Cold War

Cold War was a period (1945-1991) of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and its satellite states (the Eastern European countries), and the United States with its allies (the Western European countries) after World War II.

Background

The term “Cold War” symbolizes a period of intense international tension where large-scale military operations were conspicuously absent, despite the occurrence of major regional wars, known as proxy wars, supported by both sides. The Cold War left the USSR and the USA as two superpowers with stark political and economic differences. The temporary wartime alliance against Nazi Germany split as a result of the Cold War.

The seeds of future hostility were planted during the closing years of World War II. After the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945, the defeat of Nazi Germany was inevitable. As such, the Allies began drafting the map of post-war Europe. The challenge was that each faction had their unique vision for post-war Europe. Each side harbored contrasting ideas regarding the establishment and maintenance of post-war security. While the Western Allies, who formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), favored a democratic system of governments with fair elections to resolve future issues, the Soviet Union insisted on installing communist governments in countries under its influence.

The Allies themselves were divided on how to best deal with the now belligerent Soviet Union. The Americans were content to let the Soviet Union proceed as it wished, as their primary goal was to achieve American economic supremacy that would undo the legacy of old colonial entities like the British Empire. In contrast, the French and the British favored complete independence of Eastern European countries, especially Poland, which was the primary reason for both nations declaring war on Nazi Germany in the first place. An independent and robust Central Europe would act as a buffer between the Soviets and Western Europe. In April 1945, President Roosevelt passed away and was succeeded by Harry S. Truman.

This succession led to a significant change in US-Soviet relations. Truman was distrustful of Stalin and opposed many of the changes that Stalin brought to the geopolitical landscape of Central and Eastern Europe, especially concerning the “Polish Question”. The Soviets had installed a communist government based out of Lublin, which were rivals to the Polish government-in-exile in London. Relations between the Polish government-in-exile and the Soviets had been severed following the discovery of the Katyn Massacre in 1943.

The 1945 Allied conference in San Francisco established the multi-national United Nations (UN) for the maintenance of world peace. However, the enforcement capacity of its security wing, the United Nations Security Council was effectively paralyzed by the ability of individual members to exercise veto power. As a result, the UN was essentially converted into an inactive forum for exchanging polemical rhetoric, and the Soviets regarded it almost exclusively as a propaganda tribune. Thus, the stage was set for the longest period of geopolitical tensions of the 20th century, whose effects still reverberate to this day.

Causes of the Cold War

During World War II, the UK, France, and the United States joined forces to defeat Nazi Germany, forming a strong alliance. The USSR later joined after facing the invasion of Operation Barbarossa by Nazi Germany. At the time, promises were made to continue this alliance after the war.

Post-war, tensions began to rise. The United States emerged as the strongest power globally, boasting economic and military superiority. The USSR, the second most powerful nation, gained prestige for its crucial role in Germany’s defeat. In Eastern Europe, many countries adopted communist governments, looking favorably upon the USSR. Those that didn’t were replaced by pro-USSR administrations.

The Western perspective, particularly in the USA and Western Europe, saw communism as a threat to their way of life and freedom. The world became polarized into two blocs – communist powers led by the USSR and anti-communist powers led by the USA, with Eastern and Western European nations aligning accordingly.

The USA interpreted global developments through the lens of either supporting or opposing communism. This mindset led to supporting colonial powers, like France in Indo-China, if it meant suppressing communism. The arms race between the superpowers further heightened tensions. This competition extended to technological advancements, with both nations striving for superiority, even reaching beyond Earth.

Military Blocs During the Cold War

During the height of the Cold War, the world was divided into the major military blocs created by the warring superpowers. They are as follows:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – led by the USA

Canada
Denmark
Norway
PortugalIceland
Britain
France
Belgium
Luxembourg
Holland
Greece
Turkey
Spain
Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)

South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) – led by the

USA
Britain
France
Australia
New Zealand
Thailand
The Philippines
Pakistan

Baghdad Pact – led by USA (name changed to Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) in 1958)

Britain
Turkey
Iraq (withdrew after a revolution in Iraq in 1958)
Pakistan
Iran

Warsaw Pact – led by the Soviet Union

Poland
Czechoslovakia
Hungary
Romania
Bulgaria
German Democratic Republic (East Germany)

Key Events of the Cold War

Here are some of the pivotal developments during the cold war period:

The Korean War:

Back in the 1950s, right after World War II, tensions flared up on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea, sporting a Communist regime, clashed with the democratic South. This skirmish became the first major test for the recently formed United Nations, striving to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a proxy war between the two superpowers, the USA and the USSR. Led by General Douglas MacArthur, the UN forces, predominantly American, staged a remarkable comeback after the crucial Battle of Inchon. However, as they pushed into North Korea, the situation got dicey. The Soviet Union, pledging support to its allies, heightened the stakes, framing the conflict as a battle “against capitalist tyranny.” The war, commencing in 1950, finally reached an uneasy halt in 1953 with the establishment of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Even today, tensions linger between North and South Korea, a reminder of a conflict that tested global alliances.

The Cuban Missile Crisis:

In the early 1960s, the world held its breath as the USSR planted nuclear missiles in Cuba, poised to target the United States. Responding with a naval blockade, the USA and the Soviet Union found themselves on the brink of war during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The standoff lasted a nail-biting 13 days until the Soviet Union decided to withdraw its missiles, averting a catastrophic confrontation between the superpowers.

The Vietnam War:

The 1960s witnessed the United States diving into the Vietnam conflict, supporting South Vietnam against the Communist North. Backed by the USSR and China, North Vietnam posed a formidable challenge. However, the Vietnam War, dragging on until 1975, became a painful chapter for the U.S., costing the lives of around 58,000 soldiers. Faced with mounting losses and anti-war sentiments at home, the U.S. eventually withdrew its troops. The war concluded with the fall of Saigon in 1975, marking a decisive victory for the Communists.

The Prague Spring:

In 1968, Czechoslovakia witnessed the Prague Spring, a period of attempted reforms by its Communist government, including multi-party democracy and media freedom. However, Moscow, fearing a domino effect across Eastern Europe, intervened, deploying troops under the pretext of restoring order. This intervention quashed the Prague Spring, dashing hopes for a more liberal communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

The Afghan Invasion:

Despite a temporary thaw in U.S.-Soviet relations in the 1970s, tensions flared up again in Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, supporting the communist government against insurgents known as the Mujahideen. The U.S. responded by aiding the Mujahideen, a conflict that persisted for a decade. The repercussions were profound, contributing to the rise of the Taliban and fueling insurgency in the region. The Afghan-Soviet war, which concluded in 1989 with the withdrawal of Soviet troops, had enduring consequences for South Asia.

The Rise of Mikhail Gorbachev:

In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev ascended to power in the USSR, ushering in a wave of reforms known as perestroika and glasnost. This period saw a significant event when the Berlin Wall crumbled in 1989, symbolizing the end of an era. Finally, in 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved, giving rise to independent nations, including Russia. The Eastern European countries, inspired by popular uprisings, bid farewell to communist rule, marking a transformative chapter in modern history.

Non-Aligned Movement

When the Cold War unfolded, a bunch of freshly independent nations in Asia and Africa found themselves in a bit of a pickle. Countries like India weren’t too keen on cozying up to either the USA or the USSR. So, they decided to march to the beat of their own drum and cooked up the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). This gang of nations, led by cool cats like India’s Jawaharlal Nehru, Indonesia’s Sukarno, Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Yugoslavia’s President Tito, played a superhero role in preventing the Cold War from turning into a global blockbuster. NAM wasn’t a fan of military cliques like NATO, and they made sure to keep the world from becoming one big Cold War battleground.

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