Download Meaning Détente is a French term, meaning a

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S7 History – 4hr
Cold War 9 - Detente
Meaning
Détente is a French term, meaning a relaxing or
easing; the term has been used in international
politics since the early 1970s. Generally, it may
be applied to any international situation where
previously hostile nations not involved in an open
war "warm up" to each other and threats deescalate. However, it is primarily used in
reference to the general reduction in the tension
between the Soviet Union and the United States
and a thawing of the Cold War, occurring from
the mid 1960s until the start of the 1980s.
Causes
Both sides had pressing reasons to seek
relaxation in tensions. The Cuban Missile crisis
could be considered a trigger. MAD focused the
strategist’s minds. In addition, political events in
the 1960s (Czechoslovakia and Vietnam) undermined the superpowers on the home front
and with their relationships with allies. The superpowers lacked confidence.
USSR
Leonid Brezhnev (right) and the rest of the Soviet
leadership felt that the economic burden of the nuclear
arms race was unsustainable. (20% going on defence)
The Soviets also hoped that with Détente, more trade
with Western Europe would be possible. They hoped
for greater access to western technology.
Worsening relations with the People's Republic of
China, leading to the Sino-Soviet Split, had caused
great concern in the Soviet Union. The leadership was
terrified
of
the
potential of a SinoAmerican
alliance
against them and thus
felt improving relations with the United States would be
necessary.
Soviet thinkers also felt that a less aggressive policy
could potentially detach the Western Europeans from
their American ally. More independent minded policies
appeared in Germany (Brandt left) and France (de
Gaulle). But on the other hand the Prague Spring (1968)
had undermined the USSR’s relationship with the
Eastern bloc and western Communists.
USA
The American economy was also in
financial trouble as the Vietnam War
drained government finances at the same
time as Lyndon Johnson’s New Society (and
to a lesser extent, Richard Nixon) sought to
expand the government welfare state.
Vietnam
also
weakened
the
US
psychologically. In Europe, the Ostpolitik of
Willy Brandt was decreasing tensions.
Improved relations with China also helped
thaw the American view of communism in
general. (left Nixon visits Mao in China).
The achievements of Détente
The most obvious manifestation of Détente was the series of summits held between the
leaders of the two superpowers and the treaties that resulted from these meetings. Five
themes might be identified.
Arms Limitation - The Political
Consultative Committee of the
Warsaw Pact sent an offer to the
West, urging to hold a summit on
"security and cooperation in
Europe". The West agreed and
talks began towards actual limits in
the nuclear capabilities of the two
superpowers. SALT I in 1972
limited each power's nuclear
arsenals, though it was quickly
rendered out-of-date as a result of
the development of MIRVs. In the same year that SALT I was signed, the Biological
Weapons Convention and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty were also concluded.
(above - Leonid Brezhnev and Jimmy Carter sign SALT II treaty, June 18, 1979, in Vienna.)
International Agreement - In 1975, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in
Europe met and produced the Helsinki Accords, a wide ranging series of agreements on
economic, political, and human rights issues.
Trade - Trade relations between the two blocks increased
substantially during the era of detente. Most significant were
the vast shipments of grain that were sent from the West to the
Soviet Union each year, which helped make up for the failure
of kolkhoz, Soviet collectivized agriculture. (right – Soviet
poster ‘comrade come and join the kolkhov)
China – Nixon’s visit in 1972, pandas and ‘ping-pongdiplomacy’ were important but symbolic. The decision to allow
Communist China to take their place at the UN Security
Council was more significant.
Europe – Ostpolitik and the ‘basic treaty’ improved relations between East and West
Germany with each side accepting the existence of the other..
End of Détente
Détente began to unravel in 1979 due to a series of events.
The Iranian Revolution (left) and the subsequent hostage
crisis embarrassed the United States and led much of the
American public to believe their nation had lost its
international power and prestige.
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
to shore up a struggling allied
regime led to harsh criticisms in
the west and a boycott of the 1980
Summer Olympics, which were to be held in Moscow.
The 1980 American presidential election saw Ronald Reagan
(right) elected on a platform opposed to the concessions of
Détente. Negotiations on SALT II were abandoned.
Assessment
Little substantive was achieved.
Despite the growing amicability of the two superpowers heated competition continued
between the two, especially in the Third World. Wars in South Asia in 1971 and the
Middle East in 1973 saw the superpowers back their sides with materiel and diplomatic
support. In Latin America the Soviet Union continued efforts to foment revolutions,
while the United States continued to block any leftward shift in the region with military
coups.
Neither side trusted the other fully and the potential for nuclear war remained. Each side
continued to have thousands of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) pointed at the
other’s cities, submarines in the oceans of the world, and forces guarding disputed
borders in Korea and Europe. The espionage war continued unabated as defectors,
reconnaissance satellites, and signal interceptions were still a priority for both sides.
Historiography
This is very recent history. It is also history written by historians who have lived through
the end of Communism. Divides reflect divides politically, especially in the US.
A left, ‘post-revisionist’ view of Craig and
George Force and Statecraft (1983
The right ‘orthodox’ view of Richard
Pipes, US-Soviet Relations in the Era of
Détente (1981)
Détente seen as a beneficial policy for both
sides.
Reflects the success of Reagan policies in
bringing an end to the Cold War.
Opinions on Détente remain divided. In the United States the modern anti-communist
opinion of the détente era is it was a mistake that enabled the Soviet Union to survive for
a longer period of time. In this analysis, Détente was evidence of US weakness that
consequently prolonged the Cold War. The general left-liberal opinion is that any
reduction of the likelihood of nuclear Armageddon is a positive outcome and that the
United States also needed a respite from the taxing arms race. In much of Europe the
Détente-era warming, improved relations with Eastern European states and Soviet failure
to follow ensuing human-rights agreements are seen as partial roots for later dissident
movements in Eastern Europe, such as the Czech Charter 77.
Actvities.
1. Explain what Detente means then outline the main reasons why a) USA and b)
USSR were keen on pursuing the policy.
2. What evidence is there that relations between the superpowers improved in the
1970s?
3. What evidence is there that superpower relations were largely unchanged in the
1970s?
4. Explain how left-wing and right-wing historians interpret the Détente period
differently.
5. Explain some of the problems faced by historians when researching and writing
about events in the very recent past.
RJ-N 180310