Activity 1 - Which events should we revise?

  1. Mind-Map - Create a concept-map using Padlet, Mindmup or any other similar mind-mapping tool (or create a sketchnote by hand!). In the middle write ‘The Soviet-Afghan War 1979-89’.
  2. Summarise - Now fill in your mind-map with key historical information and facts about the main events of the unit. Review your notes and summarise using the following headings and events:
    1. Causes - Long-term: Soviet interests and development, PDPA party creation 1965; Short-term: 1973 Coup, 1978 Saur Revolution, Factional Infighting, Unpopular Reforms; Trigger: Herat Uprising, Jihad, Taraki overthrown by Amin, Amin and US rumours, Soviet Invasion and execution of Amin
    2. Course - Phase 1 - Invasion and Consolidation (1979-80), coup de main invasion, zastavas, garrison duty, Kabul riots, desertions; Phase 2 - Pursuit of Victory (1980-85), Guerilla warfare, 40th Army HQ attack, Soviet combined operations, Panjshir Valley Operations, Attacks on Herat, Bagram Airbase attack, depopulation strategy; Phase 3 - Height of Fighting (1985-86), Role of Gorbachev, Battle of Zhawar, COIN, Spetznav, new President Najibullah; Phase 4 - Period of Withdraw (1988-89), Policy of National Reconciliation, Role of stinger missiles, Tajikistan attacks, Operation Magistral, Use of terror, Kandahar airport plane shot down, Rocket attacks on Kabul, Geneva Accords, Soviet withdrawals
    3. Resolution - Soviet Failures - strategy, tactics, poor leadership; Afghan Army Failures; Unpopular Government; Mujahideen Successes; Foreign support; Soviet Domestic Weaknesses; Gorbachev
    4. Impact - End of detente, Moscow Olympics, Carter Doctrine, Trade Embargo, Costs of War, End of USSR, Afghan Civil War (1989-1992; 1992-1996; 1996-2001); Rise of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda; Impact of Pakistan and Islamic World; Refugee Crisis
  3. Revise - Use your mind maps to help you revise the historical content for your upcoming assessment and final exams. 

Activity 2 - What was our inquiry?

  1. Recall -  Examine the statement of inquiry for this unit again and consider how it applies to what you’ve studied:
    1. Despite significant scientific and technical innovations in warfare, conflicts are still determined by basic military principles
  2. Analyse - With a partner, discuss how this statement of inquiry could be applied to the Soviet-Afghan War. Consider the following questions:
    1. Connect - How is the statement of inquiry connected to what you have studied?
    2. Extend - Does the statement of inquiry extend your thinking about the Soviet-Afghan War in any way?
    3. Challenge - What is challenging or confusing about the statement of inquiry? 
  3. Discuss - Does the statement of inquiry apply to the Soviet-Afghan War? What else might it also apply to?
  4. Evaluate - The key concept for this unit was significance. The following criteria can be used to analyse historical significance. For each one, discuss how it could apply to the Soviet-Afghan War: 
    1. Profundity - Refers to how deeply people were/have been affected by the crisis. How deeply were people’s lives affected?
    2. Quantity - Refers to the number of people affected by the crisis. Did the event affect many, everyone, or just a few people? Were the effects widespread or localised?
    3. Durability - Refers to how long people were affected by the crisis. How durable was the event in time? Was the event lasting or only ephemeral?
    4. Relevance - Refers to the extent to which the crisis has contributed to our historical understanding. Is the event relevant to our understanding of the Cold War? Does the event carry any meaning to historians today? Is it used to make comparisons, for example?

Activity 3 - How might we be assessed?

  1. Essay Plan - Try practicing for your end of unit review by essay planning. Use this essay mark-scheme to help:
    1. "International involvement was significant in determining the outcome of the civil war in Afghanistan (1989-1992)." Discuss - Nov 2020
    2. Discuss the reasons for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and the reasons for the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989 - May 2019
    3. Evaluate the consequences for Afghanistan of the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989 - May 2017

Further Reading for Revision

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IB Diploma Programme - The Cold War, pp. 163-167
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History for the IB Diploma - The Cold War, pp. 250-253
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. Fremont-Barnes, G. (2012). Osprey Essential Histories: The Soviet-Afghan War 1979-89, pp. 7-12, 18-21, 31-36, 86-91
  2. Isby, D., & Volstad, R. (1986). Osprey Men-at-Arms Series: Russia’s War in Afghanistan, pp. 9-37
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