Flashpoints in Superpower Relations, 1979-84 Flashcards
Explain why the Soviet Union had Interests in Afghanistan
-Afghanistan was viewed by the Soviet Union as an important neighbour.
-In 1979, a revolution in Iran deposed the Shah. He was replaced by a Muslim fundamentalist government. Afghanistan now formed an important buffer between Iran and the Soviet Union.
-Moscow was determined not to let Muslim fundamentalism to spread across its borders: the Soviet Union had many Muslim citizens.
-To protect Soviet interests, it was important to ensure that there was a pro-Soviet government in Afghanistan.
Explain why the Soviet Union Invaded Afghanistan
-In April 1978, a pro-Soviet government took control in Afghanistan and received economic assistance from Moscow. It was toppled in September 1979 when Hafizullah Amin staged a popular coup.
-At first, Moscow supported Amin, but his government became increasingly unpopular as other pro-Muslim factions tried to overthrow him.
-When Brezhnev heard rumours that Amin was talking to the USA about possible American support, he decided to act.
Describe the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
-On 24 December 1979, Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan. They claimed that they had been invited in by Amin to support his government against terrorists.
-However, Amin was assassinated on 27 December (almost certainly by Soviet commandos) and replaced by the pro-Soviet Babrak Kamal.
-The Soviets remained in Afghanistan for almost ten years, fighting opponents of Kamal.
Describe the American Reaction to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
-The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to protect its interests in a neighbouring state. It saw the situation as very similar to that in Czechoslovakia.
-However, the Americans believed this was an example of the Soviet Union attempting to spread communism abroad, which they had worked to resist.
-Carter went as far as to claim the invasion posed the biggest threat to world peace since the end of the Second World War.
-He withdrew the SALT 2 proposal from the Senate and increased spending on arms.
Describe the Carter Doctrine
-In his state of the union speech in January 1980, Carter said that the USA would repel by force any threat to American interests in the Persian Gulf.
-This became known as the Carter Doctrine and was deliberately modelled on the Truman Doctrine to show its importance.
-Carter also imposed economic sanctions on the Soviet Union and began sending weapons and funds to the mujahideen.
Describe the Impact of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan on US-Soviet Relations
-Détente was already close to breaking up. After the invasion, it was finished. Some argue the Americans deliberately overreacted as a way to ‘get out’ of détente.
-Although relations were becoming more confrontational, the invasion made confrontation more of a certainty.
-It helped bring about the election of a US president who believed communism was ‘evil’ and should be actively opposed.
-In the 1980 presidential election, Reagan ridiculed carter as weak and argued that it was time for the USA to reclaim its position on the world stage and stand up to communism
Explain why the USA Boycotted the Moscow Olympics
-In protest against the invasion of Afghanistan, the USA led a boycott of the 1980 Olympic games, which was held in Moscow.
-Over 60 nations supported the US boycott.
Explain the Significance of the American Olympic Boycott
-The boycott was a highly significant move as the Olympics Games are a global event.
-The Soviets hoped to promote communism to the huge audience who would watch the Olympics around the world.
-The boycott also reflected the influence that the USA had over international affairs. All countries looked forward to the Olympics and telling their athletes not to go was not easy.
Some countries, did not prevent them from going but did encourage them not to take part. Others allowed athletes to take part as individuals rather than representing their country.
-However, American athletes were told that if they tried to travel to Moscow, their passports would be taken away.
Describe the Impact of the American Olympic Boycott
-The boycott was so effective that with many of the best athletes staying away, some events at the Moscow Olympics were made to look second rate.
-The Soviet Union was extremely angry that its chance to showcase communism to the world had been undermined and relations with the USA deteriorated even further.
-Relations were so poor that even four years later, when it was the USA’s turn to hold the Olympics in Los Angeles, in 1984, the Soviet Union led a boycott of the games.
-The Soviet Union was joined by 15 other communist countries in its boycott.
Describe Reagan’s Policies Towards the Soviet Union
-Reagan’s tougher approach towards the Soviet Union led to a period of hostile and tense relations referred to as the ‘Second Cold War’.
-Reagan’s mind set was made clear in a speech to a Christian group in 1983 in which he described the Soviet Union as an ‘evil empire’ and said that the USA represented the forces of ‘good’.
-Reagan persuaded the US Congress to boost America’s armed forces by increasing spending on arms.
-In 1982, 13% more was spent, with a further 8% in 1983 and 1984. New weapons such as Trident submarines and Stealth bombers were developed.
Describe the Reagan Doctrine
-The Reagan Doctrine announced that the USA would not only support anti-communist governments, but also anti-communist groups trying to overthrow communist governments.
-In line with this doctrine, support was given to Central American countries including El Salvador and Nicaragua.
-US forces also invaded the Caribbean island of Grenada and toppled the communist government there.
-Reagan described this as the first ‘rollback’ of communist influence since the Second Cold War.
Explain why the Space Defence Initiative was Created
-Reagan knew that the Soviet economy was struggling.
-By increasing spending and support for anti-communists, he knew he could create real difficulties for the Soviet Union.
-It would need to find extra funding to counter the USA.
Describe the Strategic Defence Initiative
-In 1983, Reagan announced a new policy that would place Soviet spending under even more pressure. The Strategic Defence Initiative would place a series of satellites in orbit.
-These satellites would carry powerful lasers that could shoot down Soviet missiles and prevent them from harming the USA. This was against the terms of the Outer Space Treaty.
-Reagan spoke of SDI as a reality and did not admit to the rest of the world that the new system was years from being ready.
Describe the Soviet Reaction to the Space Defence Initiative
-In Moscow, the news of the development was a complete shock.
-The Soviet Union had devoted huge resources to catching up with American missile technology.
-Now, their missiles would be redundant and a new system was needed.
Describe the Impact of the Space Defence Initiative
-The Soviet leaders knew they would have to invest huge sums to develop an equivalent system to SDI.
-The USA had made major advances in computer technology and the Soviet Union would have to catch up before it could even begin to consider building its own SDI system.
-However, the Soviet economy was not strong enough. This was one important factor behind the ‘new thinking’ of Gorbachev when he became Soviet leader in 1985.
