Key policies Notes

The Brezhnev Doctrine: Justifying Intervention

1. Definition: The Brezhnev Doctrine asserted the right of the Soviet Union to intervene in any socialist country where communism was threatened.
2. Origins: It was a response to the Prague Spring of 1968, when Czechoslovakia attempted to implement reforms under Alexander Dubček.
3. Impact:
   1. Reinforced Soviet Control: Ensured loyalty of Eastern Bloc nations.
   2. Increased Tensions: Alarmed the West, contributing to the renewal of Cold War hostilities.

Arms Control and Détente: SALT I and SALT II

SALT I (1972)

1. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks: Brezhnev helped sign SALT I, the first major arms control agreement between the US and the USSR.
2. Key Provisions:
   1. Limited Anti-Ballistic Missiles (ABMs): To two sites per country.
   2. Froze Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) at existing levels.

SALT II (1979)

1. Extended Limitations: On nuclear delivery systems.
2. Never Ratified: Due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

The Invasion of Afghanistan (1979): A Turning Point

Reasons for Invasion

1. Support for the Communist Government: Threatened by the Mujahideen.
2. Strategic Interests: Maintain influence in the region.

Consequences

1. End of Détente: The West viewed the invasion as aggressive expansionism.
2. Economic Strain: The war became a quagmire, draining Soviet resources.

The Brezhnev Doctrine: A Pillar of Soviet Foreign Policy

Origins and Justification

1. Announced in 1968: In response to the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia.
2. Core Principle: The Soviet Union claimed the right to intervene in any socialist country where communism was threatened.

Impact on Eastern Europe

1. Reinforced Soviet Control: Ensured loyalty of Eastern Bloc nations.