.70 's Us-soviet Competition In Southern Africa

Abstract: The 1970s was a special decade in the almost half century-longCold War period after World War II. The two super-powers of USA and USSRboth advocated that relaxation should take the place of confrontation and peacefulco-existence, fierce contefltion. But fettered by the Cold War mentality either sidesimply took the slogan as a diplomatic strategy in seeking global hegemonyagainst the other Consequently, in stead of the two superpowers' relation taking apeaceful and progressive track, the contention between them escalated. On theother hand, the national democratic movements launched by the southern Africancountries caused great instability in this part of the world. And the instability, inturn, provided a favorable opportunity for USA and USSR to penetrate theirinfluences into this region, turning this area into an experimental ground for thetwo superpowers to exercise their "colltention under relaxation". Throughanalyzing the USA-USSR conteniion in this area, a better understanding can beachieved of the essence of the international relations during the Cold War.In the l970s, being nagged by a series of disadvantageous factors such asthe after-effect of Vetnamese War, Waergate Scandal and economic crisis, USAhad to limit its diplomatic activities. In contrast, with the strengthening ofeconomical and military forces, USSR launched aggressive challenges to USA..When the two superpowers contending in this area, USA took South Africa as itsbase, while USSR carried out so-called "agent" war in the name of supporting thenations' national liberation movemeflts. The Angolan War was a typical example,which vividly showed how the two opposing superpowers cofltended.After studying the USA-USSR relation during this historical stage, it can beeasily concluded that the international relations during the Cold War weredeformed and abnormal. However, with the ending of the Cold War, a healthy andpeacefully co-existent international relation is likely to be established ininternational community. This is the common wish of the whole world in the2l centllry.