1. THE COLD WAR

2. Détente

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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 (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Since going into effect in 1970, only Israel, India & Pakistan remain as non-signatory, with North Korea having withdrawn itself as a signatory

8. Vietnam War:

9. Vietnam War:
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”

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

11. “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.

12. 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)

13. 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 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?

14. 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 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?

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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