Distinctive features ofColdWar
The Cold War was an historical phenomenon categorised by non-combative warfare due to the ever-present threat of nuclear weaponry armament. It began post World War II between what was the Soviet Union and the United States of America (US), as a mutual condemnation of each other's social, political and economic ideals embodied in polar ideologies: communism and capitalism under a liberal democratic state. As the Cold War developed, it became used by the US to contain communism. The USSR tacitly challenged the US to a technological race, in which, for all major dimensions except space in the late 1950s, the US was in the lead. Most significatly, it resulted in the escalation of nuclear weapons which dictated their respective foreign policies until the arms race ended for Russia in a forced strategic retreat in the mid-1980s. Ironically, this was due to the state of the devasting domestice economy which could no longer withstand excessive military expenditure. The Cold War was essentially distinguished by the nuclear peace that was created, but it also had an economic and globalising effect, including on the Third World, as both Superpowers strove to limit each other's influence. Many agree that the Cold War ended with the demolition
The introduction of freer markets and globalised industry had been the most distinct feature of the Cold War. Secondly, the paradoxical 'long peace' that was observed has permanently changed the nature of war. The balance of terror that nuclear weapons brought of mutually assured destrustion, has created stability for the last fifty-five years. Moreover, it has facilitated an immense increase in the standard of living in the Western world which is gradually including the rest of the world. The Cold War was a struggle that could only be ended, not in compromise, but by the victory of the one incompatible system over the other. More importantly and phenomenally, it was a war fought about the goal of implementing an entire socio-economic domination. It was not a traditionally fought war, about money, envy of resources, religion or ethnicity. The end of the Cold War has witnessed the ease of strategic tensions across the globe, arms control, and progressive nuclear disarmament. These positive steps in the name of peace should indicate the shift in human energies and passion from war to the promotion of its prevention after witnessing the destruction of so many and the potentiality of a complete destruction in the advent of nuclear warfare. Goal for both US and USSR states, contrasted greatly at the end of World War II. The Russians, fighting literally for survival, lacked the time or the resources to focus on anything beyond installing authoritarian leadership in the Eastern and Central European satellites. Although global communist expansion was intended, it was felt by the Russians as more of an inevitability that did not require immediate infiltration, least of all economic anarchy. The US on the other hand, had minimal loss during the was and were looking to expand its booming economy. Europe was struggling to recover from the triple effects of two world wars and a depression and needed massive financial support if it was to become the US' new business associate. The Marshall Plan, unveiled in 1947, was American funding for Western Europe to aid reconstruction of devasted countries in order to create a new market for the US. The price of gold was pegged to the US dollar and circulation of US currency encouraged the purchasing of American products.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Cold War, Western Europe, Third World, Warsaw Pact, Central European, Germany Japan, War Secondly, West Clark, Berlin Wall, Americanisation Europe, cold war, third world, soviet union, western europe, world war ii, world war, war ii, marshall plan, central european, immediate economic, eastern europe,
Approximate Word count = 1526
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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