Introduction
The Cold War, while being a notion highlighting geopolitical tension rather than direct aggression, was the phenomenon that impacted the current world. Namely, two great world powers, the United States and the Soviet Union were both interested in having the most significant influence on global nations. However, the differences in values, political ideologies, and objectives generated tension between the two superpowers. It was a cold war, as only regional conflicts occurred as a result of the conflict. Nonetheless, the adverse consequences, such as the division of Germany and Korea, advancements in nuclear arms, censorship, propaganda, and the establishment of conflicting alliances, negatively impacted many nations. In this paper, the Cold War will be examined in regard to its nature as well as its impacts, including the current situation with North and South Korea, military advancements, US involvement in foreign affairs, and remaining communist countries.
Background
The Cold War lasted approximately five decades and started as a result of the growing tensions after WWII. Stalin was interested in gaining control over Eastern Europe to prevent further invasions, which was against the vision of the US and Britain, which were the most prominent Western powers. This resulted in the creation of various alliances that contrasted in regard to their objectives and overviews of global politics, such as NATO and the Warsaw Treaty. The Cold War also manifested itself in Asia. For example, with the support and encouragement of the Soviet Union, China became a communist country, a political system that remains the leading national power currently. Moreover, the conflict between established South Korea under the influence of the US and North Korea, with the Soviet Union as a supporter, has emerged. A similar power dynamic can be highlighted in Cuba, with communism being the leading political agenda. It is important to mention the ideological war in which both the democratic values promoted by the states and the socialist ones reflected in the Social Union politics were demonized by both parties. Thus, besides global influence, the US’s aim was to fight against communist ideologies. This happened with Cuba, as highlighted in the Bay of Pigs phenomenon in which the states failed to abolish Castro’s regime. The failure ultimately resulted in Cuba accepting the Soviets’ plea to place nuclear arms in the region due to its proximity to the US. Needless to say, the nuclear arms advancements and the arms race have resulted in the generation of newer, more powerful military equipment.
Impact
As mentioned prior, the impact of the Cold War is still present in the political, military, and social segments. From a political standpoint, it can be remarked that both China and Cuba remain countries that operate based on communist principles. Moreover, the conflict between North Korea and South Korea has not been abolished since it started due to the tensions between the two superpowers. From a military standpoint, the Cold War has contributed to the development of war technology. Moreover, the nuclear arms and the countries that can still legally acquire them remain the same, as both the US and Russia still hold this power. From a social perspective, tensions between Western and Eastern European goals and values can still be highlighted nowadays, as evidenced by the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Conclusion
It is certain that the Cold War was a major global phenomenon that has affected multiple nations and still impacts societies worldwide today. The tensions between the superpowers were generated by the aim to divide the world into political influences. Thus, the Soviet Union was interested in the spread of communism, and the US was aiming for global influence and the installment of democratic principles. The Cold War has ended, yet its impacts remain drivers for both adverse phenomena, such as ideological and political conflicts, and positive ones, such as military technological developments.