Russians in Afghanistan: A Study of Soviet Intervention and Western Reaction During the Cold War
Date
April 2021
Location
Online
Description
This research will examine reasons why the Soviet Union abandoned its initial policy of non-military involvement in Afghanistan over the course of the year 1979. My sources include declassified documents from both the Soviet and American governments, as well as published articles from media outlets in both the Soviet Union and United States. My research suggests that the Soviet Union was motivated to take direct military action more by a sense of Cold War competition with the United States and fears of U.S. encroachment in the Middle East, than by a dedication to upholding an international communist order. Studying this conflict helps us to understand how the Soviet Union sought to balance ideological commitments to communism with its Realpolitik objectives. Finally, this study seeks to examine the Soviet Union’s activities in Afghanistan as a means of gaining insight into current Russian motivations and involvement in the Middle East.
Presentation Type
Presentation
Russians in Afghanistan: A Study of Soviet Intervention and Western Reaction During the Cold War
Online
This research will examine reasons why the Soviet Union abandoned its initial policy of non-military involvement in Afghanistan over the course of the year 1979. My sources include declassified documents from both the Soviet and American governments, as well as published articles from media outlets in both the Soviet Union and United States. My research suggests that the Soviet Union was motivated to take direct military action more by a sense of Cold War competition with the United States and fears of U.S. encroachment in the Middle East, than by a dedication to upholding an international communist order. Studying this conflict helps us to understand how the Soviet Union sought to balance ideological commitments to communism with its Realpolitik objectives. Finally, this study seeks to examine the Soviet Union’s activities in Afghanistan as a means of gaining insight into current Russian motivations and involvement in the Middle East.