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Missouri State University

The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the United States Response

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in an attempt to preserve communist rule in that country. The military and political campaign to defeat the anticommunist resistance spanned nine years. The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan severely strained American-Soviet relations and resulted in a renewed American commitment to resist Soviet expansionism. This thesis examines the conditions that led to the Soviet invasion, the conduct of the war, and the Soviet decision to end its occupation in 1989. Also examined is the response of the United States to the occupation and Washington's role in providing assistance to the guerrillas in a successful application of the Reagan Doctrine.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Defense and Strategic Studies
Year
1994

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Duncan, Keith Tillman
Contributors dc:contributor
  • William Van Cleave

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • © Keith Tillman Duncan

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/541
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1542

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Missouri State University
Base URL
bearworks.missouristate.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Duncan, Keith Tillman. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the United States Response. Masters thesis, 1994. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/541