Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
The End to Détente-the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Did the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan End Détente? - Summary
Historians consider the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the official end of détente between the USA and the Soviet Union. The USA viewed the Soviet Union's action as aggressive. To the USA, it looked like a method of making Afghanistan communist against its wishes. The Soviet Union believed their actions were acceptable. The Soviet government believed that they were protecting their Middle Eastern borders. Some historians argue a decline in US-Soviet relations before 1979. The Soviet government began to support more communist rebels in Angola in 1975. This frightened the USA. President Carter's own advisers, like Zbigniew Brzezinski, urged Carter to take a tougher stance against the Soviet Union. The US public also began to turn against détente. This pressure played a significant role in the US reaction to the invasion of Afghanistan and its relationship with the Soviet Union in the 1980s. |
Why was the Soviet Union Interested in Afghanistan?
Middle Eastern countries influenced how safe the leaders of the Soviet Union felt
This is because the Soviet Union bordered Middle Eastern countries like Iran and Afghanistan
Map of the Soviet Union and the Middle East
In 1979, events in the Middle East threatened the Soviet Union
A revolution in Iran removed the Shah and established an Islamic Fundamentalist government
The Soviet government believed in atheism
The Soviet Union contained Muslims. The Soviet government did not want Islamic Fundamentalism to spread through the Soviet Union
Afghanistan became a buffer zone between the Soviet Union and Iran
A pro-Soviet government in Afghanistan would protect the citizens of the Soviet Union from the Iranian government
The Events of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Soviet Union already had influence in the Afghanistan government
In April 1978, Afghanistan had a pro-Soviet government
Events in 1979 changed the political situation in Afghanistan and caused the Soviet Union to invade the country
What Happened in the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan?
The Soviet Union remained in Afghanistan until 1989
The Mujahideen continued to fight against the Soviet Union and Kamal's government
The USA's Reaction to the Invasion of Afghanistan
The US government believed that the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was an attempt to spread communism against the people's beliefs
In January 1980, President Carter informed the US public of the USA's response to the Soviet Union. This became known as the Carter Doctrine. President Carter stated that:
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was the biggest threat to world peace since the Second World War
The USA would use force to protect the Persian Gulf
The USA had an interest in the Persian Gulf as it contained a significant amount of oil
He would impose economic sanctions on the Soviet Union
The USA also supplied the mujahideen with weapons and money to fight the Soviet Union
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Students commonly get confused between the Truman Doctrine and the Carter Doctrine. Both US presidents created their doctrines in response to the threat of communism spreading. They used the USA's wealth in an attempt to control the Soviet Union. However, the Truman Doctrine was announced as a reaction to the end of World War Two. The Carter Doctrine was a reaction to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
The Impact of the Invasion on Cold War Relations
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan marked the end of détente
Some historians argue that the US government overreacted to the invasion to have a reason to end détente
President Carter withdrew from SALT 2, marking the end of the collaboration between the USA and the Soviet Union
Carter also increased US spending on weapons
The US public desired the government to take a harsher stance against the Soviet Union
Republican candidate Ronald Reagan called President Carter 'weak' and believed that communism was 'evil'
Reagan gained a landslide victory in the 1981 presidential election
The events in Afghanistan increased Cold War tensions and negatively impacted US-Soviet relations
The USA and the Soviet Union were more confrontational with each other
Worked Example
Explain the importance of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan for US-Soviet relations
8 marks
Partial answer:
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan worsened US-Soviet relations. By 1979, the USA and the Soviet Union had experienced a decade of reduced tensions, known as détente. The Soviet Union decided to invade Afghanistan in December 1979 to stop the influence of Islamic Fundamentalism in Iran from spreading into the Soviet Union. This worsened US-Soviet relations as the USA saw the Soviet Union's actions as aggressive. To the USA, it looked like the Soviet Union wanted to force an anti-communist population to become communist. The US government felt forced to punish the Soviet Union. In 1980, President Carter imposed economic sanctions on the Soviet Union and pulled out of the SALT 2 agreement. This worsened US-Soviet relations as it officially ended détente. It marked the beginning of a more confrontational relationship between the USA and the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This style of question in the exam paper would be worth 8 marks. An examiner would expect you to write two paragraphs analysing the importance of an event on a wider theme like US-Soviet relations. The worked example shows how you could start an answer for this style of question.
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