Détente in the 1970s

Abstract

The 1970s was a decade of mixed fortunes for both sides in the Cold War. The west in general was deeply troubled by the economic malaise resulting from rising oil prices. In America this was notably worrisome. An adverse trade balance, particularly with Japan, suggested that perhaps the days of American economic pre-eminence were numbered. America was also passing through a period of introspection as a result of failure in the Vietnam War. The Watergate scandal only added to this. The end of the decade would see the fall of the Shah of Iran and the seizure of American embassy staff as hostages by Iranian Islamic fundamentalists. The humiliating failure of an ill-considered rescue attempt seemed to suggest American impotence. Alarmingly, at the same time, greatly increased Soviet forces were more willing to operate on a world scale.