“Détente achieved little in the years 1969-75.” Assess the validity of this view.
Joanne Forster-Martin
In the years 1969-1975, détente was successful in relaxing tensions between the US and
USSR during the cold war. It saw significant achievements through SALT I, the Helsinki
Accords and Ostpolitik. The symbolic nature of many of these agreements did not undermine
their achievements but complemented the spirit of cooperation and peace that détente
encompassed. Though the US-Sino rapprochement somewhat undermined this sentiment,
after the Sino-Soviet split of 1960, it served as a motivation for the USSR to develop a
positive diplomatic relationship with the US.
Signed at the Moscow Summit of 1972, SALT I was a significant achievement of détente
between 1969 and 1975 that demonstrated the extent of the relaxation of tensions. For
example, the anti-ballistic missile treaty, which limited the number of ABM sites that the US
and USSR could have to 2; one for the capital city and one for nuclear weapons. This
established parity in defence systems, upholding the principle of mutually assured
destruction that deterred rational actors from nuclear attack, hence facilitating détente by
reducing tensions and reducing the incentive to continue the development of offensive
weapons. This was a clear achievement because the two superpowers were publicly
displaying their commitment to the reduction of tension that détente encompassed. Another
achievement of détente under SALT I was the Basic Principles Agreement, which
established a desire to avoid nuclear war and a framework for how it was to be conducted
between the USSR and the US. The agreement also fostered mutual reliance between the
two nations to further deter the development of tensions and grain was traded to the USSR.
Overall, this agreement was a great step forward, just 10 years after the Cuban Missile
Crisis, where nuclear war was a real prospect, which is testament to the extent to which
tensions had relaxed - the willingness for dialogue demonstrates that a cordial relationship
had been developed and the achievement of SALT I built on this.
The Helsinki Accords were a significant achievement of détente between 1969 and 1975.
With discussions beginning in 1972, 35 states signed the agreements in August 1975,
including the US and USSR. The willingness for cooperation across the Eastern and
Western blocs, demonstrated by the number of states that signed the agreements already
show the achievements of détente. Furthermore, the accords included 3 main baskets:
security in Europe, cooperation on humanitarian and other fields, cooperation on economics,
science and technology and the environment. The first basket, security in Europe, was
particularly significant because it included the acknowledgement of sovereignty and
recognition of existing frontiers; the US and USSR both accepted the borders established in
post-War Europe, notably the Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. This was a
major step forward and complemented the Ostpolitik policy pursued earlier under Willy
Brandt, Chancellor of West Germany, that saw normalisation of relations between the
Communist East and capitalist West of Germany, culminating in the Basic Treaty of 1972.
This was another achievement seen under détente; under the Hallstein Doctrine, the FRG
had not acknowledged the sovereignty or borders of the GDR and now they had agreed
potential economic relations, peaceful conflict resolution and established a framework for
normalisation between Eastern and Western bloc nations that embodied the détente
sentiment of relaxing tensions. This was a clear achievement. Furthermore, the Helsinki
Accords included respect for human rights, equal rights, self-determination and freer
Joanne Forster-Martin
In the years 1969-1975, détente was successful in relaxing tensions between the US and
USSR during the cold war. It saw significant achievements through SALT I, the Helsinki
Accords and Ostpolitik. The symbolic nature of many of these agreements did not undermine
their achievements but complemented the spirit of cooperation and peace that détente
encompassed. Though the US-Sino rapprochement somewhat undermined this sentiment,
after the Sino-Soviet split of 1960, it served as a motivation for the USSR to develop a
positive diplomatic relationship with the US.
Signed at the Moscow Summit of 1972, SALT I was a significant achievement of détente
between 1969 and 1975 that demonstrated the extent of the relaxation of tensions. For
example, the anti-ballistic missile treaty, which limited the number of ABM sites that the US
and USSR could have to 2; one for the capital city and one for nuclear weapons. This
established parity in defence systems, upholding the principle of mutually assured
destruction that deterred rational actors from nuclear attack, hence facilitating détente by
reducing tensions and reducing the incentive to continue the development of offensive
weapons. This was a clear achievement because the two superpowers were publicly
displaying their commitment to the reduction of tension that détente encompassed. Another
achievement of détente under SALT I was the Basic Principles Agreement, which
established a desire to avoid nuclear war and a framework for how it was to be conducted
between the USSR and the US. The agreement also fostered mutual reliance between the
two nations to further deter the development of tensions and grain was traded to the USSR.
Overall, this agreement was a great step forward, just 10 years after the Cuban Missile
Crisis, where nuclear war was a real prospect, which is testament to the extent to which
tensions had relaxed - the willingness for dialogue demonstrates that a cordial relationship
had been developed and the achievement of SALT I built on this.
The Helsinki Accords were a significant achievement of détente between 1969 and 1975.
With discussions beginning in 1972, 35 states signed the agreements in August 1975,
including the US and USSR. The willingness for cooperation across the Eastern and
Western blocs, demonstrated by the number of states that signed the agreements already
show the achievements of détente. Furthermore, the accords included 3 main baskets:
security in Europe, cooperation on humanitarian and other fields, cooperation on economics,
science and technology and the environment. The first basket, security in Europe, was
particularly significant because it included the acknowledgement of sovereignty and
recognition of existing frontiers; the US and USSR both accepted the borders established in
post-War Europe, notably the Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. This was a
major step forward and complemented the Ostpolitik policy pursued earlier under Willy
Brandt, Chancellor of West Germany, that saw normalisation of relations between the
Communist East and capitalist West of Germany, culminating in the Basic Treaty of 1972.
This was another achievement seen under détente; under the Hallstein Doctrine, the FRG
had not acknowledged the sovereignty or borders of the GDR and now they had agreed
potential economic relations, peaceful conflict resolution and established a framework for
normalisation between Eastern and Western bloc nations that embodied the détente
sentiment of relaxing tensions. This was a clear achievement. Furthermore, the Helsinki
Accords included respect for human rights, equal rights, self-determination and freer
