THE COLD WAR 1945-1991

Détente 1963-79

DEFINITION Détente: The relaxation of strained relations or tension, esp. between countries. (Merriam-Webster) Many people believe that the period of détente was initiated in 1968, but the seeds of détente arguably began in the early 60’s. 1962 End of the Cuban Missile Crisis 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1966 Willy Brandt’s Ostpolitik

Brinksmanship and Mutually Assured Destruction The Cuban Missile Crisis was the first actual example of brinksmanship that the superpowers had seen and the theory crumbled under the possibility of MAD that it revealed. A “red telephone” (i.e. hotline to the Kremlin) was installed in the Oval Office on June 20, 1963 Superpowers were also alarmed at the rapidity at which weapons technologies were progressing. Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs) Anti-ballistic Missile Systems (ABMs)

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1963 By 1963 close to 500 nuclear weapons had been tested, giving rise to concern over its impact to the environment. The NTBT banned all testing of nuclear weapons, except underground (Why not underground?) It was signed by the USA, USSR & Great Britain

Willy Brandt & Ostpolitik In 1955, Konrad Adenauer espoused the Hallstein Doctrine that stated that the FDR would have no diplomatic relations with any country recognizing the DDR. The FRG broke off relations with Yugoslavia (1957) and Cuba (1963) in adherence to the Hallstein Doctrine In Dec. of ‘66, Brandt becomes foreign minister for liberal coalition party. At a NATO foreign ministers mtg., he outlined his proposal for reducing East-West tensions. The reasons for Brandt’s Ostpolitik were: FRG was the nucleus of East-West tensions “Flexible Response” called for development of short range, tactical, “small” nuclear weapons (likely usage – Germany) To avoid being used as a sacrificial lamb by the Western powers Increased trade would help both sides.

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty 1967-8 Like the NTBT, the USA, USSR & Great Britain all negotiated and signed the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty in 1968. (NPT or NNPT) All 5 nuclear states signed the agreement, as well as 59 other non-nuclear states signing the treaty. A few states, which were actively seeking nuclear weaponry, refused to sign: Israel Argentina Brazil India Pakistan Since going into effect in 1970, only Israel, India & Pakistan remain as non-signatory, with North Korea having withdrawn itself as a signatory

Vietnam War: 1965-1973

Vietnam War: 1965-1973 1968 marked a pivotal year in global politics. For the USA, the anti-war movement was gaining strength, as LBJ refused to seek re-election. His “Great Society” was undermined by the rising costs of the war. Moreover, by 1968, 300 US soldiers were killed every week with no prospect for victory. What else happened? Richard M. Nixon was elected in 1968 and adopted a policy of “Vietnamisation.” The gradual transition from US forces to S. Vietnamese forces. As part of the 1969 Nixon Doctrine, Nixon and his Sec. of State Henry Kissinger espoused “peace with honor.” In a classic example of Realpolitik, Nixon-Kissinger believed that our withdrawal from Vietnam would require Soviet and Chinese support. In return for helping the US out of Vietnam, the USA would: Recognize the USSR’s parity Allow the Soviets access to western technology Avoid interfering in the Soviet empire This “linkage” brought and end to the idea of “roll back”

“Prague Spring” (1968) Former Czech President, Alexander Dubček Communism with a human face!

“Prague Spring” Dashed! Dissidents/playwrights arrested [like Vaclav Havel—future president of a free Czech Republic]. Soviet response comes to be known as the Brezhnev Doctrine.

Sino-Soviet Dispute of 1969 RELATIONS HAD SOURED… Chinese condemn Kruschev as “revisionist” in his attack on Stalin’s cult of personality Soviets condemn Mao as a “deviationist” Chinese criticize USSR in its capitulation in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Soviets refuse to support Chinese in 1962 Sino-Indian War Countries break diplomatic ties, though try to restore them in 1964, after Brezhnev deposed Kruschev. In March 1969, Soviet and Chinese forces clash along the border at the Ussuri River. Chinese recognize that they can’t suppress internal dissent, confront the USA in Vietnam & fight the Soviets in the North. They determine that the Soviets are the greatest threat. The Soviets are concerned about improving relations between the US & China (i.e. Sino-American Rapprochement)

SALT I 1972 The most significant of the post-Cuban Missile Crisis arms control agreements. It covered three areas: ABM Treaty – limited signees to only 2 sites with no more than 100 missiles @ each site. Interim Treaty – limited ICBMs and SLBMs Basic Principles Agreement – committed signees to enter into serious discussions in the event that nuclear war appears immanent. How effective do these agreements seem to you?

Helsinki Agreement 1973 As a result of the 1972 Moscow Summit, President Nixon agreed to participate in a European Security Conference in Helsinki the following year. As a result, a final agreement (called The Final Act) was produced in August of 1975. The tenets were called “baskets.” The Security Basket – strongly influenced by Brandt’s Ostpolitik, it recognized the Europe’s current borders and stated that they could not be altered by force. The Cooperation Basket – called for greater cooperation and sharing of economic, scientific and cultural achievements. The Human Rights Basket – called for respect for individual human rights such as, freedom of thought, conscience/religion, and freedom of travel. Which of these baskets would likely be the most controversial?

SALT II 1979 SALT II discussions began in 1974 and covered the following: Limited the numbers of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles (e.g. ICBMs, SLBMs, heavy bombers, etc.) Banned the testing and deployments of NEW ICBMs and rapid deployment systems Carter & Brezhnev signing SALT II

Sea Cruise missile launched The Arms Race First in Race Second in Race USA 1945 Atom bomb 1949 USSR 1952 Hydrogen bomb 1953 1957 ICBM 1958 First satellite Early warning radar 1960 SLBM 1968 ABM 1972 1970 MIRV 1975 1971 Sea Cruise missile launched 1982

The build-up of arms after 1945 The Arms Race The build-up of arms after 1945 Bombers 1956 1960 1965 1970 1975 1979 USA 560 550 630 405 330 316 USSR 60 175 200 190 140 ICBMs 1964 1968 1974 295 835 1054 75 800 1300 1587 1398 SLBMs 1962 1972 145 500 656 655 45 125 130 497 740 989 Warheads 1945 1955 1985 6 3057 31265 26675 22941 6129 19442 39197

Why did Détente come to an end? The End of Détente Why did Détente come to an end?