COLD WAR: confrontation & cooperation 1963-1972

what was the Brezhnev Doctrine 1968?

justified soviet intervention in any communist country threatened by reform

how did detente begin developing?

both superpowers faced internal strains, Vietnam fatigue, economic pressures

what was the role of China in Cold War diplomacy?

Sino/Soviet split created new dynamics and Nixon exploited this divide

what was the significance of Nixon’s visit to China in 1972?

marked a historic realignment, pressured USSR to negotiate

how did the Vietnam War impact superpower relations?

US needed USSR help with Vietnam withdrawal, led to more cooperation

what were the causes of Prague Spring 1968?

Czechoslovakia’s reform movement aimed for “socialism with a human face”, liberalising censorship and decentralising power

how did USSR respond to Prague Spring?

invaded Czechoslovakia in August 1968, shocked global opinion

what did the Brezhnev Doctrine state about intervention?

no socialist country could leave the soviet sphere

what was the US reaction to Czechoslovakia?

offered no military response, stuck in Vietnam but remained cautious

what was Ostpolitik, and how did it change east/west relations?

Willy Brandt recognised Eastern borders and improved East/West German relations

what was the significance of the Glassboro Summit 1967?

reduced tensions, symbolic moment of diplomacy after years of hostility

how did nuclear parity affect superpower behaviour?

MAD and strategic parity led to increased caution and emphasis on arms control

what was SALT 1 in 1972, and what did it achieve?

limited nuclear launchers and froze ICBMs, a key detente success

what was the ABM Treaty 1972?

banned national missile defences, reinforced MAD

how did proxy conflicts continue during 1963-72?

superpowers still backed conflicts in Middle East, Africa, Asia

what was the role of Nixon and Kissinger in diplomacy?

used realpolitik, prioritised balance of power over ideology

how did the Sino/Soviet split alter the Cold War balance?

gave US leverage, could play China and USSR against each other

what was Linkage in US foreign policy?

using cooperation in arms control to influence other issues

how did USSR maintain dominance in Eastern Europe?

military strength, propaganda, fear of invasion

what was the global perception of US/USSR cooperation by 1972?

detente, SALT 1, China diplomacy, economic links suggested hope for stability