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Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to expose a connection that is shared between the policy of Détente, the policy of Containment, and Competition in the context of the Cold War. Using a wide variety of primary documents ranging from presidential speeches to interviews to contemporary literature, as well as a broad range of secondary material covering most of the period from the 1950s to the 1990s, I analyse and explore how Détente was utilised to aid in achieving the United States’ primary policy objectives of Containment of the Soviet Union. 

I argue that the policy of Détente pervaded throughout the Cold War, serving as a façade to entice the Soviets into a new arena of competition in which the United States sought to use deception to obtain favourable concessions and outcomes in areas that would net potential advantages. These areas ranged from the Arms Race, to the Space Race, to trade, conflicts, proxy wars and the international arena in general. I provide examples throughout the different American presidential administrations across the aforementioned period that serve to show how this is the case, proceeding in a chronological order from chapter to chapter. I also take opportunities to place my argument in wider debates surrounding Détente’s overall perception throughout.

 

Course: History and Politics - BA (Hons) - C0983

Date Deposited: 2021-07-27

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13702.html