Détente, Afghanistan, Second Cold War, Gorbachevs New Thinking

Question 1

Détente

Answer 1

Cuba, Vietnam and the cost of the arms race led to a relaxation of tensions in the 1970s.
1972: SALT 1 (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) banned production of new weapons and limited number of ICBMs.
However, both sides still had thousands of missiles.
1975: Helsinki Accords – USA and USSR formally accepted Eastern European borders.
Both pledged to co-operate in trade and space missions.
Pledged to respect freedom of speech and human rights, but the USSR did not fulfil this.

Question 2

Afghanistan

Answer 2

1979-80
Brezhnev was concerned that Islamic fundamentalism would spread to from Iran to USSR, through Afghanistan.
Soviet army invaded to ‘help’ the government fight the mujahideen.
Afghan leader was murdered and replaced by pro-Soviet Babrak Kamal.
President Carter asked the US government to cancel SALT 2.
The Carter Doctrine stated the US would use force to protect other countries in Persian Gulf.
The USA boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Question 3

Second Cold War

Answer 3

Reagan elected president, promising to be tougher with the USSR than Carter had been over Afghanistan.
Called USSR the ‘Evil Empire’.
Ended détente and restarted the arms race.
Launched the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), a plan to equip satellites with lasers to shoot down missiles.
The USA moved ahead in the arms race as USSR’s economy and scientific research were unable to keep up.
The war in Afghanistan also proved difficult and costly.

Question 4

Gorbachev’s New Thinking

Answer 4

1985-89
New USSR leader Gorbachev called for a return to détente.
Glasnost (openness): Greater freedom of speech.
Perestroika (restructuring): Economic reforms including increased production of luxury goods.
Brezhnev Doctrine ended.
In 1987, the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed. Both USA and USSR agreed to destroy all short range missiles in Europe.
In 1988, the Soviet army began to withdraw from Afghanistan.