1. The Cold War
Détente

2. The term first used by French President Charles de Gaulle in the early 1960s
Relaxation of East-West tensions
Peaceful coexistence
The core idea: despite the profound differences between the capitalist and communist systems, war is not inevitable, there are mutual interests which can be best served by cooperation in:
Avoiding a major war; pursuing arms control and disarmament
Joint approaches to regional conflicts
Trade and investment

3. Khrushchev and Kennedy
Reformers, dynamic leaders who promoted change and took risks
Ideological warriors, optimistic about their systems’ prospects
Almost went to war in 1962, then laid the foundation of the arms control system
Kennedy was killed in 1963, Khrushchev overthrown in 1964
Brezhnev and Nixon
Conservatives, preoccupied with order and stability
Less ideological, more pragmatic; defensive about their systems
Building on what was achieved in the previous decade

4. Changes in the global balance of power
The nationalism-communism nexus in the Third World fuelled decolonization in the 1950s-1970s
Until the mid-1970s, the US continued to confront it as a major global threat in a futile struggle
America deadlocked, the war and domestic upheavals produce a profound political crisis at home, loss of influence abroad
The conservative-led USSR benefits from American setbacks by:
Continuing to support radical nationalists in the Third World;
Maintaining tight control over Eastern Europe;
Building up Soviet military potential;
And developing détente-type relations with the West

5. Khrushchev’s Fall Soviet Leaders Unhappy
- Not happy with foreign policy
- not happy with domestic policy
1. liberalization and economic reform
October 1964
- Khrushchev replaced by Leonid Brezhnev
1. Destalinization ends  Brezhnev Doctrine
2. policy of détente

6. PRESSURE FOR DETENTE ON USSR
Brezhnev wanted to extend Khrushchev’s policy of co-existence
Arms spending = 20% of all Govt spending – and they had caught up with USA
Iron curtain had poor industrial efficiency – needed to trade with the West
USSR had fell out with China & needed better relations with the USA

7. The Drama of 1968 THE CHALLENGES
Vietnam: the Tet offensive and President Johnson’s defeat
Barricades in Paris and the fall of the conservative regime in France
The Prague Spring
THE RESPONSES
Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King murdered
The Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia
The election of Richard Nixon

8. Détente USSR & Detente NO RISK TAKING Make technological improvements
a. desired trade with west
3. Block a US-Chinese Alliance
Nixon during Watergate
USA & Détente
Liked it
1. way out of Vietnam
2. curbing USSR expansion

9. PRESSURE FOR DETENTE ON USA
Arms Race & Vietnam War – meant the USA was spending lots – this was crippling the US economy
Loss of Vietnam War had hit USA’s confidence
Civil rights movement = pressure

10. Détente 1969-79 Nixon Becomes President (1968)
- History as hard line anti-communist
- felt Vietnam limiting US
1. needed Soviets for N. Vietnamese
settlement
- Détente main focus of foreign policy
1. Henry Kissinger
2. Needed N. Vietnamese Settlement
3. US no longer had nuclear superiority
a. 1,300 ICBMs (Soviet)
b. 1,054 ICBMs (USA)

11. The Nixon-Kissinger reform of US foreign policy
Recognize the limits of American power: retrenchment and maneuvre
“Vietnamization”
Deal with the domestic crisis in the US
Arrange a new balance of power by recognizing Communist China and playing “the China card” against Russia
Appeal to Soviet conservatism; treat the USSR as a status-quo force; offer it incentives for acting like one
Arms control for containment and stability
Continued confrontation with the Left in the Third World (1973: Chile)

12. Détente 1969 -79 Nixon and Linkage - no more rolling back communism
US Accepts
1. Soviets closing nuclear gap
2. Soviet Sphere of influence
3. offer western technology & money
US Gets
1. help get US out of Vietnam
2. maintain stability in developing world
Nixon Doctrine (for developing world)
- US Client States
1. states given weapons for US objectives

13. Nixon-Kissinger Foreign Policy
Peace through balance of power
Chief power (US) gives rivals a reason & stake in improved relations
Balancer throws weight around to keep balance
Don’t specify friends & enemies
Baby steps – we’re not desperate for détente (or anything else) US
China
USSR
W. Europe
Japan

14. Triangular Diplomacy – US perspective
Allows US to play USSR & China off of each other
US sees China as a tool for pushing USSR to accept terms of arms control & détente in Europe & Vietnam
Chance of renewing a slowing economy

15. Détente w/ US – China’s Perspective
Sees promise of disengagement from Indochina
Allows for concentration of forces on N. Border w/ USSR
Trade opportunities w/ US (better than stagnant trade w/ USSR)

16. Evidence of Détente w/ China
Relaxation of travel & trade restrictions (some)
Increased communication – Nixon refers to China as “The People’s Republic of China)
1971 US Ping Pong team visits China
1971 Nixon cancels trade embargo
US does not block the UN’s move to make
PRC part of UN Security Council
US backs Pakistan (against India) in war that creates Bangladesh (12/1971) (Pak. & China friends)
Feb 1972 NIXON VISITS CHINA!
Kissinger makes secret trips to China

17. Détente 1969 - 79 Soviet Union - Declining 1. inefficient bureaucracy
2. heavy burden of defense spending
- Concerned about Sino-Soviet split
1. border disputes
a. Ussuri River
* conflict / almost war
2. loss of world communist control
3. Fear of US & China
a. US could get out of S.E. Asia
b. China could limit USSR influence in N. Vietnam

18. Sino-Soviet Split
In the early 1960s the world’s two greatest communist countries quarrelled with each other.
The Chinese resented the refusal of the Russians to help them develop their nuclear weapons technology.
The Russians believed that the Chinese might provoke war with the US and so couldn’t be trusted.

19. Détente w/ US – USSR perspective
Need to avoid nuclear conflict (US also) – Prague, 6-Day War, Vietnam remain limited
Russia needs grain deal from US – MFN status received by Russia
Increased prestige for Brezhnev
Protection from China
Détente w/ US Eases détente w/ FRG

20. China-US-USSR Relationship
Nixon decided to exploit this tension between the two by playing one off against the other to put pressure on the USSR to sign SALT.
His visit to China worried the Soviet Union that China and the US might ‘gang up’ against them.
The Russians decided to improve relations with the US to stop this happening.
They quickly agreed to sign the 1972 SALT I Treaty and invited Nixon to Moscow to sign it. SALT I ‘froze’ the number of submarine and land-based missiles for 5 years.

21. SALT 1 Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) 1969
- arms Control (not reduction)
talks finish May 1972
1. signed SALT 1 Agreements
a. progress
* 5 year freeze on ICBMs
* only 1 ABM site
a. Neither side wanted
more anyway
b. was significant progress in relieving
Cold War pressure

22. Things that worked:
Arms control
Normalization of US relations with China
European security strengthened
Failures:
The US-Soviet trade deal was torpedoed by US Congress:1973
Nixon’s authoritarianism ultimately led to his defeat and resignation: 1974
US defeat in Vietnam: 1975
Overall impression of a shift in international balance of power against the USA, in favour of USSR, China, and the Global Left

23. Détente in Europe West Germany Willy Brandt
a. Ostpolitik (Eastern Policy)
* reduce barriers between FDR (W. Germany) and GDR (E. Germany)
b. abandoned Hallstein Doctrine
* not recognize countries that recognized GDR  Brandt’s moves allow defacto recognition of GDR – thus other agreements could be entertained
c. Opened relations with USSR
* Moscow Treaty
aa. Formally ended WWII
bb. Confirmed the division of Germany

24. Treaty of Moscow 1970 FRG & USSR
Recognizes Oder-Neisse Line (Poland/E. Germany – gives part of historical E. Germany to Poland)

25. Détente in Europe d. Final Quadripartite Protocol (1972)
* USSR accepts West German
links to West Berlin
e. Basic Treaty (Dec 1972)
* accepting the existence of two
German States
* FDR did not give GDR full
recognition
Soviets want West to accept Eastern Europe
1. Conference of Security and Co-operation (July 1973)
a. Final Act (1975)
* acknowledged status quo

26. Basic Treaty of 1972 Between FRG & GDR
Recognized two states (but one nation)
Increased cultural, commercial & personal relations
Both subsequently entered into the UN as separate nations

27. The Moscow Summit 1972
During the week-long summit several agreements between the two countries were reached.
On 26 May SALT I was signed in the Kremlin by Nixon & Brezhnev
SALT limited each superpower to 200 defensive nuclear missiles and froze the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles for the next five years.
Agreed to establish more favorable conditions for developing commercial and other economic ties
Agreed to make their first joint manned venture into space in June 1975
Other agreements relating to incidents at sea, science and technology, health and the environment were also made

28. Further progress to detente
The one remaining obstacle to improve still further relations was the US role in Vietnam. In April 1973, the US withdrew its troops. This soon led to:
The Helsinki Agreement, 1975:
35 European nations agreed to accept Europe’s borders as permanent – this pleased the USSR.
They also agreed to guarantee human rights (such as the right to protest) in their own countries- this pleased the US.

29. Helsinki Accords 1975
The Act's "Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States" (also known as "The Decalogue") enumerated the following 10 points:
I. Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty
II. Refraining from the threat or use of force
III. Inviolability of frontiers
IV. Territorial integrity of States
V. Peaceful settlement of disputes
VI. Non-intervention in internal affairs
VII. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief
VIII. Equal rights and self-determination of peoples
IX. Co-operation among States
X. Fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law

30. HELSINKI AGREEMENT (1975)
August 1975 – 35 countries – inc USSR & USA signed the Helsinki agreement:
The West officially recognised East Germany & the Soviet sphere of influence
The USSR agreed to buy US grain & export oil to the West
All countries agreed to improve human rights – freedom of speech, religion & movement
Eastern Europeans formed groups to campaign for these freedoms – inc Charter 77
Helsinki – Eastern European Govt could borrow money from the West (most were in debt!)

31. Detente So Far... Nixon knew that détente The USSR could not afford
was a vote-winner
The USSR could not afford
its huge military expenditure
(20% of GNP)
Why were
both superpowers
ready for détente?
Detente So Far...
SALT started 1969
Detente
Nixon visited
China 1971
Nixon invited to
Moscow 1972
Brezhnev visited
USA 1973
Helsinki Agreement
1975
SALT I
Treaty 1972
US withdrew from
South Vietnam 1973

32. CRITICISMS OF DETENTE Mid 1970’s – Detente was falling apart
West was angry about Soviet Human rights abuses
Members of Charter 77 (a civic initiative from Czechoslovakia criticizing the Communist government) – sacked from work, expelled from school, lost driving licences.
When USA tried to get Soviet Jews rights, written into trade agreements, Brezhnev cancelled the trade agreement.
Both sides were suspicious the other was breaking SALT I

33. The Decline of Détente Problems with Détente
- Soviets wasn’t stable Europe
* want influence in 3rd world
- Soviets in middle East
* competition between US and USSR in
Middle East
Nixon was limited by Watergate
Congress states no deal could be made with
Soviets unless human rights are included
Mao Zedong Dies
1. US –Sino Relations diminish
* used to put pressure on the Soviets no longer existed

34. Decline of Détente President Ford Takes over
1. Congress puts same restrictions on him
a. refuses to use word détente
US economic troubles
1. competing with Japan and West
Germany
2. First trade deficit since 1900
3. Congress not want to approve extra
funds

35. Decline of Détente Events in Europe - Portuguese Revolution (1974 )
1. Left-Leaning Gov’t
- Greek Revolution
1. Left Leaning Gov’t
- Growing Popularity of “Eurocommunism”
1. France and Italy
even Kissinger would not talk of détente

36. Brezhnev’s benefits...
Soviet conservatism seemed to work better than US conservatism
USSR seemed to get stronger and more influential in world affairs
But:
The system was stagnant and increasingly dysfunctional
The decolonization wave in the world was coming to an end

37. The Carter Presidency (1977-80)
US tried to regain initiative through liberal internationalism
Commitment to détente, but also:
Raising the issue of human rights as a challenge to communist states
Growing concerns about Soviet military buildup and aid to Third World Left
By the end of 1979, Carter’s foreign policy was in shambles
The Iranian revolution, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and conservative revolt in the US buried détente. Talk of a “Second Cold War”

38. Decline of Détente President Carter (1976-80)
- Inconsistent foreign policy
1. Avoided anti-Soviet rhetoric
2. US would not automatically give
support to repressive anticommunists
3. Two Advisors
a. Cyrus Vance
* Though détente was possible once Brezhnev was gone
b. Zbigniew Brzezinski (a pole)
* Did not trust Soviets
* Thought only US superiority could
force USSR to accept agreements

39. Decline of Détente 4. Developing World a. Soviets in Ethiopia
* Carter leans to Zbigniew Brzezinski
* Support a campaign for human
rights in the eastern bloc
5. Other Problems
a. Sinking economy
b. Revolutions in middle east
* Iran / Afghanistan
c. Caribbean
* Grenada / Nicaragua
d. Republicans criticizing Carter

40. Decline of Détente SALT 2 - Vienna (June 1979)
1. limit 2,400 missile launchers
2. Limit number of MIRVs
Carter Pressured
1. New Right
a. wanted conditions in Cuba

41. SALT II
1977 – New US President – Jimmy Carter, attempted new arms reductions = SALT II
Carter was angry that Brezhnev tried to cut links between trade & human rights
1979 – Detente was over – The Soviets invaded Afghanistan.

42. SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan – was poor, barren – but location was important
Offered a route between oil rich Middle East & Soviet Union
Afghanistan was under Soviet influence since 1947 – though the US gave it aid.

44. Jan 1979 – the Shah (King) of Iran was overthrown by Fundamentalist Muslims
Revolution was anti American – 53 US hostages were captured at the US embassy (lasted a year).
1979 – Hafizullah Amin seized power in Afghanistan – Communist – not friendly with USSR
He was opposed by major Muslim groups in the country - Soviets were worried these groups could turn it into an Islamic State
Could have knock on effects in the area

46. THE USSR INVADES Soviets invade 25TH Dec 1979
Captured Kabul airport – flying in troops (50,000) and weapons
Presidents palace was captured – Amin was killed.
1st Jan 1980 – Babrak Karmal became leader – he was flown in from the USSR

47. WORLD REACTION
Brezhnev said: “we have gone there to restore order – at the request of the Afghan Government”
USA = v. Angry = a threat to world peace – never went to 1980 Olympics or ratify SALT II
USA promised to help the Mujaheddin - an Afghan force waging guerrilla warfare (Islamic)
Carter also sent US navy to protect oil routes out of the Middle East & stopped the sale of grain to the USSR

48. Why did this period of détente give way to the ‘new’ Cold War?
The USSR soon made it obvious that they had no intention of allowing any human rights by arresting dissidents (opponents of communism in USSR)
In 1976 the Cubans (with Soviet backing) sent 40,000 troops to help communists in Angola’s civil war.
The biggest setback was caused by the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

49. Nixon knew that détente
was a vote-winner
The USSR could not afford
its huge military expenditure
(20% of GNP)
Why were
both superpowers
ready for détente?
Soviet arrests
of leading
dissidents
Why did this period
of détente
come to an end?
Cuban troops
sent to Angola
1976
SALT started 1969
Détente to ‘new’
Cold War
Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan 1979
Nixon visited
China 1971
Nixon invited to
Moscow 1972
Brezhnev visited
USA 1973
Helsinki Agreement
1975
SALT I
Treaty 1972
US withdrew from
South Vietnam 1973

50. In Summary What is Détente? How did it impact the Cold War?
What evidence do we have that we engaged in Détente with USSR, E. Europe, & China?
What are the names and events we should remember?