Compare and contrast the impact and significance of two Cold War crises each taken from a different region'

Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1989 as case studies:
Impact: 

Similarities:  The west condemned the Soviets in both cases as evidence of Soviet aggression

Differences: Intervention in Hungary was a success for the USSR; it achieved its aims where as where as it failed to achieve its aims in Afghanistan. Linked to this, the Hungarian crisis strengthened the Soviet’s hold on its Satellite Empire, but its actions in Afghanistan weakened it severely The invasion of Hungary only caused verbal condemnation by the West but in the case of Afghanistan it led to military aid to the rebels, the Carter Doctrine and the end of détente via a series of anti-Soviet measures

Significance: similarities - High death toll in both crises for Hungarians and Afghans Showed the determination of the Soviets to maintain stability within client states.
* Hungary undermined the ‘thaw’ and Afghanistan ended ‘détente’.

Significance: differences The West was not prepared to intervene when the Soviets used aggression within its existing sphere of influence but were still determined to prevent the Soviets from moving outside of this sphere of influence. Linked to this, it showed that the US would only intervene against the US if its own interests were threatened .

* The invasion of Hungary had a limited impact on Superpower relations whereas Afghanistan was a key factor in causing the last period  Cold War