Detente

Question 1

USA reasons to pursue detente

Answer 1

Vietnam -
Nixon withdrew troops as peace offering
Expensive $30 billion in 1 year
US feel weak, knocked confidence

Kissinger Realpolitik -
Practical politics
Less focus on arms

Normalisation -
Normalisation of relations between US and USSR
Provide framework for better working relations
Prevent erratic behaviour of USSR

Economics - 
Suffering from post war boom end
6% inflation in 1970
5% increase in unemployment 1970
Less stable trade - failings of Bretton woods currency 
Meant less focus on arms 
Better trade with USSR \$\$\$\$

Question 2

USSR reasons to pursue detente

Answer 2

China -

USSR jel of US and China new relationship❤️
Chance to get better relations with USA

Third world -

Brezhnev committed to communist expansion
Detente was an attempt to appease USA whilst extending influence

Economics -

USSR's economy 6th of USA
Couldn't afford nuclear stuff
detente slowed arms race 
Russian people wanted consumer goods
Reduced defence spending 
Trade with west allowed cheap goods

Question 3

Moscow Summit 1972

Answer 3

Nixon and Brezhnev try to establish better superpower relations - success

Salt
Anti ballistic missile treaty
Intern agreement on offensive weapons

Significant -
willingness to work together
moving away from arms race rather than going towards it

Question 4

Anti ballistic missile treaty

Answer 4

2 anti ballistic shields each
Each missile restricted to 100 missiles
Further development of missile tech

Overnight commission established to enforce treaty

Question 5

Intern agreement on offensive missiles

Answer 5

Limited number of missile launchers

Due to last 5 years until full agreement drawn up

Question 6

Basic principles treaty

Answer 6

12 rules for governing superpower relations

• peacefully co-exist
• accepting equality
• exercising self restraint