One significant element of the Cold War arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States was the stockpiling of nuclear weapons.

Answer: During the Cold War, which lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a massive arms race, which essentially was the competition to develop and produce the largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons. This arms race was driven by the concept of deterrence, which is based on the idea that neither side would start a nuclear war if both sides had sufficient weapons to guarantee mutual assured destruction (MAD) in the event of a conflict.

The steps toward this stockpiling of nuclear weapons can be summarized as follows:

1. Development of Atomic Weapons: The United States was the first to develop atomic bombs and used them in 1945 to bring an end to World War II against Japan. 2. Soviet Union's Atomic Bomb: In 1949, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb, which was a catalyst for the nuclear arms race. 3. Hydrogen Bomb: Both nations further escalated the arms race by developing the much more powerful hydrogen bomb in the early 1950s. 4. ICBMs: Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) were developed to deliver these nuclear weapons over long distances. 5. Escalation and Expansion: Throughout the 1950s and onwards, both nations continued to build up their nuclear arsenals and delivery systems, including bombers and submarines. 6. Arms Control Agreements: Eventually, the extreme danger posed by these stockpiles led to arms control agreements like the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), the START treaties, and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. 7. Reduction and Dismantling: By the late 1980s and early 1990s, both countries agreed to reduce and better manage their stockpiles of nuclear weapons, leading to a decrease in the total number of nuclear warheads.

Extra: The Cold War arms race was not just about the number of weapons but also about technological advancement and strategic distribution. The world witnessed an intense period where both superpowers, the U.S. and the USSR, were constantly developing new technologies to ensure their nuclear arsenal was capable of overcoming the other's defenses. This race led to innovations in missile technology, including multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), advancements in reconnaissance and early-warning systems, and the development of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems.

The concept of deterrence that underpinned the arms race implies that both parties have enough capability to inflict unacceptable damage on the other, making the cost of war too high to bear. This led to a precarious balance of power where both sides were essentially held in check by the fear of mutual destruction.

Interestingly, this dynamic was not just a two-player game; other countries, notably the United Kingdom, France, and China, also developed their own nuclear weapons, adding additional complexity to global security.

The strategic, political, and social implications of the Cold War nuclear arms race are still studied today. It is a prime example of how international relations can be shaped by technological capabilities, the perception of power, and the pursuit of security through the threat of ultimate destruction. The arms race also spurred massive protests, policy discussions, and philosophical debates about the morality of nuclear deterrence and the existential threat that these weapons pose to humanity.