About the lecture

In this module, we think about the development of the Cold War in the second half of the 1970s and early 1980s, a period in which the period of détente comes to an end and tensions between the US and Soviet Union begin to ratchet up once again. In particular, we think about: (i) whether there was in fact a clear break in hostilities in the 1970s, considering some of the events of the early- to mid-1970s; (ii) Carter’s initial attempts to continue détente, including: his focus on human rights, his campaign promises to reduce defence spending, and his signing of SALT-II; (iii) Carter’s undermining of détente, including: his above-inflation increases in defence spending and the establishment of a rapid reaction force in the Middle East; (iv) the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; (v) the Iranian Revolution; (vi) the Nicaraguan Revolution; and (vii) the Intelligence Oversight Act.

About the lecturer

Dr Tom Tunstall Allcock is a lecturer in American history at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, with particular interests in U.S.-Latin American relations, presidential history and diplomacy, and the cultural history of the Cold War.