Section 5: The Cold War Thaws

1. Section 5: The Cold War Thaws

2. Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe and China • After Stalin died in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev became the dominant Soviet leader. Khrushchev began a policy called destalinization: purging of Stalin’s memory • He destroyed Stalin monuments and called for “peaceful competition” with capitalist states

3. Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe and China • Hungarytested this new outlook in October of 1956 with a popular liberal Communist named Imre Nagy who wanted to end Soviet control in his country • The Soviet Army entered Budapest, the capitol, and took control; executing Imre

4. Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe and China • As a result of the Cuban missile crisis in 62’ Khruschev lost prestige and was replaced by Lenoid Brezhnev in 1964 • Brezhnevadopted oppressive polices limiting human rights.

5. Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe and China • Brezhnev adopted the Brezhnev Doctrine that gave the Soviets the right to prevent its satellite countries from rejecting communism • In the Czechoslovakia, Alexander Dubcek loosened control of censorship and put a “human face” on socialism in the Czech republic  Prague Spring: booming of new ideas • Armed forces of the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia

6. The Soviet-Chinese Split • The Mao-Stalin 30 year treaty of friendship ended with mistrust and even military skirmishes along their borders • Because China refused to be in the USSR’s shadow and instead China spread its own brand of communism

7. From Brinkmanship to Détente • The U.S. and Soviets in the 1970’s begin to back away from the aggressive policies of the early post war years • So far, brinkmanship led to a fear of nuclear war. This fear was made more real by the Cuban Missile Crisis

8. The U.S. Turns to Détente • Détentewas a policy to lessen Cold War tensions led by Richard M. Nixon • Replaced brinkmanship • This came from a philosophy called realpolitik meaning dealing with other nations in a practical and flexible manner