Kim Casali, 1960s &

70s

starter activity

In the light of your reading can you explain this cartoon. How accurate do you think the cartoonist really is?

Did talks between Did talks between USA & USSR USA & USSR

achieve anything?achieve anything?To identify & evaluate the To identify & evaluate the

achievements and failures of achievements and failures of the SALT talks & Helsinki the SALT talks & Helsinki

AccordsAccords

Aims

Your taskYour task

Read p.144-7 and under these Read p.144-7 and under these headings take notes on the headings take notes on the achievements and limitations of each achievements and limitations of each treaty:treaty: SALT I (1972)SALT I (1972) SALT II (1979)SALT II (1979) Helsinki Accords (1975)Helsinki Accords (1975)

Who do you think gained most from Who do you think gained most from these treaties?these treaties?

Read source p.147 and watch the film clip about this band… What do tell us about the effectiveness of Détente?

Your taskYour task Read p. 148 and list evidence that Read p. 148 and list evidence that

Détente in Europe achieved some Détente in Europe achieved some success.success.

Read ‘An assessment of Détente’ on p.148 Read ‘An assessment of Détente’ on p.148 and list evidence to suggest it failedand list evidence to suggest it failed

Read ‘Interpretations of Détente’ on p.149 Read ‘Interpretations of Détente’ on p.149 and note down the views of:and note down the views of:

Left-wing & centre historiansLeft-wing & centre historians Post-revisionistsPost-revisionists Right-wing historians & politiciansRight-wing historians & politicians

European successEuropean success

Abandoned Abandoned Hallstein DoctrineHallstein Doctrine & moved & moved towards Brandt’s Ostpolitiktowards Brandt’s Ostpolitik

Increased pragmatism – recognition of reality Increased pragmatism – recognition of reality rather than abandoning principle of rather than abandoning principle of reunificiationreunificiation

Treaties with USSR & Poland – recognising Treaties with USSR & Poland – recognising Oder-Niesse LineOder-Niesse Line

Legal access to W Berlin agreed (1971)Legal access to W Berlin agreed (1971) Basic Treaty (1972) – accepting division of Basic Treaty (1972) – accepting division of

East & West Germany but also estd. trade East & West Germany but also estd. trade linkslinks

Failures of DétenteFailures of Détente

Armaments increasedArmaments increased Many terms ignored, e.g. Helsinki Many terms ignored, e.g. Helsinki

Accord or not ratified, e.g. SALT IIAccord or not ratified, e.g. SALT II Tensions elsewhere remained high, Tensions elsewhere remained high,

e.g. Sino-Soviet relationse.g. Sino-Soviet relations Conflict continued, e.g. Iran, Conflict continued, e.g. Iran,

Afghanistan & AngolaAfghanistan & Angola

InterpretationsInterpretations

Left-wing historiansLeft-wing historians – positive step towards – positive step towards stabilising relations, characterised work of stabilising relations, characterised work of historians until mid 1970s and biographers of historians until mid 1970s and biographers of Nixon & KissingerNixon & Kissinger

Post-revisionistPost-revisionist – beneficial for both – beneficial for both superpowers, e.g. Craig & George, ‘Force & superpowers, e.g. Craig & George, ‘Force & Statecraft’Statecraft’

Right-wing commentatorsRight-wing commentators – Détente seen as – Détente seen as sign of US weakness, hard-line approach of sign of US weakness, hard-line approach of Reagan forced Soviets to negotiate and Reagan forced Soviets to negotiate and brought down Communismbrought down Communism

PlenaryPlenary

What did Salt & Helsinki Achieve?What did Salt & Helsinki Achieve? Why were they criticised by right-Why were they criticised by right-

wing US commentators?wing US commentators? Give examples of positive outcomes Give examples of positive outcomes

from Détentefrom Détente How do historians of Détente differ How do historians of Détente differ

in their views?in their views?

HomeworkHomework

Study sources G-I on p.150 and Study sources G-I on p.150 and answer Qs 2-4 on p.150answer Qs 2-4 on p.150

Improving US and USSR relations

Q2: G & H, positive Q2: G & H, positive achievementsachievements

G:move away from bipolarity; more complex G:move away from bipolarity; more complex approach to international relations; alternative approach to international relations; alternative power centres, e.g. China, Germany; growth of power centres, e.g. China, Germany; growth of nuclear stockpiles increased reluctance to use nuclear stockpiles increased reluctance to use them due to the consequencesthem due to the consequences

H: relations became less volatile than earlier H: relations became less volatile than earlier periods – a major achievement because given periods – a major achievement because given the weapons both possessed relations could the weapons both possessed relations could have been much tenser; greater stability in the have been much tenser; greater stability in the post-145 geopolitical settlement; rules estd. post-145 geopolitical settlement; rules estd. for conduct of Cold Warfor conduct of Cold War

Q3: Détente fragile Q3: Détente fragile systemsystem

Soviet expansion continued, e.g. into Soviet expansion continued, e.g. into African countries such as Angola & African countries such as Angola & Mozambique following collapse of Mozambique following collapse of Portuguese imperialism; Soviets Portuguese imperialism; Soviets exploited political instabilities exploited political instabilities around the world, e.g. Saigon which around the world, e.g. Saigon which could have antagonised the US; were could have antagonised the US; were the Soviets genuinely interested in the Soviets genuinely interested in promoting peaceful relations?promoting peaceful relations?

Q4: weakness for USQ4: weakness for US

USSR remained committed to USSR remained committed to worldwide communism; USSR could worldwide communism; USSR could exploit weaknesses in US foreign exploit weaknesses in US foreign policy, e.g failure in Vietnam War; policy, e.g failure in Vietnam War; new sphere of Soviet influence was new sphere of Soviet influence was slowly emerging in Africaslowly emerging in Africa

Extension taskExtension task

Read Gaddis, 189-91 on Détente & Read Gaddis, 189-91 on Détente & the Helsinki Accords and Isaacs 325-the Helsinki Accords and Isaacs 325-6. What is the verdict of these two 6. What is the verdict of these two authors on Détente?authors on Détente?

Ford & Brezhnev

Extension task IIExtension task II

Pick a card from a hat. This will tell you Pick a card from a hat. This will tell you whether you are a left-wing liberal whether you are a left-wing liberal historian or a right-wing neo-historian or a right-wing neo-conservative. Produce a short public conservative. Produce a short public information broadcast highlighting information broadcast highlighting either the strengths of Détente or either the strengths of Détente or reasons for abandoning it. Your film can reasons for abandoning it. Your film can be in the format of a documentary or a be in the format of a documentary or a studio interview with experts on the studio interview with experts on the subject. Use p.150 to help you.subject. Use p.150 to help you.