The détente period / 1963-1979

Thèmes abordés

Detente, Limits, Action

Résumé du document

It is a long and permanent relaxation in tensions (with usually agreements and treaties).
Tensions HAD to be released as the world was at the brink of MAD. There were increasing economic problems due to arms race on both sides.
There was also a political instability as most of the soviet's satellites (neighbours) went on strike and tried to protest against their low standard of living, wishing to improve it.

With the escalating involvement in Vietnam, USA had to face consequent economic problems
-Important sums of money were spent on armament and troops support, rather than on education and welfare. Furthermore, trade was devaluated such as dollar.
-Horrors of the Vietnam Warby the end of the 60s incited the superpowers to try to find new solutions.
-China and USSR kept sending weapons to North Vietnam. China soon broke away from its engagement with USSR and started collaborating with USA. There were now three superpowers involved.

Extraits

[...] With the escalating involvement in Vietnam, USA had to face consequent economic problems - Important sums of money were spent on armament and troops support, rather than on education and welfare. Furthermore, trade was devaluated such as dollar. - Horrors of the Vietnam Warby the end of the 60s incited the superpowers to try to find new solutions. - China and USSR kept sending weapons to North Vietnam. China soon broke away from its engagement with USSR and started collaborating with USA. There were now three superpowers involved. [...]

[...] - The apogee of Détente was in 1975 with the HELSINKI conference. o The present countries recognized the European frontiers which had been modified after WWII, thus recognizing the division of Germany. o All countries promised to allow citizens HUMAN RIGHTS (esp. communist countries) including freedom of speech( hum hum) and freedom to leave the country ( re-hum hum). III) Limits of the Détente - In August 1964- First American combat troops in Vietnam. - Indirect fighting continued between superpowers( esp about Vietnam) - In 1968, it is Prague Spring. [...]

[...] II) The détente in ACTION - Détente started with the end of the Cuban Missile crisis in 1963. - Setting up of the hotline in 1963, along with the test ban treaty( ban nuclear test in atmosphere and underwater) - Banning nuclear test in outer space in 1967 - Non-proliferation treaty and the prohibition of the spread of nuclear knowledge aiming to reduce the number of new nuclear warheads. - SALT 1 [Strategic Arms Limitation treaty(or talks for purists)] signed in 1972 which aimed to slow down the arms race (limitation of ICBMs but Americans were ahead concerning the number of multiple warhead technology - Trial for limiting SLBM (Submarines Launched ballistic missile) Nixon tried to Improve relationship with China. [...]

[...] IV) Détente came to an end - Détente came to an end at the end of 1979 after the increase of tensions due to invasion of Afghanistan by USSR in 1979. The Americans organized a boycott of the Olympic games in Moscow in 1980. It led to a second Cold War period that the new American President Ronald Reagan tried to deal with. - He set up the SDI (strategic defense initiative or “Star that intended to use weapons set up in outer space to destroy ballistic missiles in flight. - But there were better relations between USA and USSR as soon as Gorbachev came to power. [...]