Détente

Question 1

Contextualise Détente happening in the 70s

Answer 1

Rapprochement began after 1969 between China and the USA. Policy of Détente encouraged the uprising in Czechoslovakia, ‘Prague Spring’ (1968) because Romania had broken free from communism and beginning to improve relations with the West.

Question 2

Factors for the Causes of Détente

FED

Answer 2

Fear of war; European needs and Ostpolitik; Domestic Factors, USA and USSR

Question 3

Factors for the Causes of Détente

Answer 3

Fear of war; European needs and Ostpolitik; Domestic Factors, USA and USSR

Question 4

Factors for the end of Détente

NAR

Answer 4

Rise of Neo-conservatism in the 70s; impact of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (1979) and Consequences for US-Soviet relations

Question 5

Factors for the end of Détente

Answer 5

Rise of Neo-conservatism in the 70s; impact of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (1979) and Consequences for US-Soviet relations

Question 6

Introductory sentences for Détente

Answer 6

Détente represented a change in the tactics of the Cold War rather than an end to it: By 1969 there existed a range of factors that provided considerable pressure for a Détente to be achieved in international relations. It developed out of the realisation that more was to be gained from cooperation than confrontation.

Question 7

Causes of détente

Describe the ‘Fear of War’ factor

Answer 7

> CMC of 1962 highlighted the danger of super power confrontation resulting in nuclear war. By 1969 they had reached MAD and there was threats to economic wellbeing
Provided a balance of power that acted as a deterrent- but the desire to get ahead constantly threatened to disrupt this balance
The necessity to reduce future nuclear war pushed both East and West towards Détente

Question 8

Causes of détente

Describe the ‘European needs and Ostpolitik’ factor

Answer 8

> Developments in Europe (1960s) encouraged links across the Iron Curtain
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968) revealed continuing tensions in Eastern Europe
Political disorders posed dangers in East and West Europe:
- Demonstrations in Paris against President De Gaulle; France leave NATO in 1966
- Germany: Willy Brandt attempts to forge links with the West which weakened communism in the East
Brandt’s policy of ‘Ostpolitik’ aided greatly the transition to Détente: policy encouraged other countries to establish links across the East and West divide

Question 9

Causes of détente

What year did France leave NATO?

Answer 9

1966

Question 10

Causes of détente

Describe the Domestic needs of the U.S. factor

Answer 10

> Détente offered the U.S. opportunity to u hold hnferest without military intervention
Nixon and Kissinger were both anti-communist
Disaster of the Vietnam War (55-75) = realisation of limits to their power on an international scale
Rapproachment with China and Trade and Arms agreements to restrain the USSR
Détente would allow the influence of the powerful military-industrial complex to reduce
Would allow America to invest in its own commerce and financial services by releasing resources from military budget

Question 11

Causes of détente

When were the U.S. tensions in Vietnam with the War?

Answer 11

1955-1975

Question 12

Causes of détente

Explain the Domestic needs if the USSR factor?

Answer 12

> Struggling socially and economically - lost ally in China so need to forge relationship with the U.S. to triangulate relations
Worried about the U.S.- Vietnam War encroaching on their territory
Craved recognition from the West for their control of the Eastern Bloc
Arms Race created balance of power- end to competition
Insights to technological advancements and trade

Question 13

End of détente

Explain the rise of Neo-Conservatism in the 1970s factor

Answer 13

> Jimmy Carter elected as president in 1976 and decided human rights would be the focus of his foreign policy with the USSR - he failed to realise that he had conflicting definitions of rights to the USSR and the East which was more likely to increase than reduce tensions
critics of Détente were becoming more vocal that they were being to soft on communism
Neo- conservatives recommended a more forceful approach to the Soviet Union - involved resuming the arms race in order to make the superior technological and economic resources of the U.S. count against the USSR
- mainly associated with Carter’s successor, Ronald Regan’s presidency - however presence evident in Carter’s too
There was a misunderstanding that Carter was soft of communism - his inexperiences did make him heavily reliant on Cyrus Vance (advocate of negotiation) and Brezinski (hard-line anti-communist approach) = conflicting and inconsistent leadership

Question 14

End of détente

Who did Carter rely on for advice and what was the difference between the two men

Answer 14

Cyrus Vance (advocate of negotiation) and Brezinski (hard-line anti-communist approach) = conflicting and inconsistent leadership

Question 15

End of détente

Who was Carter’s successor?

Answer 15

Ronald Regan, in 1981

Question 16

End of détente

Describe the ‘impact of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan’

Answer 16

> marked the end of any super power negotiations
1979 = uprising in Iran led to new violently Anti-American government led by Muslim fundamentalist Ayatollah Kohmeini - US oil was under threat
Iranian revolution posed a threat to USSR also: they couldn’t afford for Muslim fundamentalism to spread - integration of Central Asian republucs bordering Afghanistan had always been superficial - needed to maintain the pro-Soviet government in Afghanistan
The chaotic situation in Afghanistan war was in danger of escalating when the CIA threatened to support the Anti- Soviet faction (summer, 1979)
The prospect of a U.S. Government / involvement in Afghsnistan scared Brezhnev so he sent in Soviet troops to maintain pro-Soviet government
- became USSR’s equivalent to the Vietnam War: 100,000 troops and a war they couldn’t win against an enemy in the countryside using guerrilla tactics

Question 17

End of détente

When did the CIA threaten to support the anti-Soviet faction of the Afghan War?

Answer 17

Summer, 1979

Question 18

End of détente

When was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 18

1979

Question 19

End of détente

Describe the consequences for US-Soviet relations factor

Answer 19

> President Carter = unwilling to let the USSR get involved with foreign affairs so easily - he condemned the actions
Withdrew the SALT II Treaty from the Senate, cut of USA and USSR trade and encouraged a Western boycott of the Moscow Olympics (1980)
Carter decided to incease arms spending: Presidential Directive 59 authorised an increase in the U.S. Nuclear arsenal: the era or arms limitation was at an end (July 1980)
Margaret thatcher supported America’s more strident approach (staunchly anti communist)
Invasion became key issue in the 1980 U.S. Presidential election. Reagan won as his hatred for communism was well known (significant!)

Question 20

End of détente
What 3 things did Carter do because he was unwilling to let the USSR get involved in foreign affairs so easily?
(Consequence for US-Soviet relations)

Answer 20

Withdrew the SALT II Treaty from the Senate, cut of USA and USSR trade and encouraged a Western boycott of the Moscow Olympics (1980)

Question 21

End of détente

What did Presidential Directive 59 authorise?

Answer 21

Increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal: the era of arms limitation was at an end, July 1980

Question 22

End of détente

When was the Presidential Directive 59 signed and by who?

Answer 22

July 1980 by Carter

Question 23

Additional info on détente

Why did détente come to an end in 1979?

Answer 23

> Soviet invasion of Afghanistan = starting point - widespread condemnation of the USSR: an example of expansionist behaviour
However evidence of s/power relations having broken down before this; in presidency of Carter
- Soviet violation
- SALT II
- Brezhnev’s deterioration
- Tehran, November 1979

Question 24

Additional info on détente

Explain soviet violation

Answer 24

Violation of human rights agreement reached in Helsinki troubled the conscience of many in the U.S. government

Question 25

Additional info on détente

Explain SALT II

Answer 25

Agreed in June 1979 by Carter and Brezhnev, but fed growing opposition from US senate - unlikely the agreement would be ratified before Afghanistan

Question 26

Additional info on détente

Explain Brezhnev’s deterioration

Answer 26

Very ill (series of heart attacks by 1979) no firm guidance at the top

Question 27

Additional info on détente

Explain Tehran, November 1979

Answer 27

Islamic militants occupied the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and help diplomats and their families hostage. Carter refused to negotiate with millitants and they weren’t released until January 1981 - incident symbolised America’s growing impotence in world affairs. The American Right called for a firmer stance against aggressors.

Question 28

Additional info on détente

Explain USSR attitudes (in relation to Helsinki)

Answer 28

Discussions with the politburo revealed a growing unease with the criticism directed at the USSR over the Helsinki accords

Question 29

Define Détente

Answer 29

Refers to the easing of hostility or strained relations, in this case between superpowers