One can not effectively interpret world political policies of the 1970's without the inclusion of the relationship known as detente, and the breakdown there of. The breakdown of the 1970's detente can be attributed to many different issues and events. In researching these events the varying opinions from both world superpowers which would establish the failure of detente in history, as a breakdown in communication and talks between the United State's White House and the Soviet Union's Kremlin with the collapse of detente marking the end of the 1970's.

During the 1976 presidential campaign, the tension between the objective of transformation and the importance of coexistence became crucial. Conservatives criticized detente for not moderating the Soviets involvement in the Third World transformation to communism. In the United States, many saw accumulative series of Soviet interventions which involved military means; Angola, Ethiopia, Kampuchea, Afghanistan, as a pattern of Soviet expansion, which was not consistent with detente. Many actually believed that these expansionist moves were encoura

Due to the nuclear parity of both the United States and the Soviet Union, it meant there was some inability for America to maintain world order. It also meant that the Soviet Union had a relatively more important role than it previously did. Although both governments had different opinions of world order, which to some extent was understood, the implication on their diverging opinions was not. Soviet leaders wanted to make a historical change by replacing capitalism in the world with socialism. The Soviets believed a transition like this could occur in a peaceful way through detente. It would seem that they didn't want to use military force as a method behind such a change, contrary to some beliefs. American reactions to varying events may have been preempting conflict too early with Washington reacting too quickly to Soviet policy (Pipes 1980). Both the Soviet Union and the United States tried to increase their security through increased military weapons. The efforts by both countries to do this were seen as an attempt to gain absolute security, domination and superiority. Each presumed the other was trying to gain an advantage. America had the perception that the Soviets had a relentless drive for world domination. The Soviet leaders saw the American's in pursuit of military superiority as the basis for intimidation. Due to the lack of understanding by both parties, of each other's perspective's, ideologies and their inability to reconcile differences, associated in failing to understand each other's viewpoint, magnified the problems of detente.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Soviet Union, Jimmy Carter, Kampuchea Afghanistan, Union United, SALT II, Third World, Ford Soviet, Carter Presidential, Helsinki Accords, American-Soviet Union, soviet union, salt ii, united soviet, united soviet union, jimmy carter, diplomatic talks, double standards, soviet leaders, carter administration, salt ii talks, ii talks, expansionist moves,
Approximate Word count = 2220
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)