IDEAS AND POLITICAL POWER: THE COLD WAR HI021: AOS 1 IDEAS AND POLITICAL POWER: THE COLD WAR Détente: The Afghanistan War, political instability in the Soviet Union, Polish ‘Solidarity’ and 1989

Today Détente The Afghanistan War Political instability in the Soviet Union Polish ‘Solidarity’ 1989

Détente Détente: relaxing of tension, esp. between nations, as by negotiations or agreements.

Détente: The Reasons ‘Thawing’ of tensions between China, USSR and USA in the 1970s: But WHY? Vietnam war shocked people Growing fear of nuclear holocaust Began after Cuban missile crisis in 1963 when communications were improved between USSR and USA

Détente: Why was it attractive to the superpowers? China: Feared isolation from the world Feared what US had done in Vietnam Had far less nuclear weapons USSR: - Realising negative financial consequences of last 20 years Poor living standards of Soviet people Relationship with China deteriorating USA: Contemplating more effective ways of stopping spread of Communism Cost of Vietnam war (economic and psychological) Struggling with cost of maintaining armed forces and weapons

Proxy: An agent legally authorized to act on behalf of another party Détente: The Treaties Proxy: An agent legally authorized to act on behalf of another party M.A.D (mutually assured destruction) treaties 1972: Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) between USA and USSR limiting ‘first strike’ capacity 1975: SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) limited the number of offensive weapons allowed 1979: SALT II intended to extend this but didn’t happen due to outbreak of Afghanistan War Despite this, proxy wars were still occurring

Détente: The problems PROXY WARS: 1973: Arab-Israeli War 1975: Conflict in Angola 1977 – 78: Somalia – Ethiopian War These tensions, particularly the Afghanistan War, made the Cold War détente problematic