Chapter 19: The Second Cold War Flashcards
Why was Afghanistan a problem?
- April 1978 PDPA gained power
- USSR feared losing influence - invade for control
- Causes hostile relations with US - already had tensions about SALT1 ratification
What were soviet concerns about Afghanistan? (x5)
- PDPA could align with a different country (China, Us etc)
- Instability could spread along 2500km border
- If Afghanistan left the soviet sphere, could spur other allies too
- Leader was unreliable - couldn’t diffuse the Islamic opposition
- Feared a loss of influence due to dissent in Warsaw countries
How did Brezhnev justify the invasion?
- Brezhnev doctrine
- Basic principles agreement
- Preserving socialist regimes and protecting Afghanistan from vulnerability
When did the invasion happen?
- 25th Dec 1979
- signalled end of détente
What were US interests in the area?
- Iranian Shah been toppled
- Lose access to oil and trade routes in Persian gulf
What action do the US take in the area?
- Support Mujahadeen in Pakistan
What trade sanctions did the US take against the USSR?
- Embargo on grain sales to the USSR
- Ban on sale of high tech weapons and arms
- Restrictions on Soviet fishing in US waters
What impact was there on arms restrictions?
- SALT 2 not ratified
- Further negotiations postponed indefinitely
- Carter Doctrine made
- Inc defence budget 1981
What did the US do in Europe as a response?
- Try to persuade NATO to suspend détente
- Refuse but denounce soviet actions
- Continue trade with USSR
What were cultural and sporting impacts?
- Refuse cultural exchanges
- Boycott the Moscow Olympics 1980
What actions did Reagan take as president?
- Opposed summits and détente
- Called USSR an evil empire
- Inc defence budget to 30% of Federal budget 1985
- 700 nuclear weapons deployed
- SDI introduced 1983
- Deployed intermediate range missiles in Western Europe
What were Thatcher’s views?
- Strong anti-communist policies
- Made the most of the special relationship
- Thought the Cold War had gone on for too long
- Didn’t believe in détente
What actions did Thatcher take?
- Supported NATO and US military in Europe and North Africa for defence of GB
- Supported deterrence not détente
What was Thatcher given by the US for her support?
- Extradition of IRA terrorists living in the US
What was Thatcher critical of?
- SDI
- Was not interested in limitations
- Continued Trident
What was the influence of Pope John Paul II?
- Polish pope - influence in Poland - was a soviet threat
- Visited Poland in 1979/83/87
- Expressed views on international reconciliation, peace, opening borders, reuniting Europe
- Spoke freely in a controlling state
Why did solidarity start?
- Polish economic crisis - 100% inflation, foreign debt
When did solidarity start ad with who?
- 1980
- Lech Walesa
- Covered in western media
How did solidarity begin?
- Jul + Aug 1980 - 300,000 workers strike over food prices rising 100%
What was the reaction to the start of solidarity?
- Govt officially recognised it in an attempt to ease unrest
- USSR demanded that order be restored - feared dissent and its spread
- Secretly agree not to intervene - fear resistance and western reaction
How did solidarity grow?
- Sep 1980 - 3.5 million
- Jan 1981 - 9.4 million
What was the response to the growth of solidarity?
- Dec 1981 - USSR perform ‘training manoeuvres’ on the border
- Jaruzelski puts in martial law
- 10,000 members arrested including Walesa
- Made illegal 1982
What was the wider response to the end of solidarity?
- US impose sanctions - deepens the economic crisis
- Strikes stop, residual support, Walesa seen as a hero - Nobel prize 1983
- Reforms 1983
When was the KAL 007?
- Sep 1983
