During Cold War → US and USSR never took fatal step of fighting direct war with each other.
- however both sides + whole world lived in constant fear of this possibility → esp. one that involved nuclear weapons.
Thus → by 1960s → 2 sides exploring ways to reduce tensions.
- led to detente (easing of tensions)
- improve relations + even cooperate in areas like arms reduction and trade.
- key mover of detente: US pres. Richard Nixon
Symbol of Detente → during this period: joint space venture known as Apollo Soyuz test project was launched
- Jul 1975 → millions of ppl around the globe witnesses on TV → historic moment when US Apollo spacecraft docked with Soviet Soyuz capsule
- mission commanders of respective spaceships exchanged → first international handshake in space
- moment widely regarded as first symbol of detente between 2 superpowers
Limits of Detente although relations improved during detente period → there were too many areas of disagreement between US and USSR + too much pressure exerted on both countries.
- internal politics rivalries in US led several pres. → esp. Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan → to adopt tougher approaches toward USSR
20 years after start of detente → cold war ended and USSR ceased to exist.
Rise and Fall of Detente
Decline of USSR in 1970s and 1980s
Decline of USSR in 1970s and 1980s