3.2 - Flashpoints In Superpower Relations, 1979-84

Question 1

When was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 1

1979

Question 2

Why was the Soviet Union interested in Afghanistan?

Answer 2

• In 1979, a revolution in Iran deposed the Shah; he was replaced by a Muslim fundamentalist government.
• Afghanistan formed an important buffer between Iran and the Soviet Union as Moscow was determined to not let Muslim fundamentalism spread into the Soviet Union.
• Therefore, it was important that Afghanistan had a pro-Soviet government.

Question 3

Why did Soviet forces invade Afghanistan?

Answer 3

• In April 1978, pro-Soviet government was established in Afghanistan however was toppled in 1979 when Amin staged a popular coup.
• Initially, Moscow supported him however he became increasingly unpopular.
• When Brezhnev heard rumours that Amin was talking to the USA about possible American support, he decided to act.

Question 4

Describe the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan.

Answer 4

• On December 1979, Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan claiming that they had been invited in by Amin to support his government against terorists.
• Amin was then assassinated and replaced by pro-Soviet Kamal.

Question 5

What was the American reaction to the invasion?

Answer 5

• Americans believed this was an example of the Soviet Union attempting to spread communism abroad.
• President Carter claimed that the invasion proposed the biggest threat to world peace since WW2; he withdrew the SALT 2 proposal from the senate and increased spending on arms.
• Carter imposed economic sanctions on the Soviet Union and began sending weapons and funds to the mujahideen.

Question 6

Describe the Carter Doctrine.

Answer 6

• In January 1980, Carter said that the USA would repel by force, if necessary, any threat to American interests in the Persian Gulf.
• This became known as the Carter Doctrine.

Question 7

What was the impact of the invasion on USA-Soviet relations?

Answer 7

• End of Détente (even though it was already close to breaking apart before the Soviet invasion.
• 1980 presidential election in the USA : Reagan won a landslide victory as he argued that the time had come for America to reclaim its position and stand up to communsim.
• Brought about the election of a president that believed communism should be actively opposed (Reagan).

Question 8

Describe the Olympic boycotts.

Answer 8

• In protest against the invasion of Afghanistan, USA led a boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games which was held in Moscow - over 60 nations supported it.
• Highly significant move as the Olympics are a global event, which the Soviets wanted to use to promote communism to the huge television audience.
• However, the Olympics looked second-rate because the best atheletes had not participated due to the boycott.

Question 9

What did the Soviets do in retaliation proving how bad relations were?

Answer 9

Relations were so poor that even four years later, in 1984, the Soviet Union led their own boycott of the Olympics joined by 15 communist countries.

Question 10

What were Ronald Reagan’s policies?

Answer 10

• Reagan’s mindset made clear in a speech where he described the Soviet Union as an “evil empire” and the USA were forces of “good”.
• Reagan persuaded the US Congress to boost America’s armed forces by increasing spending on arms - new weapons such as Trident submarines and Stealth bombers developed.
• Announced the “Reagan Doctrine” : the USA would only support anti-communist governments and anti-communist groups. In line with this doctrine, support given to insurgent groups in Central American countries.

Question 11

What was the Strategic Defensive Initiative (SDI)?

Answer 11

• In 1983, Reagan announced the SDI would place the Soviet Union under more pressure. The SDI is where America was going to place a series of sattelites with powerful lasers, which could shoot down Soviet missiles, in orbit.
• Against the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
• Reagan spoke of SDI as a reality, however it was years from being ready.

Question 12

What was the Soviet reaction to the Strategic Defense Initiative?

Answer 12

• Soviets shocked as this would mean their missiles would be redundant, even though they devoted huge amounts of resources to catching up to American missile technology.
• Important factor behind “new thinking” of Gorbachev when he became Soviet leader in 1985.