Detente

Welcome to the ninth episode of The Cold War course! Building on our previous discussions about the Cold War, the nuclear arms race, the Berlin Wall, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Space Race, the Vietnam War, and the Iron Curtain, this episode focuses on Détente, a period of eased tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. We'll explore the origins of Détente, the key agreements and events that defined it, and its eventual decline. This episode explains a critical shift in Cold War strategy, moving from direct confrontation to a more nuanced approach involving diplomacy and arms control. Understanding Détente provides context for the events leading to the eventual fall of the Soviet Union, which we'll discuss in the next episode.

Check your understanding

These are the same multiple-choice questions you will see in the Quiz section after you listen to the episode. Use them here to preview or review the answers.

What does the term "Détente" mean?

  1. Confrontation
  2. Relaxation
  3. Escalation
  4. Competition
  5. Isolation
  6. War

Which event is often cited as a major factor leading to Détente?

  1. The Korean War
  2. The Cuban Missile Crisis
  3. The Vietnam War
  4. The Space Race
  5. The building of the Berlin Wall.
  6. The Sino-Soviet Split

What was the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I)?

  1. An agreement to eliminate all nuclear weapons.
  2. An agreement to limit the number of certain types of nuclear missiles.
  3. An agreement to share nuclear technology.
  4. An agreement to jointly develop new nuclear weapons.
  5. An agreement on space exploration.
  6. An agreement to reduce conventional forces.

Which event effectively ended the period of Détente?

  1. The signing of the Helsinki Accords.
  2. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
  3. The election of Ronald Reagan as U.S. President.
  4. The fall of the Berlin Wall.
  5. The Cuban Missile Crisis.
  6. The signing of SALT I.

What was "triangular diplomacy" as practiced during Détente?

  1. A policy of the US negotiating only with three nations at a time
  2. US policy to exploit the Sino-Soviet split to improve relations with both
  3. US policy to refuse negotiations
  4. Soviet policy to split the US and China
  5. Soviet policy to make treaties with only three nations at a time
  6. A policy focused on environmental issues between three nations.

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