It was in Europe that the Cold War reached a decisive turning point in the 1960s, leading to the era of détente. The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), with its Final Act in Helsinki in August 1975, led to a rapprochement between East and West in the fields of security, economy and culture. This volume offers a pilot study in what the authors perceive as the key issues within this process: an understanding over the German problem (balancing the recognition of the post-war territorial status quo against a formula for the eventuality of a peaceful change of frontiers) and the Western strategy of transformation through a multiplication of contacts between the two blocs. Both of these arguments emerged from the findings of an international research project on Détente and CSCE in Europe, 1966-1975, funded by the Volkswagen Stiftung and headed by the two editors.

Gottfried Niedhart is a retired Professor of Modern History at the University of Mannheim and at present heading an international research project on " Détente and CSCE in Europe 1966-1975". He has published widely on English and German history and on the history of international relations mainly in the twentieth century and more recently on EastWest relations. His publications includeGeschichte Englands im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert (Munich 2004) andDie Außenpolitik der Weimarer Republik (Munich 2006).

Preface
Archival Sources
Abbreviations

Introduction
Oliver Bange andGottfried Niedhart

Chapter 1. An Intricate Web - Ostpolitik, the European Security System and German Unification
Oliver Bange

Chapter 2. Peaceful Change of Frontiers as a Crucial Element in the West German Strategy of Transformation
Gottfried Niedhart

Chapter 3. France and the German Question in the Context of Ostpolitik and CSCE, 1969-1974
Marie-Pierre Rey

Chapter 4. Transformation or Status quo: The Conflict of Stratagems in Washington over the Meaning and Purpose of CSCE and MBFR, 1969-1973
Stephan Kieninger

Chapter 5. Britain, the German question and the Transformation of Europe: From Ostpolitik to the Helsinki Conference (1963-1975)
Luca Ratti

Notes on contributors
Bibliography
Index