The Cold War: Causes and Effects

Definition of Cold War

A state of hostility between two states, characterized by ideological struggle rather than open warfare.
Main Actors: United States vs. Soviet Union.

United States: Democratic capitalism
- Emphasizes free market economics.
- Political participation from citizens.
Soviet Union: Authoritarian communism
- Strict government control of the economy.
- Redistribution of wealth, citizens have no voice in government.
Both ideologies aim to spread globally, leading to tension.

Pre-WWII Conferences: US, Soviet Union, and Great Britain agreed that Central and Eastern Europe would hold free elections.
Soviet Actions: Joseph Stalin kept these nations under Soviet control, creating Communist buffer zones.
- Viewed by the US as a violation of agreements and self-determination.
Division of Germany:
- Post-war Germany divided into four zones: USSR, France, Britain, USA.
- Eastern Germany became a Soviet satellite state, fueling further mistrust.
Iron Curtain: Term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the division.

The conflict extended beyond the US and Soviet Union, influencing nearly every global region.
Military Alliances and Nuclear Proliferation:
- To be discussed in further detail in subsequent lectures.

Newly independent states emerged from decolonization.
Both US and Soviet Union sought to influence these states, treating them as pawns in their ideological struggle.
Non-Aligned Movement:
- Formed by nations refusing to join either superpower side.
- Key Leaders: Indonesian President Ahmed Sukarno; first meeting in 1955.
- Participants: 29 African and Asian states, including India, Ghana, Indonesia, and Egypt.
- Sought independence from Cold War influence, representing an alternative to existing international orders.

Non-aligned nations leveraged Cold War tensions for their benefit.
- Example: Indonesia received aid from the Soviet Union but also acted against the Communist party domestically.

The Cold War was a multifaceted conflict with ideological, geopolitical, and social dimensions.
The ripple effects of this period influenced international relations and the geopolitical landscape throughout the 20th century.

Next Steps: For further study, review additional resources on military alliances, nuclear proliferation, and the broader impact of the Cold War.