Dynamic detente : : the United States and Europe, 1964-1975 / / Stephan Kieninger.

• Superior document: The Harvard Cold War studies book series
• VerfasserIn: Kieninger, Stephan,
• Place / Publishing House: Lanham : : Lexington Books,, [2016]; 2016
• Year of Publication: 2016
• Language: English
• Series: Harvard Cold War studies book series.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (389 pages) :; illustrations (some color), portraits (some color)

"This book examines the dynamic evolution of Western detente policies which sought to transform Europe and overcome its Cold War division through more communication and engagement. Kieninger challenges the traditional Cold War narrative that detente prolonged the division of Europe and precipitated America's decline in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Rather, he argues that policymakers in the U.S. Department of State and in Western Europe envisaged the stability enabled by detente as a precondition for change, as Communist regimes saw a sense of security as a prerequisite for opening up their societies to Western influence over time. Kieninger identifies the Helsinki Accords, Lyndon Johnson's bridge building, and Willy Brandt's Ostpolitik as efforts aimed at constructive changes in Eastern Europe through a multiplication of contacts, communication, and cooperation on all societal levels. This study also illuminates the longevity of America's policy of peaceful change against the background of the nuclear stalemate and the military status quo"--Provided by publisher.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The United States and the power of dynamic detente policies -- Part I. The evolution of America's transformation strategy, 1947-1968 -- The origins of America's transformation approach in the Cold War, 1947-1963 -- "Thawing the Cold War" : Lyndon Johnson, bridge building, and the search for detente, 1964-1966 -- Peaceful engagement and plans for Europe's transformation, 1966-1968 -- Part II. Setbacks and survival : the longevity of America's transformation policy during the Nixon and Ford years, 1969-1976 -- Power politics : Richard Nixon's and Henry Kissinger's concept for detente -- SALT : "Diverting the arms race into the permitted channels," 1969-1976 -- "Do you want it done or do you want to have it talked about?" : NATO's policy on MBFR, 1970-1975 -- Ostpolitik and the idea for a European security conference : catalysts for the continuation of the transformation policy, 1969-1972 -- Transformation or status quo? : CSCE, MBFR and European security -- Part III. Silent success for America's transformation policy : transatlantic networking in the CSCE negotiations, 1973-1975 -- Bridge building after Richard Nixon's reelection : the multilateral preparatory talks for the CSCE, 1972-1973 -- Transatlantic networking and the survival of the American transformation approach in the CSCE negotiations, 1973-1974 -- The final months of the CSCE negotiations : the codification of the transformation agenda in the Helsinki Final Act -- Conclusion: The durability of America's transformation policy -- A note on sources.