Afghanistan – nonaligned role under Prince Daud – but opposition from Afghan communists – which had split into two factions

Khalq gets support from rural areas and Parcham supported in urban areas (second more moderate) – coup – ;democratic republic’ mid 1978 – communists a small group of society and not supported by the great mass of Afghans

Khalq faction gains predominance – aims to introduce a quick reform program, land reform, educational reforms – improved women’s rights – disturbed the country’s social fabric, use of a secret police

Soviet-Afghan friendship treaty – 4,000 advisors to the country – refugees flee across the border into Pakistan – Pakistan supports the anti-communist, Islamicc refugees, uprisings March 1979 – Afghan communists ask for Soviet help

Soviets a bit like the US in South Vietnam feel they should support a friendly regime, moral obligation but didn’t want an extended campaign –divided

Soviets threatened by the situation in Iran where a Islamist government had come to power on the back of a revolution in 1979, Soviets felt like they needed to secure their position in the region, worries about instability

Soviets also worried about the defection of Amin – radical but considers deal with the United States

Soviets didn’t want to be expansionist – but to invade with limited reach, stabilise Communism in Afghanistan, prevent meddling of Pakistan and Iran

Soviets invade 25 December – and the Communist leader of Aafghan dead two days later

Provokes outrage in the West – say that it was Soviet expansionism in the region –

Seems like a blatant agressor, Amin dies, ground troops Red Army go in, worry of Soviet interests expanding in the region – UN general assembly votes 104-18 against Soviet actions

Pan-Islamic reaction – 36 Islamic states meet in Pakistan – condemn the Kremlin – support the Communist’s Mujaheddin opponents – Egypt, Saudi Arabia financial aid, Iran, Pakistan aid to refugees

Western Communists embarassed – Romania/Yugoslavia further from Moscow

Soviets surprised by the US reaction, much stronger than Czechoslovak reaction – Boycott of the Summer 1980 olympic games – America, China, West Germany, Japan

Europe however not interested in ending détente – angered by the US reaction

US though final straw – aimed to support Soviet opponents – end of detente

So the US very angry with the moves by the Soviets, saw them as expansionist. Carter pursues a very aggressive anti-Soviet policy. Carter announces he was surprised by the Soviet actions – this actually allowed the Republicans to portray him as naïve, weak and gullible towards the Soviets. Helped the Republicans with Reagan to get into power in the 1980 elections.

So in what ways did Carter move against the Soviets? Firstly he suspended ratification of the Salt treaty (policy blunted by the fact that Congress would probably not have ratified it anyway and the state department said that it would go along with the recommendations of Salt II anyway).

Secondly Carter announced his doctrine – felt he needed to make a stand against the supposedly expansionist aims of the Soviets – State of the Union address Carter states the Soviets not to make any moves in the Persian gulf region – American armed reaction. Carter doctrine said to be an epitaph to détente – the end of detente.

The US also took the step to supply aid to the mujaheddin secretly from January 1980 onwards. They also told the Soviets that they should withdraw from Afghanistan in February 1980 - détente could be reestablished – the Soviets not prepared to do this.

Carter also moved to strengthen the US military and defence

In secret he decided to increase defence spending and several directives in early-mid 1980 mobilising the US economy to fight nuclear war, July 1980 – selective targeting of Soviet command centres and weapon sites, practice of war scenarios

Soviets bewildered by the US response – hoped détente would return after the initial shock of invasion

Take actions – import to Western Europe, Japan and not the states – US had breached Helsinki, new military bases in Vietnam, reduction in Jewish migration – détente dead

Carter through his mixed signals, unpopular foreign policies in general, and the Iranian hostage crisis Reagan easily defeats Carter in the polls. Reagan attacks Carter as weak, indecisive, economically and internationally lowering America. Reagan had a much more simplistic attitude to the office than Carter. He was fervently anti-Communist and was a strong enemy of détente. Interestingly enough even though he is famous for his anti-Communist policies a lot of his policies were actually a continuation of the moves that Carter had taken in the aftermath of Afghanistan.

He stated that détente was actually about the Soviets getting what they wanted – simply it was a communist trick.

Strong public affirmation of the offensive strengths that the Americans had – different to what had gone before. Reagan brought a new sense of dynamism to the Soviet-American relationship, but much of this were in rhetoric (continuation of Carter’s foreign policy). Soviets can immediately see the difference.

Extreme anti-Soviet rhetoric of Reagan – Famous declaration of 8 March 1983 – Reagan denounced the USSR as an ‘Evil Empire’ in March 1983, Orlando, Florida – predicted the end of Communism - fifteen days later announces the Star Wars programme – designed to counter a Soviet nuclear strike. Seen as dangerous to MAD as it provoked the possibility of another arms race. Provocative decisions by Reagan at this time, selling arms to China for example. Most important thing though is this oppositional stance by Reagan to the Soviet Union, something that hadn’t happened to this extent since 1962.

What about on the communist side? Problems at the top in Communism – Brezhnev had been unwell since the end of the 1970s – his position had become weak before he died in November 1982 (stagnation in the USSR).

Initially replaced by the 8 years younger Andropov, intelligent and decisive – was the head of the KGB. Seemed to suggest he would bring greater openness to the Soviet Union but he suffered renal failure in 1983 and for the final year of his rule was in hospital. Konstantin Chernenko, a Brezhnev loyalist replaced Andropov in 1984, not dynamic, also old and ill, was still ready to enter an exchange with Reagan – he dies in 1985, brings the young Mikhail Gorbachev into power in 1985. Instability in Moscow at the top for seveal years.