Détente: Models and Strategies
| DOI | 10.1177/002234338302000302 |
| Author | Peter Schlotter |
| Published date | 01 September 1983 |
| Date | 01 September 1983 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Détente:
Models
and
Strategies*
PETER
SCHLOTTER
Peace
Research
Institute
Frankfurt,
FRG
Increasing
tensions
in
NATO
over
détente
demonstrate
that
the
Harmel
formula
’Defense
and
Détente’
has
become
controversial.
Europeans
think
about
the
’Europeanization
of
Europe’
and
a
strengthening
of
the
’European
identity’
vis-à-vis
the
superpowers.
Here
a
détente
model
is
outlined
which
is
based
on
European
interests.
Scientific
conceptions
of
the
fifties
and
sixties
are
recalled
which
have
widely
fallen
into
oblivion.
The
model
consists
of
the
following
elements:
(1)
a
pluralistic
security
system,
defined
by
the
compatibility
of
central
values,
the
consideration
of
the
interests
of
the
other
side,
and
the
anticipation
of
the
reactions
of
all
the
partners
(based
on
K.W.
Deutsch,
whose
model
of
a
developing
Atlantic
Community
is
transferred
to
the
European
East-West
conflict);
(2)
functionalism
according
to
which
cooperation
in
as
many
areas
as
possible
plays
a
tension-
reducing
role;
(3)
consociational
systems
which
settle
conflicts
in
their
internal
relations
with
a
minimum
of
force
and
are
stable
even
though
they
are
very
fractionated
culturahy,
according
to
living
standards,
ethnic
groups,
and
basic
ideological
positions
or
religion.
Consociational systems
normally
have
broad
coalition
governments,
mutual
vetoes
of
important
interest,
ethnic,
or
religious
groups,
the
principle
of
proportional
representation,
and
the
autonomy
and
self-management
of
each
group.
The
basic
pattern
of
conflict
resolution
is
’package
dealing’.
The
model
is
illustrated
by
examples
which
demonstrate
an
embryonic
European
East-West
security
system.
The
article
ends
with
—
still
abstract
—
recommendations
for
a
new
structure
of
détente
policy,
e.g.
defensive
policy,
functionalist
approach,
multilateralization,
dispersion
of
bi-polarism,
and
conflict
resolution
by
package
deals.
1.
Introduction
The
optimistic
mood
of
the
early
seventies,
the
willingness
to
enter
into
an
era
of
con-
structive
handling
of
conflicts
through
East-
West
d6tente
served
everyday
politics
as
an
orientation
only
for
a
short
time.
While
the
visions
of
peaceful
coexistence
and
cooperative
balancing
of
interests
have
lost
their
moving
force,
the
problems
of
almost
all
the
societies
in
the
economic
social
and
even
ecological
areas
have
worsened.
In
many
countries,
political
stability
seems
to
be
attainable
only
through
the
authoritarian
suppression
of
conflict,
likewise
a
growing
number
of
them
seem
to
act
according
to
the
maxim
that
survival
can
be
better
ensured
through
armament
than
through
negotiations.
Intrasocietal
development
and
crisis
devel-
opments
in
the
world
economy
mutually
reinforce
each
other.
The
intensified
East-
West
economic
relations
and
the
integration
of
the
developing
nations
into
the
world
economic
order
have,
for
their
part,
become
a
source
of
international
tension
and
a
general
worsening
of
the
world
political
climate
(the
problems
of
indebtedness,
protectionism).
Quite
naturally
this
crisis-laden
global
development
has
not
left
the
Western
Alliance
unaffected.
On
the
contrary,
there
have been
increasing
irritation
and
tensions
also
in
NATO
in
recent
years,
demonstrating
that
important
aspects
of
Alliance
policies
have
become
controversial.
To
these
belong:
-
the
perception
of
the
course
of
d6tente
up
to
now
and
its
consequences
for
Western
security
interests,
-
the
perception
of
the
Soviet
engagement
in
the
Third
World
and
its
part
in
the
conflicts
of
that
region,
-
economic
and
political
tolerability
of
the
increase
in
military
spending,
-
the
function
of
arms
control
negotiations
*
This
article
is
a
shortened,
revised
and
up-dated
version
of
my
paper
delivered
at
the
IPSA
Tilth
World
Congress
in
Rio
de
Janeiro,
August
9-14,
1982,
and
is
part
of
a
research
project
on
the
d6tente
policy
of
the
Federal
Republic
of
Germany
which
is
supported
by
the
German
Society
for
Peace
and
Conflict
Research.
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