Detente

Question 1

Why was detente needed

Answer 1

1. The Soviets did not believe they could match the spending of the USA
2. The USA had financial burdens over the Vietnam war and needed to cut their spending
3. The Cuban Missile Crisis made it clear to both sides the risks of not cooperating with one another as they had come to the brink of a nuclear war.
4. It was clear there could be no clear winner in the arms race
5. The price of oil skyrocketed in the 1970s and both superpowers were experiencing economic problems
6. The USA wanted to exploit better relations with the Soviets to end the war in Vietnam as it was costing them a lot of money

Question 2

Reasons detente failed

Answer 2

1. Neither sides really trusted the other
2. The Soviet Union blatantly broke the human rights element of the Helsinki agreement
3. Both sides continued to stockpile weapons
4. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan and the USA would not stand for this
5. In protest of Afghanistan the USA boycotted the Moscow Olympics
6. Many of the agreements were only face value and did not go much deeper for example ping pong diplomacy