Why detente started

Question 1

(3) Sino-Soviet Strategic needs

Answer 1

Began 3 way diplomacy as US-USSR talks already begun
USSR needed to ensure China didn’t become involved in US-Soviet conflict and that US wasn’t involved in Sino-Soviet conflict since
US/USSR had nuclear parity therefore China’s position of support was the deciding factor of military readiness as USSR needed additional ally while US was falling out with their European allies, France left NATO 1966

Question 2

(4) Economic needs

Answer 2

Need to lower military expansion, Nam cost $168bn
USSR wanted western technology as they had no quaternary sector and technological inferiority made economy weak
USSR want access to western grain as demand for bread in SU caused it to be rationed and importing was cheaper
1973 oil shock meant to some degree both superpowers had to pause cold war commitments to focus on recovering economies

Question 3

(4) Domestic needs

Answer 3

Stabilise Eastern bloc (1968 Czech uprising)
USSR needed to prove worth of ideology with improvement in living standards, SU SOL had fallen behind Estonia and Georgia, Rates of alcoholism, mental illness, divorce and suicide rose inexorably during the Brezhnev era
US have issue of civil rights with 1968 Kings riots, leader of Free world in question
Political climate in US allowed for rapprochement as right wing and MIC lobby reduced by Vietnam war, after 60,000KIA