This document answers the question "Detente did little to stabilise international relations in the 1970s. How Far do you agree?"
Cambridge International AS/A Level –May/June 2015
Depth Study 3: International History, 1945–1991
Syllabus 9389
Paper 41
Detente did little to stabilise international relations in the 1970s. How Far do
you agree?
Cambridge International AS/A Level –May/June 2015
Depth Study 3: International History, 1945–1991
Syllabus 9389
Paper 41
Detente, a period which started when Richard Nixon became president in 1968 and finished in
1980, was largely seen as futile in controlling international relations in the 1970s. By many it
was merely seen as a change in tactics of superpower conflict due to the change in political and
economic circumstances. It failed to end tension as ‘The Second Cold War’ broke out in 1980
after Detente finally succumbed to its weaknesses. Hardly anything was achieved in the 1970s,
in fact armaments even increased despite the agreements made at the SALT treaties. Most
signed agreements were ignored such as the USSR not keeping their promise of improving
Human Rights which they agreed upon at the Helsinki Accords in 1975. Furthermore, tension
between China and the USSR remained high and conflict in Non-Aligned states such as Angola,
Mozambique, Somalia, Egypt, Benin, Ethiopia and Afghanistan showed how the USSR remained
expansionist. On the other hand, the SALT treaties showed both the USA’s and USSR’s desire to
move away from confrontation and the chances of a nuclear fallout. Basket 1 and 2 of the
Helsinki Accords led to greater links on both sides of the Iron Curtain through the means of
trade and technology exchanges. During the 1970s the USSR strongly relied on the US’ wheat
exports to feed its people. The stability of Europe drastically increased due to Willy Brandt’s
policy of Ostpolitik. The signing of the Basic Treaty in 1972 resulted in both West and East
Germany seeing each other as separate states, increasing trade links in the process.
To an extent, Detente Came under pressure as the US believed that the arms agreements
benefited the USSR as they were building a strategic superiority based on ICBMs. Some right-
wing historians even believe that Detente was seen as weak and ineffective as it gave the USSR
the opportunity to strengthen with the help of Western technology and supplies such as wheat
from the US. It helped sustain the Soviet Union for longer than it should have. Even the treaties
signed in the 1970s gave the USSR legal recognition over Europe and increased their power
resulting in greater tension between the US and USSR. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in
1979, to crush Islamic militancy, was the final proof for the US that Detente was ineffective at
keeping the peace. President Jimmy Carter described the invasion as a serious threat to world
peace and responded to the Soviets by ratifying the SALT II Agreement, stopping all exports to
the East and forcing all US athletes to boycott the Moscow Olympics in 1980. Prior to the
invasion of Afghanistan, the USSR helped the MPLA Socialists during the Angolan Civil war in
1975 as well as Ethiopia during their conflict with Somalia in 1977. Furthermore, the USSR’s
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