How successful was detente to 1976? Flashcards
What did the Helsinki Accords (1975) set out?
A comprehensive framework through which East-West relations could be managed
What were problems with the Helsinki Accords?
Legitimacy of communism was subtly undermined by increased contact with the West
Only pledges and couldn’t be enforced
What did the Basic Principles Agreement (1972) establish?
A framework through which the USA and the USSR could work together and resolve some of their biggest differences
What were problems with the Basic Principles Agreement?
Some of the agreements came to nothing
Congress introduced the Jackson-Vanik amendment (1974), which curtailed US-Soviet trade
What did detente initially facilitate?
Trade between the two superpowers. Between 1974 and 1975 the USSR increased imports from the West by 96%
How did US Congress undermine the new relationship between the USA and USSR?
With the Jackson-Vanik amendment
Give an example of US defence spending reducing significantly as a result of withdrawal from Vietnam
In 1970 the total defence spending was $406 billion, falling to $284 billion in 1976
What did detente not halt?
The USSR’s economic decline (1970-76) and the growing imbalance of economic power between the superpowers
What did the SALT 1 treaties establish?
A degree of nuclear parity by reducing the number of weapons on both sides
What did the achievement of rough nuclear parity stabilise?
The relationship between the superpowers, as it reduced the competitive element of the arms race
What did the talks that culminated in the SALT 1 treaties (1972) establish?
A dialogue between the two superpowers and therefore decreased the threat of nuclear war
Overall, how was detente successful?
By stabilising superpower relations
What did the American people remain suspicious of?
co-operation with the USSR
What were the economic consequences of detente like?
Much more favourable for the USA than for the USSR, leading to a growing imbalance of power between the superpowers
What were the successes of detente partially responsible for?
Its failure
