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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 14. June 12 1978

Relations Between the Superpowers

Relations Between the Superpowers

From the beginning the relations between the two superpowers have been characterised by both collusion and contention.

The trend towards collusion stems from their identity of interests as imperialist superpowers. Together they have opposed the Third World's just demands at the UNCTAD Conference. Together they have defended the "freedom of the high seas" for their warships and nuclear submarines at the Law of the Sea Conference. Together they have defended their own nuclear monopolies while denying such technology to other countries. Together in Cambodia they stood side by side behind the rotten Lon Nol regime. One armed and fed his soldiers while the other insured the vessels that brought in the supplies.

The trend towards contention stems from their conflict of interests as imperialist superpowers both seeking world hegemony. Specifically, the contention is between US imperialism — already possessing a vast world empire — and the Soviet Union — with no empire apart from the vassal states in Eastern Europe. The Soviets are keen to reverse this state of affairs and have rapidly developed their armed might in order to realise this aim. They realise that when it comes to redivision of imperialist spheres of influence it will be on the basis of strength and no other basis.

The growth of Soviet global power has been accompanied with an intense campaign for "detente". How does this serve their interests?

As it is the primary source of war and on the-strategic offensive the Soviet leaders are keen to encourage continual empty talk of peace and relaxation of tensions. Such talk makes it harder to see the Soviet Union's real role. It helps divide opposition to social-imperialism.

Detente also creates an atmosphere for appeasement towards Soviet aggression. Appeasers can find a measure of popular support among those who genuinely believe that they are opposing "war-mongerers" and "cold war warriors". Exactly the same atmosphere was fostered by the Nazis before World War Two.

At first, under Nixon's Presidency, the US accepted detente as part of its policy of collusion with the USSR. It enabled both superpowers to continue their arms race while parading themselves as paragons of peace. But Soviet power has grown dramatically while the US has entered into a long term decline. This has changed the value of detente to the US. The US still needs to sound off about peace while arming to the hilt. But increasingly it needs to put its deteriorating strategic position before its allies and the US public in order to gain support for counter moves to Soviet aggression. The deceit of detente is beginning to hinder this process.