The diplomacy of det́ente : cooperative security policies from Helmut Schmidt to George Shultz / Stephan Kieninger.

"This book investigates the underlying reasons for the longevity of det́ente and its impact on East-West relations. The volume examines the relevance of trade across the Iron Curtain as a means to facilitate mutual trust, as well as the emergence of new habits of transparency regardless of recurring military crises. A major theme of the book concerns Helmut Schmidt's foreign policy and his contribution to the resilience of cooperative security policies in East-West relations. It examines Schmidt's crucial role in the Euromissile crisis, his Ostpolitik diplomacy, and his pan-European trade initiatives to engage the Soviet Union in a joint perspective of trade, industry and technology. Another key theme concerns the crisis in US-Soviet relations and the challenges of meaningful leadership communication between Washington and Moscow in the absence of back-channel diplomacy during the Carter years. The book depicts the freeze in US-Soviet relations after the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, the declaration of martial law in Poland, and Helmut Schmidt's efforts to serve as a mediator and interpreter working for a relaunch of US-Soviet dialogue. Eventually, the book highlights George Shultz's pivotal role in the Reagan Administration's efforts to improve US-Soviet relations, well before Mikhail Gorbachev's arrival. This book will be of interest to students of Cold War Studies, diplomatic history, foreign policy and International Relations"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 202-219) and index.

Introduction : Helmut Schmidt, George Shultz and the longevity of det́ente -- Trade and the resilience of det́ente : Helmut Schmidt and the economic dimension of Ostpolitik, 1974-1976 -- Ostpolitik as "diplomatic cathedral building" : det́ente in Europe and the crisis in US-Soviet relations, 1977-1979 -- Trade against the return of the Cold War : the construction of the Urengoy pipeline and the long det́ente, 1980-1982 -- Gardening and reengagement : US-Soviet cooperation and the transformation of East-West relations amidst crisis, 1983-1985.