The Second Cold War: the reasons for renewed hostilities and developments, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; new personalities, including Reagan, Thatcher and Pope John Paul II; the crushing of Solidarity in Poland; the shooting down of KAL 007
By the late 1970s, superpower tensions surged again after years of uneasy cooperation. A Soviet invasion, aggressive new Western leaders, and a series of shocking incidents pushed the Cold War back to its most dangerous levels.
Real World
When Soviet troops entered Afghanistan in December 1979, President Carter withdrew the USA from the 1980 Moscow Olympics — a symbolic act that signalled to the world that détente was dead and superpower rivalry had returned.
Exam Focus
Avoid listing personalities in isolation; always link Reagan, Thatcher, or John Paul II to a specific action that escalated or exploited Cold War tensions.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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