Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) weakened central control.
The end of the war did not bring "the end of history," but rather a new set of challenges.
The Cold War (1947–1991) pitted the Western Bloc (led by the USA) against the Eastern Bloc (led by the USSR). It was "cold" because no large-scale direct fighting occurred between the two superpowers, though many "proxy wars" were fought globally. The Cold War: A Post-Cold War History
Economic aid rebuilt Western Europe to prevent Soviet influence.
The conflict divided Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 🗝️ Key Phases of the Conflict It was "cold" because no large-scale direct fighting
The tension was not constant; it ebbed and flowed through different geopolitical cycles. 1. Containment and Escalation (1947–1962)
The Cold War taught the world that soft power (culture, economics, and diplomacy) can be as effective as hard power (military force). The collapse of the USSR was driven more by economic stagnation and the desire for political freedom than by a battlefield defeat. 🗝️ Key Phases of the Conflict The tension
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