What was Détente?
- ‘Relaxing of tension’
- Between 1968 to 1980 the USA, USSR, PRC and European nations all pursued policies designed to establish more stable relations and reduce the threat of nuclear war
- Similar to the ‘thaw’ in tensions in 1950s
- Despite policy successes of détente, it didn’t alter or alleviate the fundamental nature of the conflict
- Both sides were still competing for influences and power throughout the world, especially in Africa and the Middle East
- Détente would finally collapse with the USSR invasion of Afghanistan in 1979
Soviet Reasons for Détente
American Reasons for Détente
China’s Reasons for Détente
European Reasons for Détente
Successes of Détente – SALT 1
Successes of Détente – SALT 2
Successes of Détente – Europe
Successes of Détente – China
Successes of Détente – Helsinki
- USSR’s economy was stagnating by the late 1960s
- Its centrally planned economy prioritised arms production over consumer goods
- The result was low living standards which fuelled unrest
- By 1969, the Sino-Soviet relationship was in tatters because of a short border war
- USSR sought to isolate China
- Better relations with the West would able this
- By that time they had also achieved nuclear parity with the USA
- Could now negotiate from a position of strength
American Reasons for Détente
- The Vietnam War had isolated the USA internationally and caused tensions amongst its allies.
- It also sucked up billions of US dollars and seemed to be doing nothing to stop communism spreading
- The US needed a way to end the war. New President Nixon (1968) and his foreign policy advisor, Henry Kissinger, called for a new ‘realpolitik’ foreign policy that could more flexibly expose divisions between the USSR and China through negotiation.
- They hoped détente with the USSR and China would put pressure on North Vietnam to end the war.
China’s Reasons for Détente
- After the 1969 Border War with the USSR, China also sought better relations with the USA as a way to deter and gain leverage over the USSR.
- Diplomatically, China hoped that better relations with the USA would help its long-term aim of regaining Taiwan.
- Economically, China was keen to gain access to Western technology like Oil extraction.
- After 1976, the new reforming leadership in China also sought greater trade relations with the West.
- Détente would help achieve all these aims.
European Reasons for Détente
- The crises of the 1960s over Cuba and Berlin had worried European nations who were on the front-line of any potential nuclear war.
- These tensions had encouraged protests in both Czechoslovakia and France in 1968.
- Both East and West were aware of the need to improve relations for social stability
- Chancellor Willy Brandt in West Germany called for ‘Ostpolitik’ in foreign policy.
- The Soviet Bloc was also keen for a formal peace treaty accepting the new post-war borders in Europe – and to gain acceptance for the division of Germany – détente would therefore led to better economic and political relations for both sides.
Successes of Détente – SALT 1
- The biggest policy success of détente were in the area of nuclear arms reductions. The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT1) in 1972 was a landmark treaty. It covered:
- ABM Treaty:
- Anti-ballistic Missiles were allowed at only 2 sites, with no more than 100 missiles
- To ensured the continuation of MAD as a deterrent = both sides felt secure
- Interim Treaty:
- Places limits on numbers of ICBMs and SLBMs
- Basic Principles Agreement:
- Created rules for the conduct of nuclear war
- Committed both sides to promote ‘peaceful co-existence’
- ABM Treaty:
- The spirit of co-operation achieved by SALT 1 was followed up by visits to Moscow by Nixon in 1972 and 1974
- Brezhnev also visited Washington in 1973
- SALT 1 was a landmark agreement because it ‘institutionalised’ arms control and committed both nations to formal rules and goals.
- However some criticised it for not going far enough – it only regulated nuclear war, it didn’t call for disarmament.
- It allowed both nations to maintain MIRVs – highly destructive!
Successes of Détente – SALT 2
- SALT 1 was quickly followed up by discussions over another treaty called SALT 2. Negotiations began in 1974 but dragged on until 1979 as relations stalled. It called for:
- A limit on nuclear delivery vehicles like ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers.
- A ban on testing new types of ICBMs and new weapons systems.
Successes of Détente – Europe
- Moscow Treaty 1970
- was signed by the USSR, West Germany and Poland. It accepted the border between East/West Germany, and the post-1945 re-drawn border between Poland and East Germany.
- Final Quadripartite Protocol 1972
- confirmed the division of Berlin and legally allowed Western access, thereby ensuring security.
- Basic Treaty 1972
- signed by East and West Germany, both accepting the existence of each other. Both promised to increase trade links.
- Agreement on the Prevention of Nuclear War 1973
- both promised to enter consultations in the event of future crises
- The agreements between the two Germany’s led to a huge reduction in tensions
- Both sides began to normalise relations.
- In 1973 the UN recognised both West and East Germany as sovereign states and East Germany was recognised by the USA
- West Germany even stopped calling for reunification.
- The USSR was happy as the West had accepted it control over Eastern Europe
- However many in the West criticised the agreements as they gave legal recognition to Soviet control
Successes of Détente – China
- After the visit of Nixon to China in 1972, relations between China and the USA began to be normalised.
- The USA dropped its objections to China taking a seat on the UN Security Council, replacing Taiwan as the official representative of China.
- Trade and travel restrictions were also lifted and both nations began cultural exchanges. China even allowed students to study in the West.
- Better relations with China gave the USA leverage over the USSR in negotiations.
Successes of Détente – Helsinki
- The Final Act Agreement of the European Security Conference that began in Helsinki in 1973 was signed on 1st August 1975. It was another landmark agreement committing both sides to co-operation:
- Basket 1 - Security: Europe’s frontiers were ‘inviolable’ (national sovereignty and non-interference)
- Basket 2 - Cooperation: Closer ties in economics, science, culture
- Basket 3 – Human Rights: Respect for human rights and individual freedom on both sides
- The Final Act was viewed as a success by both sides but for different reasons.
- The USA: believed it had committed the USSR to giving more political freedom to people in Eastern Europe – which would hopefully undermine Soviet control!
- The USSR: was pleased to gain acceptance of Eastern Europe’s borders, strengthening its control over the Eastern bloc – it thought it could ignore Basket 3
- however many dissidents within Eastern Europe would use Basket 3 to challenge Soviet control