Why did detente fail in the late 1970s and early 1980s?

Détente failed in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to increasing tensions, mistrust, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

The period of détente, a French term meaning 'relaxation', was characterised by a thawing of the Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, by the late 1970s and early 1980s, this period was coming to an end. The reasons for this are multifaceted and complex, but can be broadly attributed to increasing tensions, mistrust between the two superpowers, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

One of the main reasons for the failure of détente was the increasing tensions between the two superpowers. Despite the initial success of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I) in 1972, the subsequent SALT II negotiations were less successful. The US Senate refused to ratify the SALT II treaty due to concerns about Soviet compliance. This led to a breakdown in communication and increased mistrust between the two nations.

Another significant factor was the change in leadership in both countries. In the United States, the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 marked a shift in foreign policy. Reagan was a staunch anti-communist and his aggressive stance towards the Soviet Union, including his famous 'evil empire' speech, marked a clear departure from the policy of détente. Similarly, in the Soviet Union, the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev was characterised by a hard-line approach to the West, further exacerbating tensions.

The final nail in the coffin for détente was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. This was seen as a clear violation of the principles of détente by the West. The invasion was widely condemned and led to a series of punitive measures by the West, including a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the imposition of economic sanctions. This marked a clear end to the period of détente and a return to the Cold War tensions of the past.

In conclusion, the failure of détente in the late 1970s and early 1980s can be attributed to a combination of increasing tensions, mistrust, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The period of détente was ultimately a temporary thawing of Cold War tensions, rather than a permanent end to the conflict.