Collapse of the USSR - Brezhnev and Afghanistan

Question 1

Issues by 1985 (5)

Answer 1

• Economic, agricultural, leadership and military.

- The collapse had begun long before 1985

Question 2

Economic stagnation under Brezhnev (5)

Answer 2

• Khrushchev removed from power in 1964
• Planned economy problems:
  Created waste
  Lack of incentive to work (no increases) and lack of skills and lack of
  demand for consumer products
• Crop failure in 70s meant that the USSR became dependent on the West for agricultural imports
• Lowering oil prices in the 80s also impacted the USSR negatively. 60% of exports and 30% of GDP

Question 3

Political Issues under Brezhnev (4)

Answer 3

1968 - Brezhnev Doctrine:

• Came about as a result of the Prague Spring
• Held tight control over the satellite states and pulled them back in the direction of the USSR after they had experienced an era of liberalisation when Khrushchev was in power that granted them some freedom.
• The Red Army could be used to quell revolutions in SS
• Dissonant with the FP of Detente with the US
• Required financial support that drained the economy

Question 4

Prague Spring (3)

Answer 4

• Alexander Dubcek comes to power in 1968
• Viewed as a counterrevolutionary by Moscow
• Soviet forces invaded Czechoslovakia on August 20 and deposed Dubcek and returned the hardliners to power.

Question 5

Intl. Relations with USA (5)

Answer 5

Moscow Summit - 1972 (Nixon):

• Signing of ABM Treaty + SALT I
• Considered a hallmark of detente between the USA and USSR

Vladivostok Summit - 1974 (Ford):
- The states agreed that they would try and reach an equal aggregate number of various weapons

• Detente ended in 1979 with the invasion of Afghanistan

Question 6

Impact of Afghanistan with USA (3)

Answer 6

• First Soviet intervention outside Europe. Brought on fears of Soviet expansionism and possible acquisition of a port in the Persian Gulf which threatened oil supplies for the West.
• Carter Doctrine: Any attack on the Persian Gulf is considered an assault on the interests of the US.
• US boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, didn’t sign SALT II, improved relations with China and provided $2 billion of aid to the anti-Soviet Mujahideen over 10 years.

Question 7

Impact of Afghanistan on USSR (6)

Answer 7

• Became an unwinnable and expensive quagmire for the USSR, comparable to the USA in Vietnam
• Cost 14 000 Russian troops and over 100 000 were sent to Afghanistan by the mid 80s.
• Gorbachev continued the war after coming to power in 1985
• Soldiers from the Central Asian republics felt closer to the Afghans than they did to the Russians.
• The war fuelled demonstrations and secessionist movements in Ukraine and the Baltic republics as they viewed the war through the lens of their own occupation.
• Finally withdrew in February 1989