... to reductions in armaments in the later years is that there was a dramatic shift in the entire context in which strategic arms control occurred, and the political and diplomatic climate made it possible. In order to understand the shift that made reductions possible, we must address the political and strategic concerns of both nations, the human factor, and how the potential for destruction and economic considerations also aided the rapid progress that was not possible before. Political and strategic concerns made it difficult for both countries to arrive at an agreement to make reductions to the arsenals of both countries. The reason for this lies in the basic ideological differences in both countries, which bred mutual distrust that was aggravated by the World War II over the issue of Poland and Austria. The territorial and ideological ambitions of the Soviet Union further trampled whatever limited trust that had been ...

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