Essay Plan – Detente
Typical Exam Question: What factors promoted Detente and to what extent was it a successful method of
conducting Cold War conflict?
Intro
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Para 1
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Para 2
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Para 3
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Para 4
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Define Detente + dates = period of improved relations in the 1970s
Factors that promoted Detente outlined: threat of nuclear war, needs of USSR,
needs of USA, key individuals e.g. Kissinger, needs of Europe and ‘Ostpolitik’,
1973 oil crisis, soviet economic realities
Historians and politicians have debated whether it was beneficial to the USA or
not, a successful method for both superpowers or actually hindered the end of
the Cold War
Briefly cover the threat of nuclear war and legacy of the Cuban Missile Crisis
1962 and effect this had on CW relations
Post –revisionist historians have suggested Detente prevented another
dangerous, hostile situation such as the Cuban Missile Crisis occurring again
and therefore successful as CW conflict became more predictable
Needs of the USSR : parity in terms of nuclear weapons -> arms limitations
agreements, USSR couldn’t keep up or afford new technology, resources
needed to be diverted away from military because of economic and social
issues
Successful method?
Benefits to the USSR: USA weakened from Vietnam War, improved trade ->
grain and new technology available, stabilised relations with the West, gained
legitimacy from West which stabilised hold on E. Europe, less likely US would
support China in possible conflict after Sino-Soviet split, still able to support
liberation movements = successful method of diplomacy for them as brought
many benefits
Post revisionists = created more useful working relationships between the 2
superpowers. Generally the USSR benefitted from Detente therefore a
successful method for them
Needs of the USA: realised they were weaker after Vietnam war and a limit to
their power, had also led to economic problems e.g. high inflation and large
budget deficit, social issues needed to be addressed and so money needed to
be diverted away from military and arms
Successful method?
Benefits to the USA: economic benefits due to more investment in its own
commerce and financial services, reduce the power of the industrial-military
complex, rapprochement with China viewed as weakening the Communist Bloc,
people’s perceptions of Nixon and Kissinger good as reputations as right wing
therefore not seen as ‘soft’ on communism
Good policy for a weaker USA and allowed them to reform domestically and
rebuild their economy
Kissinger’s ‘realpolitik’ = downplaying ideological differences and seizing
opportunities to secure national interests encouraged Detente and improved
CW relation while still being popular in US
However, viewed by American-neo conservatives as weak and more beneficial
to the USSR, USSSRs allowed to pursue expansionist policies in the 3rd world ->
thought to prolong the end of the CW
European needs: soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia highlighted the tension in
Europe, large scale student demonstrations in France threatened the gov ->
Detente a useful policy in Europe to stabilise
‘Ostpolitik’ = Willy Brandt promoted links across the divide to reduce tensions,
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Para 5
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Conclusion
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encourage other countries to establish links e.g. France and Romania
Stabilisation in Europe = good for whole continent
Improved relations between superpowers = good for Europe and world as
removed threat of nuclear war and conflict
1973 oil crisis = Arab nations increased price by 70% due to Yom Kippur War,
sent shockwaves throughout the west and in the short term led to inflation and
recession, US worried conditions would lead to Communism spreading, US
military spending highlighted as unsustainable -> pushed to Detente
Long term west actually benefitted from the crisis, arab wealth flowed into the
west through investment and stimulated the economy, demonstrated the
strength of capitalist economies
USSR protected from crisis by own oil reserves in Siberia however had longer
term economic problems which pushed them towards Detente: economy and
employment to concentrated in the military-industrial sector, too much was
spent on communist allies (3/4 of hard currency), economy inflexible due to
rigid planning, old technology, low living standards, constant shortage of
consumer goods, inefficient agriculture = Detente very attractive and greatly
benefitted the USSR
Economic problems caused by the oil crisis meant Detente was a much more
suitable policy than competition and conflict
Detente did not mark the end of Cold War conflict
Change in superpower tactics from the recognition there was more to gain
from cooperation that confrontation
Weigh up whether it was a successful method or not using some
historiography:
Post-revisionist historians such as J.L Gaddis saw it as a successful method of
conducting Cold War conflict by seeing it as an attempt to stabilise the Cold
War as opposed to ending the arms race or expansionism overseas
Beneficial as allowed both USA and USSR to rebuild their economies and deal
with much needed internal reforms
However American right thought it prolonged the war and a continuation of
arms development and arms race would have collapsed the Soviet Union
quicker and ended the Cold War
If question asks whether it was successful for the US or USSR then focus on the benefits Detente
brought to those countries especially
Also relevant for any causal questions such as:
-‘How significant were economic realities in pushing both sides [USA and USSR] towards Détente?’
- ‘To what extent were economic concerns for both the USA and the USSR the greatest motivating
factor in the emergence of Détente in the 1970’s?’
Also questions discussing the policy of Detente such as:
'To what extent did Détente introduce a new era of cooperation between the USA and the USSR?’
‘How advantageous was the policy of Détente to the management of the USA’s Cold War
diplomacy with the USSR in the 1970s?’
BUT will need restructuring of the focus of the essay and might also need to include details on the
arms limitations agreements and their successes and failures