What was the Cold War, and what major disagreement led to it?

The Cold War was a prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the United States and its allies (often referred to as the Western Bloc) and the Soviet Union along with its satellite states (the Eastern Bloc) after World War II. The major disagreement that led to the Cold War was fundamentally ideological, centered around the struggle between capitalism, as endorsed by the United States, and communism, as promoted by the Soviet Union.

The United States and its allies advocated for a capitalist economic system combined with democratic government, emphasizing individual freedoms and open markets. On the other hand, the Soviet Union and its allies promoted a communist system, characterized by state ownership of resources and a one-party state with limited individual freedoms. This competition for influence and dominance became the hallmark of the Cold War era.

The ideological battle often played out in various areas such as political discourse, economic competition, military coalitions (NATO for the Western Bloc and the Warsaw Pact for the Eastern Bloc), espionage, propaganda campaigns, and even the space race. The Nuclear arms race was a particularly dangerous manifestation, with both sides amassing large arsenals of nuclear weapons. The Cold War did not generally involve direct military conflict between the two superpowers but saw a number of proxy wars in places like Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, aiming to spread each side's ideologies and geopolitical interests.

Importantly, the Cold War set the stage for international affairs for nearly half of the 20th century, influencing many aspects of global politics, economics, and military strategy until its eventual conclusion with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Understanding the Cold War requires a look at World War II's aftermath. During WWII, the USA and the Soviet Union were allies against the Axis powers, but the alliance was not based on mutual ideological respect, rather on a common enemy. Once the war ended, suspicions and differences that were put aside during the conflict quickly surfaced. The world became divided into two spheres of influence, with the USA and the USSR trying to expand their ideologies and power across the globe.

The struggle manifested in various ways—the USA adopted policies like containment to prevent the spread of communism, while the USSR sought to protect and expand its own system. We can illustrate the discomfort and lack of trust with events like the Berlin Blockade and subsequent airlift (1948-1949), the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), and the Vietnam War (1955-1975).

The Cold War also had profound cultural implications, conditioning the media and education within the competing blocs and deeply affecting societal perceptions and everyday life. For example, the launch of Sputnik by the USSR in 1957 spurred the US to invest heavily in science and education, leading to the first man on the moon in 1969. The culture of fear and the threat of nuclear war also led to peace movements and diplomatic efforts for arms control, such as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the eventual Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

The legacy of the Cold War continues to be felt today in international relations, with many current global political issues having roots in the Cold War era. Understanding this period is key to comprehending modern geopolitics and the strategic decisions of both past and present world leaders.