A Study On The Carter Administration’s Policies Of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Ⅱ1977-1979

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) is one of the important components of the US-Soviet relations during the Cold War. Its development is influenced by not only the US-Soviet relations but also the political situation in America. Since US-Soviet relations were turning from detente to antagonism under the Carter administration, the policies concerning Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Ⅱ (SALT Ⅱ) also showed signs of turning from detente to antagonism. Based on previous studies, this paper is aimed to analyze the policies implemented by the Carter administration concerning SALT Ⅱ from the perspective of dual game and finally draws conclusion.America and Soviet Union had already completed the negotiation about Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Ⅰ (SALT Ⅰ) and signed Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty Ⅰ(SALT Ⅰ) under the Nixon administration. However, SALT Ⅱ didn’t succeed under the Nixon and Ford administrations. After president Carter came into power, considering the changing political situation within America and the changing US-Soviet relations, America government adjusted its policies, made a compromise and finally signed Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty Ⅱ (SALT Ⅱ) with the Soviet Union. But with the changing international situations, especially the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Americans’increasing opposition to the detente, president Carter finally decided to withdraw the previously-made decisions concerning SALT Ⅱ from the Senate’s agenda.By analyzing the negotiation process and the negotiation policies implemented by the Carter administration, the author tries to explain the following questions:on one hand, the negotiation under the Carter administration was restricted by two factors:one is the disagreement within the administration, especially the contradictions between the State Council led by Vance and the National Security Council led by Brzezinski; the other is the disagreement between the administrative department and the Senate, especially president Carter and the Senate were struggling for the decision-making power concerning the foreign policies. On the other hand, contradictions existed on three levels: between the administrative departments, between the administrative department and the Senate, and between America and the Soviet Union. Contradictions at the three levels interacted with each other, thus influencing the formation and break of SALT Ⅱ. The changes of these contradictions are the main factors influencing the formation and result of SALT Ⅱ.To sum up, the political situations inside America not only influenced the Carter administration’s policies but also promoted the transition of the US-Soviet relations from detente to antagonism. Meanwhile, the variation of the US-Soviet relations, especially the declining detente in turn weakened the basis of negotiation and deteriorated the environment where SALT Ⅱ can be approved. Centered on the negotiation and approval of these treaties, both America and the Soviet Union and all kinds of political power in America interacted with one another. Interactions at the two levels worked together to decide the development and result of SALT Ⅱ.