Causes of the war
What political event in 1978 brought a communist government to power in Afghanistan?
The Saur Revolution
In which year did the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan?
1979
Which country did the United States mainly rely on to support Afghan resistance?
Pakistan
Who wrote the Personal Memorandum on Afghanistan?
Yurii Andropov
What doctrine justified Soviet intervention to protect allied governments?
The Brezhnev Doctrine
Why did the new Afghan government face strong resistance from the population?
Its rapid reforms conflicted with traditional religious and local authority
What type of conflict did the war become between the superpowers?
Proxy war
How did the United States apply containment during the war?
By supporting resistance forces indirectly rather than fighting the USSR directly
Who was the memorandum written for?
Leonid Brezhnev
Which U.S. policy document reflected a tougher Cold War stance after the invasion?
Presidential Directive 59
Why was Afghanistan geographically important to the Soviet Union?
It bordered Soviet Central Asia and acted as a buffer state
Who were the main Afghan forces fighting the Soviet-backed government?
The mujahideen
What was the main goal of containment in Afghanistan?
To prevent the Soviet Union from consolidating control and expanding influence
What danger did Andropov warn would occur if the USSR did not intervene?
Afghanistan could become a base for hostile forces near Soviet borders
Why did the Soviet–Afghan War damage the Soviet Union’s international credibility?
Because it revealed the limits of Soviet power and led to a prolonged, unsuccessful intervention.
How did Cold War ideology influence Soviet involvement in Afghanistan?
The USSR sought to protect a socialist-aligned government from collapse
Why did the Soviet Union fail to stabilize Afghanistan during the war?
The Afghan government remained weak and dependent, and resistance persisted
Name one long-term modern effect of the Soviet–Afghan War.
The rise of the Taliban, long-term instability, U.S. Russia distrust or refugee crises
What does Andropov’s language reveal about Soviet priorities?
Security and geopolitical influence were prioritized over revolutionary ideology
Why does the Afghan “revolution” contradict Lenin’s ideas?
It was not a spontaneous, worker-led movement
Which combination of causes best explains the Soviet decision to invade Afghanistan?
Political instability, fear of losing influence, ideological commitment to allied regimes, and Afghanistan’s strategic location
Why did the war last much longer than Soviet leaders expected?
Sustained resistance, foreign support for insurgents, and lack of political control
Why does the war continue to influence global politics today?
It contributed to regional instability, transnational jihadist movements, and U.S.–Russia distrust
Why is this memorandum considered evidence of Brezhnev-era revisionism?
It justifies intervention through state security rather than Marxist-Leninist theory
Why is the Soviet–Afghan War considered a major Cold War turning point?
It intensified superpower confrontation and produced long-term global consequences