Detente Flashcards
When did Nixon become US president?
1969
What was Kissinger’s policy?
Realpolitik
What does “realpolitik” mean?
Practical issues of arms reduction, rather than ideological differences.
What is detente?
The period of relaxation whereby the US and USSR attempted to reach general agreements.
What did Vietnam have to do with detente?
1969 the war US government cost $30 billion.
What did Economics have to do with detente?
US - Inflation reached 6% in 1970
- Unemployment rose to more than 5% in early 1970s
- End of Bretton Woods currency
What did detente offer for the US economic problems?
A partial solution to the USA’s economic concerns
What is nuclear parity?
Reduction of arms
Why did the USSR want nuclear parity?
Because they could not produce nuclear weapons as effectively as the USA
How many nuclear weapons did the USA have compared to the USSR in 1969?
USA-28200
USSR-11000
Where did inflation reach in 1970?
6%
What did unemployment rise to in the USA?
More than 5% in the early 1970s
What currency did they end?
Bretton Woods currency introducing free floating currency
What did China have to do with detente?
Deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations & USA’s willingness to negotiate with China scared the USSR
What were the reasons for detente pertaining to the THIRD WORLD?
Brezhnev was committed to extended USSR’s soviet influence in the 3rd world
- attempt to placate the USA so they could extend their influence without conflict
When was the Moscow Summit?
May 1972
What were the key features of the Moscow Summit?
Set out the basis of a new relationship between Nixon & Brezhnev
SALT - Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
When was the SALT I treaty?
MAY 1972
What were the key features of SALT I?
The ABM treaty
Interim Agreement on Offensive Missiles
Basic Principles Agreement
* Temporary measure & led to immediate discussions for permanent treaties SALT II
What were the key features of the ANTI BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY?
USA & USSR only had 2 missile shields each
Each ABM shield restricted to 100 missiles
Further development of ABM technology was restricted & enforced by over sight commissioner
What were the key features of the INTERIM AGREEMENT ON OFFENSIVE MISSILE?
Limited the number of missile launchers
Was due to last 5years w. The anticipation of a full agreement in 1977
What were the key features of the BASIC PRINCIPLES AGREEMENT?
12 fundamental principles designed to underpin superpower relations
- they would peacefully coexist
- recognise each other as equals
- exercise restraint to avoid conflict
- joint commercial commission negotiated trade deals
What were the key features of European Ostpolitik?
European gov. worked together to address the problems created by a divided Europe
Stabilised superpower relations EAST & WEST signed the Berlin Agreement
When were the Helsinki Accords?
1975
What were the 3 baskets of the Helsinki Accords?
B1- security needs - pledge to respect each other’s sovereignty
B2- economic,cultural,scientific & environmental issues - cooperate on matters of mutual interest to foster good trade
B3- human rights - pledge to respect human rights of their citizens & relax travel restrictions
What was the significance of the Helsinki Accords?
B2- highlighted inferiority of communist economies
B3- travel restrictions were relaxed but it attracted Eastern Europeans to western life
When was the Oil Price Shock?
OCT 1973
What did the Oil Price Shock do?
OPEC - destabilised international economy
In response to the Yom Kippur War OPEC launched an oil embargo against Israel’s allies inc. USA
Led to a 4 fold increase in the price of oil in 1 year
List the economic realities of Detente for the West.
West responded to OPEC with innovation & reform - creating efficient engines & new fuel sources
France spearheaded G7 to create economic stability compensating for Bretton Woods
1974&1978 return oil price to stability & the foundation of economic growth
What were the economic realities of Detente for the East?
1945-70 SU economy performed relatively well reducing the wealth gap between them & USA
1970- economy began to decline
In 1980 what was the GDP of the USSR compared to the USA?
The GDP of the USSR was 37% of the GDP of the USA.
What were the 3main reasons of economic decline in the USSR??
- Brezhnev ordered the end of economic liberalisation & returned to central planning = unstained growth
- USSR borrowed money from the West - in 1970 inflation rates hit them hard
- Critics of detente in the USA tried to limit trade agreements ( Jackson-Vanick 1974 trade based on HR)
Why was normalisation a success of detente?
Helsinki Accords 1975 - East & West relations could be managed
Basic Principles Agreement 1972 - established a framework for USA & USSR to resolve their differences
Why was economic prosperity a success of detente?
Facilitated trade between the 2 superpowers
1974-74 USSR increase imports from the West (96%)
U.S. Defence spending reduced after withdrawal from Vietnam
1970 = $406 billion 1976 = $286 billion
Why was the avoidance of nuclear war a success of detente?
SALT I treaties (1972) established dialogue between West & East decreasing nuclear war
A degree of nuclear parity agreed but reducing the arms on both sides
Reduced the competitive nature of the arms race
What did US critics describe detente as?
An Amoral Policy which ignored USSR’s violations
What did Solzhenitsyn say about detente?
It should not continue whilst there is political repression in the USSR
How many Senators supported Solzhenitsyn?
24
What did George Meany say about Detente?
It was the new appeasement as it allowed the USSR to gain strength unchallenged by the U.S.
What did George Meany’s Union do?
They refused to load grain on ships to the USSR
What did Draper say about detente?
Trade with the USSR allowed them to grow stronger whilst the U.S. get nothing
What did the SALT treaties allow according to detente critics?
It allowed the USSR to win the CW when the USA were winning
What were the 3 main issues at the 1976 presidential election?
- Helsinki accords were meaningless
- Realpolitik failed to gain US supremacy
- Detente was being undermined by the USSR
Why were the Helsinki Accords meaningless?
EE refused to follow agreement & violated human rights winning KGB suppression of Yuri Orlov’s monitoring group 1976 - led to the closing down
What was Ford advised not to do?
Detente was so unpopular he was told not to mention it
What did USSR Critics say about detente?
1969 - SHELEST criticised the policy because of the Vietnam War (fighting a communist nation)
What did tensions over Vietnam nearly lead to?
The cancellation of the Moscow Summit 1972
What was Voronov Shelepin & Podgorny concerned about?
Detente led to a bipolar world which do nothing to challenge US dominance in the West/East
Why did the USA exclude the USSR over the Middle East?
The USSR had intelligence which they did not want to share = damaged relations
Why did Russian commitment weaken after 1974?
Nixon’s fall in presidency
Why did Nixon’s fall from power raise questions?
It raised questions about US stability & long term relationships
Who did Ford appoint and why did it cause fear?
Ford appointed Rumsfeld who was more committed to strengthening the U.S. not relations = SU were scared they could no longer count on US commitment to detente
What were the SU concerned about?
That the USA wanted to fight another CW by supporting anti communist groups in the 3rd world eg. Chilean
When did Carter become president?
1977
How did Carter view the SALT talks?
Slow progress
What did Carter reject?
Vladivostok Framework
What did Carter announce?
A new nuclear project creating 200 missiles & 23 new silos as well as Trident II
What did the USA and USSR agree on in 1974?
Vladivostok Framework allowing an equal ceiling of 2400 missiles & bombers
What did technical differences about new technologies lead to?
Carter rejected the VF
What treaty did Carter back down at?
SALT II Treaty 1979 - agreed on ceilings
When did the USSR invade Afghanistan?
Dec 1979
How many troops did the USSR send to support Muhammed Taraki?
50,000
Why did USSR send troops to Kabul?
To maintain USSR foothold in the Middle East & protect communism under attack
Who was in favour of detente?
Vance
Who was in favour of more assertive control?
Brzezinski
What did the SU invasion go beyond?
Brezhnev Doctrine
What happened after the SU invasion
More supported Brzezinski & assertive control
What did Carter demand?
The removal of troops & for Afghanistan to stay non aligned
What did Carter do in Feb 1980?
Launch a grain embargo against the USSR
Who did the USA secretly send aid & supplies to?
Mujahideen
What was Carter’s goal?
To make the war as expensive as possible to exploit economic issues in the East
Why did Carter seem weak?
SU did not withdraw troops from Afghanistan
When did Reagan become President?
1980
What did Reagan restrict with the USSR?
Trade & denied then access to Western Technology
What are SDI?
Strategic Defence Initiative (Star Wars)
Why were SDI’s so important?
They could shoot down SU missiles before they land
What did Reagan do pertaining to the 3rd World?
He supported anti communist regimes & referred to the USSR as the Evil Empire throughout his rhetoric
When was Thatcher elected Prime Minister?
1979
What is term given to Thatcher & Reagan’s similar beliefs?
Thatcher Reagan - love in
List the 3 things Reagan & Thatcher both believed.
High Taxes & big government damages private enterprise
Defence spending - dedicated to Trident - important
Evil Empire - communism was a moral evil the West had to oppose
