Détente

Then the UN

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

Reasons for Détente • USSR need to

heal stagnating economy, improve standard of living

• Need for consumer goods, Western technology

• Deteriorating relationship with China

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

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

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

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

Helsinki Agreement• Helsinki

Agreement finalized in 1975

• Basket 1• European borders

recognized

• Basket 2• Closer ties

• Basket 3• Human rights• Most controversial

inside USSR

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

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

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

The Cold War and the UNA Comedy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Paper 2 Practice

Outline the following.

1.What were the key causes of Sino-American hostility from 1949 to 1970?

2.To what extent can détente be seen as a failure?

3.How did the rivalry between the USA and the USSR affect the working of the United Nations?