EastWest relations from "summary" of Years of Renewal by Henry Kissinger
The relations between East and West have been a central feature of international politics for centuries. In the post-World War II era, these relations were defined by the Cold War, which pitted the United States and its Western allies against the Soviet Union and its Eastern bloc. The ideological, military, and economic competition between these two superpowers shaped global affairs and dominated the international agenda. During my time as Secretary of State in the 1970s, I sought to transform EastWest relations by engaging in a policy of détente with the Soviet Union. This policy was based on the idea that the two superpowers could coexist peacefully and work together on areas of common interest, while managing their differences through dialogue and diplomacy. By reducing tensions and promoting cooperation, détente helped to prevent the outbreak of a nuclear war and laid the groundwork for improved relations between East and West. However, the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s fundamentally transformed the landscape of EastWest relations. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subse...
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