The Detente Period: From Tension to Agreements in the Cold War Era

1. Détente Then the UN

2. Intro • Relaxation of tension • Both between US and Soviets and US and China • Replaced with Second Cold War in 1980 • Caused by growing awareness of dangers of nuclear war

3. Reasons for Détente • USSR need to heal stagnating economy, improve standard of living • Need for consumer goods, Western technology • Deteriorating relationship with China

4. Reasons for Détente • USA needed to end Vietnam • Realpolitik • Focused on practical factors, not just ideology • Focus on American economy • China worried about international isolation • Wanted to get back at Soviets

5. Reasons for Détente • Instability in Europe • Soviet invasion of Czech. • Riots in France • Continent would benefit from reduction of tensions, Ostpolitik • Soviets wanted Western acceptance of two Germanys and their territorial possessions in Eastern Europe

6. Successes of Détente • Several agreements after Cuban Missile Crisis • SALT I, 1972 • ABM Treaty • Interim Treaty • Basic Principles Agreement • SALT II, 1979 • Limit on strategic nuclear delivery vehicles • Ban on testing ICBMs

7. Agreements from Détente • Treaties of 1970s in Germany • Moscow Treaty • Recognized German borders • Final Quadripartite Protocol • West had legal basis for access routes • Basic Treaty • Recognized both Germanys • Improvements with China • China joined UN • Travel restrictions lifted • Sporting events • Nixon visit • Triangular Diplomacy

8. Helsinki Agreement • Helsinki Agreement finalized in 1975 • Basket 1 • European borders recognized • Basket 2 • Closer ties • Basket 3 • Human rights • Most controversial inside USSR

10. Détente Under Pressure • Many thought arms agreements were benefiting the Soviets • Soviets still expanding in Africa and Middle East • Knew about Egypt’s intentions in Yom Kippur War, 1973 • Involved in Angola Civil War • Supported Ethiopia against Somalia • Disillusionment with human rights basket of Helsinki

11. Détente’s Collapse • Collapsed with Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 • Carter refused to approve SALT II • Carter Doctrine • Promised intervention if Soviets threatened Persian Gulf • Not really a failure • Right wing does consider it a Soviet trick

12. Second Cold War • Ronald Reagan reasserts anti-Communism • Defense spending increases • New nuclear weapons • Star Wars • Reagan Doctrine • Aid to anti-Communist insurgents and governments • Called Soviets evil empire • Instability with Soviet leaders • Brezhnev died, Andropov ill, Chernenko dies • Soviets shooting down Korean airliner • Would change with Gorbachev in 1985

13. The Cold War and the UN A Comedy

14. BAckground • Same purpose as League of Nations • Want to actually do some peacekeeping • Collective security • General Assembly a forum • Security Council really in charge • Soviets accept Western domination of this with veto power

15. Principles • Both superpowers concerned over sovereignty • Collective security • Regional principle • Association principle • Early optimism ended with the Cold War • US had thought it would support their objectives • Soviets had thought it would be to free people from capitalist exploitation

16. Emergence of the Cold War • Reality was a divided world • Two superpowers working against one another • No collective response to Soviet occupations • Nor against the Truman Doctrine • No alternative to Marshall Plan, Berlin Airlift • Had to become a mediator to remain relevant

18. UN and the 50s • Both sides fearful of the UN • China not involved, USSR boycotting when Korea begins • Korean War 1950-53 • June, UN sends in a military force responding to invasion • US shows faith by fighting under its flag, USSR not present • Mockery of collective security • UN force primarily American • August, USSR returned as president of the Council • American objective had changed to taking North • US was able to change collective security decisions to the General Assembly • Able to call for China to remove itself from conflict • Somewhat successful, Soviets become distrustful

19. Un and the 50s • Suez Canal Crisis, 1956 • Seen more favorably, new direction, act before military response • Egyptian President Nasser, had received American backing, but then took arms from Czechoslovakia • He nationalized Suez Canal, had been built by French and part-owned by Britain • British initiate a plan for Israelis to take it back, Oct. 1956 • Eisenhower not informed, furious • US draft for Security Council called for immediate withdrawal, criticism of Britain and France, Britain vetoed • Nov. UN Emergency Force created with forces outside of Security Council, limited mandate • Soviets still concerned about transfer of power to GA, but further embarrassment to the West • British and French troops withdrawn

20. UN and the 50s • Hungarian Uprising, 1956 • Happened at the same time as Suez Canal Crisis • UN attention diverted • Hungary requested UN assistance in removing Soviets, but USSR vetoed it • Committee set up to investigate, Soviets refused to cooperate • UN powerless • Demonstrated superpowers were beyond the control of the UN • Impact of the first decade • Successes very limited • US overthrows of Iranian and Guatemalan government

21. UN and the 60s – The Congo • Congo under colonial rule of Belgium until 1960 • Not prepared • Domestic crisis, PM Lumumba and Pres. Kasavubu asked for help, national army had mutinied • Belgian population remained, so their army sent in for protection • Local leader of Katanga province declared independence, potentially under influence of British and French • UN response • Security force to oversee Belgian withdrawal, reluctant • Neither US or USSR saw this of vital interest • Security force would have to go past peacekeeping role

22. UN and the 60s – The Congo • Soviet interest • UN provides limited involvement, criticized by Lumumba, who is now anti-Western • USSR now interested, saw an opportunity to work with him • Pres. Kasavubu dismissed him. Lumumba dismissed Kasavubu • Decided to close airfields and radio station • Lumumba hurt by this, UN seen as pro-Western • Crisis becoming ideological, USSR denounces UN • Khrushchev seeking troika, instead of Sec. Gen.

23. UN and the 60s – The Congo • Crisis intensifies • Late Sept. superpower involvement imminent • Army announced a coup against the government, but then allied with Pres. • Lumumba asks for aid from UN, not USSR thankfully • Lumumba captured, murdered, UN protection had been poor, very convenient for the West • Many nations withdrew from Security Force • UN authorizes force • Katanga now the key issue, UN has authorized force to prevent full-scale civil war, unclear role here • Katanga ignored all negotiation efforts, UN crushed secession • Security Council not consulted • Non-aligned bloc gaining influence • But then leader of Katanga elected PM, army head, Mobutu, became Head of State • Regime created by the UN, one of the most corrupt in the world

24. UN and Détente • Meant US and USSR ready to look for agreement • UN structure had changed to non-aligned states • Soviets now more comfortable • Limited successes in Kashmir and Cyprus • Then powerless in Czech., Chile

25. Un and the Conclusion of the Cold WAr • Second Cold War revealed dependence • End of the Cold War • Rise of peacekeeping missions • Somalia, Bosnia • Legacy • Continued limitations of collective security • Conclusion • Soviets initially suspicious, but more accepting throughout 60s • Never really empowered because of Cold War situation • Still problems controlling the USA today

26. Paper 2 Practice • Outline the following. • What were the key causes of Sino-American hostility from 1949 to 1970? • To what extent can détente be seen as a failure? • How did the rivalry between the USA and the USSR affect the working of the United Nations?