Compare Nixon’s policies of engagement with foreign policy strategies used during the Cold War.
This article should help you with that.
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB19/
To compare Nixon's policies of engagement with foreign policy strategies used during the Cold War, we first need to understand the context of the Cold War. The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, lasting from the end of World War II in 1945 until the early 1990s. During this time, both superpowers engaged in a variety of strategies to advance their interests and contain the influence of the other.
Now, let's examine Nixon's policies of engagement and how they compare to other Cold War strategies:
1. Détente: One of Nixon's main strategies was to pursue détente, which referred to a relaxation of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. This approach aimed to foster diplomatic, economic, and cultural exchanges between the two superpowers, ultimately reducing the risk of conflict. Similar to détente, other Cold War strategies sought to ease tensions, such as the policy of peaceful coexistence advocated by Nikita Khrushchev and the U.S. policy of containment.
2. Realpolitik: Nixon also employed a strategy known as realpolitik, which focused on practical considerations and national interests rather than ideological considerations. By engaging with countries regardless of their political system or ideology, Nixon aimed to secure favorable outcomes for the United States. This approach differed from traditional Cold War strategies that mainly focused on promoting democracy and opposing communism.
3. Opening to China: One of Nixon's most significant moves was his opening to China, also known as the "Ping Pong Diplomacy" and the subsequent visit to Beijing in 1972. This policy aimed to normalize relations with China and capitalize on the tensions between the Soviet Union and China, effectively playing them against each other. This engagement with China, a communist country, was unconventional compared to other Cold War strategies and signaled a shift in approach.
4. Arms Control: Another area where Nixon's policies differed was in the pursuit of arms control agreements with the Soviet Union. The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I) Treaty signed in 1972 aimed to limit the deployment and production of intercontinental ballistic missiles between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This approach emphasized managing the arms race and reducing the risk of nuclear confrontation, favoring diplomatic negotiations over military buildup.
In comparison to other Cold War strategies, Nixon's policies of engagement represented a departure from the more confrontational and ideological approaches of the past. His focus on détente, realpolitik, engaging with China, and pursuing arms control aimed to reduce tensions, secure American interests, and promote stability. While not abandoning Cold War dynamics entirely, Nixon's policies sought to selectively engage with adversaries and reposition the United States on the global stage.