6. How were the Soviets defeated in Afghanistan?

Unit Outline

STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

Despite significant scientific and technical innovations in warfare, conflicts are still determined by basic military principles

GLOBAL CONTEXT

Scientific and Technical Innovation (Opportunity, risk, consequences and responsibility) - Students will explore the natural world and its laws; the interaction between people and the natural world; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on communities and environments; the impact of environments on human activity; how humans adapt environments to their needs.

KEY CONCEPT

Significance - Significance is a concept of a different nature as it is more clearly related to the craft of the discipline. It refers to the quality of having great value taking into account the historical context. Historical context is the political, social, cultural, and economic setting for a particular idea or event. In order to better understand something from history, we must look at its context—those things that surround it in time and place and that give it its meaning or value. In this way, we can gain, among other things, a sense of how unique or ordinary an event or idea seems to be in comparison to other events and ideas.

RELATED HISTORY CONCEPT(S)

Continuity - While historical study often focuses on moments of significant change, students should also be aware that some change is slow, and that throughout history there is also significant continuity. Students can demonstrate deep historical knowledge and understanding by, for example, showing awareness that there are times when there has been considerable continuity in the midst of great historical change. Alternatively, students may question and assess whether a change in political leadership, for example, brought about a change in foreign policy, or whether it was more accurately mirroring policies of previous governments.

1. Why did the USSR invade Afghanistan?

President Reagan's presentation of the USSR as an 'evil empire' that invaded innocent Afghanistan perhaps masks the nuances of the situation. The USSR faced the threat of civil war and Islamic insurgency on its southern borders. What could or should the USSR have done?

2. How did the Soviet-Afghan war evolve?

Unlike Western powers, the Soviet Union had very little experience of counter-insurgency. The Afghan War was a shock to the system. The evolution of the conflict charts the failed attempts of the USSR to adapt to this new form of conflict, with little success.

3. How was the Soviet Union defeated?

The traditional view of the Soviet-Afghan War is that like Vietnam, the USSR suffered a massive defeat of its own making. But that view neglects an uncomfortable reality - that the Soviet strategy actually seemed to be working, at least militarily. So which view is right?

4. What was the impact of the Soviet-Afghan war?

In terms of long-lasting impacts, the Soviet-Afghan War is highly significant. The impact on the Cold War was immediate, ending the detente process. But the ongoing civil war in Afghanistan has been unending since the Soviet withdraw. Why has this been?

5. Assessment: Why did the USSR withdraw?

The Soviet-Afghan War is a hugely significant crisis that generates a huge amount discussion. In reality, exam questions could cover any aspect of the conflict, from its causation and course, to how it was resolved, or even why Soviet forces withdraw in 1989.