ABSTRACT
By the 1980s, some international agendas had become strikingly similar to those of the 1950s. Each superpower approached issues on the East-West agenda with deep suspicion and hostility, reminiscent of the tension of the 1950s. A contentious East-West agenda took the central place in world politics after 1980. The global agenda remained very limited, as global approaches to world problems were generally neglected or rejected in favor of more nationalistic ones. Delegates discussed a great variety of arms control proposals, including qualitative and quantitative arms limitations, reductions in strategic weapons, testing restrictions, weapons policy restrictions, and prohibitions on development and research. Intermediate-range nuclear weapons were the key issue in Europe, where the West was very concerned about Soviet numerical weapons advantages. Intercontinental missiles were the main subject of superpower negotiations on strategic arms. Northern criticisms centered on the Southern states' responsibility for their own economic problems and on the political character of many economic issues.
