15 - Cooperation Flashcards
(36 cards)
What was the opinion of the leaders of the US + USSR regarding the Arms Race before the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)?
Khrushchev:
- Personally endorsed peaceful coexistence
- Outwardly demonstrated a strong anti-Western stance to maintain Soviet dominance in the communist world (Mao criticised weakness)
Kennedy:
- Personally endorsed conciliation
- Outwardly demonstrated a strong anti-communist stance to maintain power over his opposition (criticised for being too ‘soft’)
What was the main deterrent of nuclear war before the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)?
MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)
Superpowers developed + stockpiled nuclear weapons to reach nuclear equity - neither power could start a war, as knew the others could retaliate equally, leaving both superpowers destroyed.
How did MAD act as a deterrent to nuclear war?
Superpowers developed + stockpiled nuclear weapons to reach nuclear equity - neither power could start a war, as knew the others could retaliate equally, leaving both superpowers destroyed
Was there any movement towards superpower cooperation before the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Yes
E.g. Eighteen Nation Disarmament Committee (ENDC) formed in 1962. Encouraged arm control measures. Both superpowers members.
What was the turning point event that increased cooperation between US + USSR?
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
How did the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) encourage increased cooperation between US + USSR?
Leaders agreed that nuclear war was undesirable + they should engage in some cooperation to avoid it
What type of cooperation between the US + USSR are we looking at?
Slowing the Arms Race to prevent risk of nuclear war (1960s-70s)
How did the opinion of the leaders of the US + USSR regarding the Arms Race change after the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)?
Both leaders were able to align their own views closer with foreign policy - becoming open to discussing nuclear weapon reductions/Arms Race slowing
Did the US + USSR stop the Arms Race/build up of nuclear weapons immediately after the Cuban Missile Crisis?
No - continued stockpiling until the Nuclear-Non Proliferation Treaty
What were the 4 key cooperation agreements between the US+USSR that worked towards slowing the Arms Race?
1) Washington-Moscow Hotline (June 1963)
2) Moscow Test Ban Treaty (Aug 1963)
3) Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (July 1968)
4) Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (1969)
What were the 3 main reasons why the US + USSR wanted to cooperate + slow the Arms Race?
- Leaders + public feared consequences of nuclear war
- Arms Race was expensive (diverting money from domestic issues + other expensive campaigns, e.g. Vietnam for US)
- Other countries becoming nuclear powers could be dangerous
When was the Washington-Moscow Hot Line installed?
June 1963
What was the Washington-Moscow Hotline (1963)?
Direct communication line between the leaders of the US + USSR
Was the Washington-Moscow Hotline (1963) effective in helping cooperation?
Partially
NO: Not used by Khrushchev + Kennedy
YES: Was later used by Johnson - during the Six-Day War (1967)
Symbolised a new spirit of cooperation
Does the Washington-Moscow Hotline still exist?
Yes
When was the Moscow Test Ban Treaty initially proposed + signed?
Initially proposed: 1950s
Signed: Aug 1963
Why did the Moscow Test Ban Treaty take so long to negotiate?
The leader of the US+USSR + their people had remained cautious about cooperation - wasn’t until after the Cuban Missile Crisis that cooperation accelerated
Who signed the Moscow Test Ban Treaty?
US, USSR, UK
What was the Moscow Test Ban Treaty?
Ban on testing nuclear weapons: above ground, in atmosphere, in space, underwater
What was crucial in getting US acceptance of the Moscow Test Ban Treaty?
Kennedy’s speech at US uni in Aug 1963 that outlined mutual needs of US + USSR to cooperate + halt the Arms Race
What was crucial in getting USSR acceptance of the Moscow Test Ban Treaty?
Treaty signed in Moscow - cautious Soviets believed they were still in a position of strength
What were the achievement of the Moscow Test Ban Treaty?
- First collective agreement to place limitations on the Arms Race (able to kick-start cooperation)
- Reduced changes of a detrimental nuclear war between superpowers
What were the issues with the Moscow Test Ban Treaty?
- Didn’t ban underground testing
- Wasn’t signed by some key nuclear powers (China + France) who continued above ground testing into the 1990s
- US + USSR did continue to stockpile weapons
When was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?
July 1968
