Reasons for détente
By 1969, the USSR had reached nuclear parity with the US. This allowed both sides to openly negotiate equality. The USSR wanted détente mainly because its economy was stagnating. Détente would allow the USSR to trade with the US, improving living standards and also importing new technologies from the West. The USSR also wanted to isolate China from the West due to the Sino-Soviet split. This could be done through a good relation with the West. The US also wanted détente. It was initiated by US president Richard Nixon, as he needed a way to end the Vietnam War and wanted the US to follow a more realistic foreign policy (known as realpolitik). Nixon wanted to use détente to get the USSR and China to end the war in Vietnam. Nixon also wanted to free up resources through Arms control. These resources would be used to fix the faltering American economy.
Reasons for PRC-USA rapprochement
Improving relations with China was one of the US' realpolitik aims. This led to improving relations with China to become a higher priority. The US wanted to "restore fluidity" to international politics by allowing the US to end its focus on Vietnam and instead focus on China. The US also believed working with China would give them leverage over the Soviets.
Reasons for improved East-West relations in Europe
In 1968, Europe had become increasingly unstable politically. This was caused in part by the Czechoslovakia invasion by the USSR and student riots in France. The new chancellor of West Germany Willy Brandt also attempted to improve relations between East and West Germany. He believed Europe would benefit from détente and encouraged opening channels between East and West. His policies were known as Ostpolitik. The USSR wanted détente in Europe, as they wanted a formal peace treaty accepting the new borders of Europe after WWII. This would allow the USSR to formalize the division of Germany and existing territorial situation in Eastern Europe.
The Successes of Détente
The Cuban Missile Crisis (14-28 October, 1962) helped lead to arms control agreements. The most significant was SALT I (the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) signed in 1972.
Activities
Activity 1
The cartoon shows Nixon as a liberator. It shows Soviet bloc countries trapped in a quarantine unit to prevent them from America. Nixon is shown reaching out to Romania through the keyhole. The message of the cartoon is that Nixon is trying to "save" Soviet bloc countries from the USSR's containment.
Activity 2
Activity 3
The results of Ostpolitik according to Judt were that citizens of both Germanys were able communicate freely. The trust of West Germany by East Germany also improved, as East Germany was confident in the West German policy of stability and "no surprises". East and West Germany were also admitted into the United Nations.
Activity 4
1a. Source B shows the Soviets were divided on whether or not to accept the terms mostly because they wanted Basket I, as it would allow international recognition of Soviet borders. It shows the Soviets had a positive attitude towards Basket I.
1b. The Soviet response to Basket 3 according to SourceA was mostly negative. Brezhnev believed that how a state governs should not be governed by outside forces. He also implied that only the government should be allowed to decide the fate of the people. Source B also reflects a negative Soviet response on Basket 3, as it says the Soveits believed Basket 3 would be used to "legitimize the growing foreign interference in Soviet internal affairs".
2.
3. The failure of the USSR to honor Basket 3 promises led many leaders in the West to doubt the USSR. Basket 3 may have led to the beginning of the deterioration of détente between the East and the West.
The cartoon shows Nixon as a liberator. It shows Soviet bloc countries trapped in a quarantine unit to prevent them from America. Nixon is shown reaching out to Romania through the keyhole. The message of the cartoon is that Nixon is trying to "save" Soviet bloc countries from the USSR's containment.
Activity 2
Activity 3
The results of Ostpolitik according to Judt were that citizens of both Germanys were able communicate freely. The trust of West Germany by East Germany also improved, as East Germany was confident in the West German policy of stability and "no surprises". East and West Germany were also admitted into the United Nations.
Activity 4
1a. Source B shows the Soviets were divided on whether or not to accept the terms mostly because they wanted Basket I, as it would allow international recognition of Soviet borders. It shows the Soviets had a positive attitude towards Basket I.
1b. The Soviet response to Basket 3 according to SourceA was mostly negative. Brezhnev believed that how a state governs should not be governed by outside forces. He also implied that only the government should be allowed to decide the fate of the people. Source B also reflects a negative Soviet response on Basket 3, as it says the Soveits believed Basket 3 would be used to "legitimize the growing foreign interference in Soviet internal affairs".
2.
3. The failure of the USSR to honor Basket 3 promises led many leaders in the West to doubt the USSR. Basket 3 may have led to the beginning of the deterioration of détente between the East and the West.