Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries- IB History of the Americas Paper 2 HL

What were superpower tensions in the Cold War?

The rivalry between the USA and the USSR from 1947–1991, rooted in ideological conflict: capitalism vs. communism. These tensions led to nuclear arms races, proxy wars, political interventions, and intense diplomatic maneuvering.

Who was Leonid Brezhnev and when did he rule?

Brezhnev was the leader of the USSR from 1964–1982. He played a key role in intensifying Cold War tensions through military buildup and suppression of reform.

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine (1968)?

A Soviet policy asserting the USSR’s right to intervene in any socialist country where socialism was threatened. Used to justify the invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring.

How did Brezhnev impact military and foreign policy?

Oversaw a massive expansion of the Soviet military. Used force to maintain Soviet control over Eastern Europe and resist reformist movements.

What was Brezhnev’s role in détente?

Participated in diplomatic efforts like SALT I and the Helsinki Accords in the early 1970s, though continued to use military force when deemed necessary (e.g., Afghanistan).

What happened during the Prague Spring (1968)?

Reformist leader Alexander Dubček introduced liberal reforms in Czechoslovakia, aiming for “socialism with a human face.” USSR and Warsaw Pact troops invaded to stop these reforms.

Why was the Prague Spring significant?

Demonstrated the USSR’s refusal to tolerate ideological deviation. Led to the Brezhnev Doctrine and showed the limits of reform within the Eastern Bloc.

How did the US respond to the Prague Spring?

The US condemned the invasion diplomatically but took no military action, being heavily involved in Vietnam at the time.

What Cold War themes are illustrated by the Prague Spring?

Highlights ideological control, superpower tension, limits of détente, and the USSR's dominance over its satellite states.

What caused the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979)?

The USSR intervened to support the failing communist PDPA government, which faced internal rebellion and Islamic insurgency.

How did the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan affect the Cold War?

Ended the period of détente, sharply increased superpower tensions, and became a costly, prolonged conflict for the USSR.

How did the US respond to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

Initiated the Carter Doctrine, boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and began supplying arms to the Mujahideen rebels (later escalated under Reagan).

Why was the Soviet-Afghanistan War significant?

Drained Soviet resources and morale, deepened Cold War divisions, and was compared to the US experience in Vietnam due to its prolonged and costly nature.

What were the long-term consequences of the Afghan invasion for the USSR?

Contributed to Soviet economic decline and loss of global credibility, helping to pave the way for its eventual collapse in 1991.

Compare Brezhnev’s and Reagan’s Cold War approaches.

Brezhnev emphasized stability and suppression of reform, while Reagan re-escalated Cold War rhetoric and spending, then pivoted to diplomacy later in his term.

How did ideology fuel Cold War flashpoints like Prague and Afghanistan?

Both crises stemmed from efforts to maintain or resist Soviet-style communism; reform or resistance was perceived as ideological betrayal.

How did the Prague Spring and Afghanistan War compare?

Prague Spring was internal bloc suppression; Afghanistan was external intervention to defend communist influence abroad. Both aimed to preserve Soviet power.

What were some of Alexander Dubček’s reforms during the Prague Spring?

Dubček introduced reforms like abolishing press censorship, allowing political clubs outside the Communist Party, decentralizing the economy, and proposing increased Slovak autonomy—aiming to humanize socialism.

How did the USSR justify the invasion of Czechoslovakia?

The USSR argued that liberal reforms threatened socialism and the unity of the Eastern Bloc. The Brezhnev Doctrine framed such deviation as a danger to the entire socialist camp.

What was the Warsaw Pact’s role in the Prague Spring?

Troops from five Warsaw Pact countries (USSR, Poland, East Germany, Hungary, and Bulgaria) invaded Czechoslovakia, signaling unified Eastern Bloc military enforcement of ideological conformity.

How did the international community react to the Prague Spring invasion?

Widespread condemnation came from the West, but no direct action followed. Notably, even some communist countries like Romania and Yugoslavia criticized the invasion.

What internal Soviet dissent emerged after the Prague Spring?

Some Soviet intellectuals and citizens protested the invasion—eight famously demonstrated in Red Square—but they were arrested, highlighting internal resistance to hardline policies.

How did the invasion of Afghanistan contradict détente?

The invasion violated norms of restraint established in agreements like SALT I and the Helsinki Accords, demonstrating that ideological and strategic goals overrode détente commitments.

What was the role of the CIA and US allies in the Soviet-Afghan War?

Through Operation Cyclone, the CIA funneled billions in arms and aid to Afghan Mujahideen. Pakistan’s ISI played a key role in distribution. This proxy support prolonged the war and escalated Cold War hostility.

What counterarguments exist to viewing the Afghan invasion as Soviet expansionism?

Some historians argue the USSR acted defensively, fearing instability near its borders, especially after the Iranian Revolution. The PDPA requested help; thus, intervention may have seemed necessary to preserve order.

How did the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan impact Soviet society?

Returning veterans (Afghantsy) suffered trauma and neglect. Public disillusionment grew as the war dragged on with no clear victory, undermining faith in the government.

How did Reagan's approach to the Cold War differ from Carter’s post-Afghanistan?

Carter emphasized containment and economic sanctions; Reagan took a more aggressive stance, increasing military spending and labeling the USSR the “evil empire,” while expanding aid to anti-communist movements globally.

In what ways did Reagan’s later policies reduce Cold War tensions?

Despite early hostility, Reagan negotiated arms reduction treaties with Gorbachev (e.g., INF Treaty, 1987) and supported reformist Soviet policies like glasnost and perestroika.

What are differing historical interpretations of Brezhnev’s leadership?

Some view Brezhnev as a stabilizer who preserved global peace through predictability; others criticize him for stagnation, repression, and increasing tensions through rigid foreign policy.

What evidence shows that the USSR’s actions were driven by fear rather than aggression?

Soviet leaders feared the "domino effect" of liberalization or regime collapse. Brezhnev saw reforms as existential threats to socialist unity, not merely political dissent.

What role did economic factors play in Soviet Cold War interventions?

While ideology dominated, economic considerations were secondary. However, the Afghan war's drain on resources, combined with stagnation at home, exposed the unsustainable cost of global Cold War engagements.

How did the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan influence NATO and Western unity?

The invasion revived NATO cohesion, led to renewed defense spending (e.g., NATO Double-Track Decision), and pushed neutral European states to align more closely with the West.

What significance did the Soviet-Afghan War have in Cold War historiography?

Historians debate whether it was a final act of Cold War aggression or a defensive overreach—some even frame it as the USSR’s "Vietnam," symbolizing superpower overextension and decline.