Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: Trends and Precedent in Soviet Foreign Policy

摘要

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan has been explained routinely in terms of Soviet vital security interests inherent in that region's geopolitical setting. It nevertheless can be interpreted as the culmination of a trend in Soviet Third World policy toward the use of direct, unmitigated force in pursuit of national interests. This thesis examines the significance of Moscow's decision to intervene in Afghanistan, in the context of overall Soviet policymaking. Additionally, the impact of recent reverses experienced by the Soviet Afghanistan policy on future Soviet decisionmaking is assayed. (Author)