signed a highly complex and technical agreement
What did SALT 2 include?
Restrictions on missile launchers and strategic bombers, as well as a ban on testing or deploying new types of ICBM
What was beginning to fade around the time of SALT 2?
Improved Relations
What was there a growing belief about in the USA at the time of SALT 2?
amongst both Democrats and republicans that the Soviet government couldn’t be trusted. There had been an increase in Soviet support for communist groups in countries such as El Salvador so any agreement with USSR seemed like a sign of weakness to Americans
What happened in November 1979?
Islamic militants captured American embassy in Tehran. American diplomats and their families were publicly humiliated and more than 60 of them were held hostage.
Why did some angry Americans in response to events of November 1979 want to see an end to détente?
So America could restore its position as a powerful nation that took strong measures against anyone threatening its interests
Who is an example of an adviser who called for a stronger stance to be taken against thr Soviet Union?
Zbigniew Brzezinski
What brought détente to an end?
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979
What was still happening when Soviet Union entered Afghanistan?
SALT 2 still going through process of ratification by thr American government
Why was SALT 2 withdrawn from the Senate?
Carter felt he could no longer support the treaty due to the ongoing invasion
