Contemporary International Problems
National Security is the need of the country or the nation to maintain a peaceful, sovereign state for the sake of the people. This is through the use of various powers of the nation which includes economics, the military, and politics and to be able to exercise diplomacy in all its undertakings. In indoor to maintain national security, there are several measures being made. This includes using diplomacy to help allies and do away with possible threats to the nation’s security. Another is maintaining effective armed forces and being able to implement civil defense and emergency preparedness measures, especially when the need arises.
Détente is a French term which means to ease or to relax, and was used on previous international politics, wherein it refers to the instance wherein there was a relaxation in international affairs (Trueman, 2000). This is different from Entente, since entente means a diplomatic understanding between nations, or putting it in a different context, means the existence of an international affairs agreement.
Détente has been agreed by both superpowers at that time because they are both having economic problems, and they sought to expand the government welfare state. They are also worried with what they can do to each other, because they have stockpiles of nuclear weapons that could bring destruction to both nations. Successful Détente cases were with the USSR and with China. USA realized that there are other means to contain communism that be fighting and preparing, like what the country did years ago. Détente’s negative or unsuccessful moments where when the two superpowers, USA and the USSR backed up wars in the Third World. South Asia and the Middle East saw great hostilities when the superpowers backed them up, funding their war through material, financial and diplomatic help and guidance.
Reference:
Trueman, C. (2000). Detente. Retrieved July 14, 2007, from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/detente.htm