Détente and the End of the Cold War

Detente: Top Ten Things You Need to Know

Analyze how ideological conflict shaped international relations after the Second World War, including expansionism, containment, deterrence, brinkmanship, détente, nonalignment, and liberation movements.

What Does Détente Mean?

Détente signifies:

  • An end to hostilities.
  • Relaxing strained relationships.

Nuclear Treaties (Slowing the Spread)

  • 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty: A response to the intense conflict of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
  • 1968 Non-proliferation Treaty: Aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
  • 1972 SALT (ABMs): Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, limiting Anti-Ballistic Missiles. No SALT II was achieved.

Nuclear Treaties (Reversing the Spread)

  • 1982 – START: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
  • 2010 New START: Reduced each side to 1550 strategic warheads.
  • 1987 INF Treaty: Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, reducing smaller weapons and allowing inspectors.
  • 1983 – “Star Wars” (Strategic Defense Initiative): Proposed by the U.S. to fight the “evil empire.”
    • Violated SALT by planning an ABM site and weaponizing space.
    • Contributed to a massive increase in military spending and debt.

Ping Pong Diplomacy

  • 1971 Ping Pong Tournament: Served as a diplomatic channel.
  • Kissinger later arranged for Nixon to visit China in 1972.
  • Sports allowed ideological opponents to meet.
  • Opened the door to the acceptance of the communist Chinese government by the West.
  • Facilitated trade and modern globalization.

1975 Helsinki Accord

  • Ended interventionist policies (Truman and Brezhnev Doctrines).
  • Accepted post-WW II borders.
  • Promoted humanitarian work and greater acceptance of human rights.
  • Resulted in more freedom to protest in the Communist bloc.

Gorbachev

  • Perestroika: Economic restructuring (like Lenin’s NEP).
  • Glasnost: Openness and freedoms.
  • Allowed for more freedom of expression = protests grow.
  • People began demanding more from the government.
  • Ethnic conflicts started to increase.
  • “Cognitive dissonance” emerged.
  • Led to the collapse of the Soviet empire.

Domino Theory in Reverse

Many nations declared sovereignty or independence:

  • Azerbaijan declared sovereignty on 23 September 1989.
  • Georgia declared sovereignty on 9 March 1990.
  • Lithuania declared independence on 11 March 1990.
  • Latvia declared independence on 4 May 1990.
  • Russia declared sovereignty on 11 June 1990.
  • Uzbekistan declared sovereignty on 20 June 1990.
  • Moldova (Moldavia) declared sovereignty on 23 June 1990.
  • Ukraine declared sovereignty on 16 July 1990.
  • Belorussia declared sovereignty on 27 July 1990.
  • Turkmenistan declared sovereignty on 22 August 1990.
  • Tajikistan declared sovereignty on 25 August 1990.
  • Armenia declared independence on 23 August 1990.
  • Kazakhstan declared sovereignty on 25 October 1990.
  • Warsaw Pact members declared independence from the Soviet sphere of influence - Poland, Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania.

Leningrad (Song Analysis)

The song describes life during the Cold War from both American and Soviet perspectives.

  • Viktor, a Russian, became a circus clown bringing joy to children.
  • The lyrics contrast life in Leningrad with Levittown, highlighting Cold War fears.
  • Mentions the Cuban Missile Crisis and its impact on childhood.
  • The singer was born in '49, a