Brezhnev Notes

Domestic/Foreign Policy:
-Brezhnev Doctrine in 1968 retroactively justified SU invasion of Czechoslovakia a month earlier
-Policy meant that “limited independence of communist parties was allowed”
-No nation could exit Warsaw Pact, or try to counter communist rule
-Allowed Brezhnev to continue absolute rule over the country without question
-The Doctrine was vague enough to justify any SU action (Afghanistan, etc.)
-Several treaties followed the Doctrine
-Foreign policy (general “diplomacy”, attempts at friendliness with US, etc.)
-Brezhnev wanted NATO to adjust WWII boundaries to benefit SU/him
-Détente: signed SALT I, etc. with US to solve problems by not doing anything (agree to disagree)

Economic/Political Stagnation:
-SU takeover in Afghanistan led to stagnation
-Demands of workers, work shortages, productivity decline and other problems cause social stagnation which effects economy
-Brezhnev attempts to fix economy in 1960s/1970s a few times but no results
-Kosygin reform in 1965 was not accepted by Central Committee/Politburo
-SU has fallen behind rest of world with refusal to reform and social issues
-Gorbachev says that Brezhnev has caused the GNP/economic/political problems
-GNP is steadily decreasing and US continues to do well, Brezhnev is unhappy
-11+ 5-Year Plans to fix such problems, not effective.

Afghanistan:
-Brezhnev used Brezhnev Doctrine to vaguely justify invading Afghanistan in 1979
-The 10 year war in Afghanistan was the SU supporting Marxist/Communist government instead of options for democracy.
-Many other countries supported Islamist Resistance (against the SU), like the US and GB
-Troops withdrew 1988-1989 over 10 month period
-Considered the be the SU equivalent of Vietnam War for the US
-Entering Afghanistan made Brezhnev lose most of his international and domestic influence and strength