Cold War: Background & Causes|UPSC Notes

The Cold War, the tense period of geopolitical rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union, started not long after the end of World War II. It has been commonly accepted that the years of its existence are from 1947 until 1991. Yet its defining feature was the war of ideologies, capitalism versus communism. Even though no direct large-scale fighting occurred between these superpowers, the Cold War had a profound impact on global politics and military strategies, affecting the lives of millions around the world. This led to several military and political alliances divided into two unique blocs of the world during that period of time. Foreign policies were shaped into several proxy wars, space races, and nuclear arms build-ups.

What was the Cold War?

The Cold War was a political and ideological conflict between two world superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union. Though they never came face to face and bled one another, they were racing with each other in several fields: space, technology, and arms. This term Cold War is due to the fact that it never became full-scale military warfare between them due to tension, but instead, they encouraged the nation engaged in regional warfare they themselves used as battlefields for their ideologies.

The Cold War was quite peculiar, not only because it covered such a long time but also because its tentacles reached every corner of the globe. Many countries indirectly became dragged into the fray either by forming an alignment with one of the superpowers or taking up neutrality under the mantle of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Cold War: A Background

These cold war roots formed in the aftermath of World War II. When the Axis powers fell, it left two dominant ideologies on earth-two leaders and followers, where communism led by the Soviet Union and capitalism headed by the United States emerged. Mistrust started fast between these two superpowers, dividing the world into two poles.

The war for ideological superiority in the world was waged across the continents. The U.S. as well as the U.S.S.R. were establishing their respective economic and political systems globally, which tended to be accompanied by tension and regional conflicts most of the time.

Causes of the Cold War

Causes of Cold War traced roots in deeper ideological disagreements between the two superpowers and their competing ideas about a future world order. Numerous factors contributed to the outbreak of Cold War, including:

Ideological Differences

This call then comes basically because of the cold war between capitalism led by the United States, and communism, championed by the Soviet Union. The two superpowers believed that their governance system was better than the other; thus, they fought hard to acquire superiority and spread their influence in the entire world, hence creating deep divisions and ushering mistrust as well as competition.

It is from the aftermath of World War II that created a power vacuum on which the New World Order is upon .

Post-WWII Power Vacuum

The collapse of World War II had left behind a global power vacuum- Europe was in shambles, and colonial empires were crumbling. Two superpowers emerged: the United States and the Soviet Union. Both were vastly different in the approach that they proposed for reconstructing Europe-though it was still democracy versus communism-and differences between them churned up ever-greater points of contention and were the forerunner to the Cold War.

Truman Doctrine and Containment Policy

The U.S adopted the Truman Doctrine to stop communism from further spreading, and it vowed to support the countries resisting Soviet influence. This containment policy was an approach formulated to bring a halt to the further expansion by Soviet, but it created tension and increased hostility as the Soviets saw it as direct opposition to universal aspirations. 

Expansion by Soviet in Eastern Europe

In the aftermath of World War II, the Soviet Union aimed to expand its influence over Eastern Europe by establishing communist states there. The creation of Soviet-controlled satellite states alarmed the West, especially the U.S., which heightened feelings of mistrust and added to the ideological struggle that eventually became the Cold War.

Arms Race in Nuclear Weapons

The development and proliferation of nuclear weapons boosted tensions in the Cold War. The U.S. and the Soviet Union massive investments in constructing their nuclear arsenals fueled a tremendous arms race that resulted in a more serious fear of global potential destruction and opened up further gap between the superpowers.

Conflicts in the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences

Fundamental differences between the U.S., Soviet Union, and Britain regarding the post-war European organization issues characterized the 1945 conferences of Yalta and Potsdam. Their disagreements about the disposition of Germany, Eastern Europe, and war reparations only strengthened mutual distrust and opened up for Cold War tensions.

Cold War Military Blocs

These blocs further divided the world as they deepened the bipolar nature of the Cold War geopolitics. As such, those countries that did not have a specific affiliation to any bloc sought to remain neutral through the Non-Aligned Movement.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Formed in 1949, NATO was a military alliance led by the United States that comprised countries in Western Europe. Its primary purpose was to offer a channel of resistance against the expansion of the Soviets and to secure its members against communist threats. NATO was the camp of capitalism in the Cold War, and it further extended the divide between East and West.

Warsaw Pact

The Warsaw Pact was a response by the Soviet Union to NATO that came about in 1955. Warsaw Pact was a union of communist Eastern European nations held sway by the Soviet Union. Warsaw Pact was developed to further consolidate Soviet dominance over its client states and to counter the NATO alliance by presenting an ante, further entrenching the division between the blocs of East and West.

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

SEATO, established in 1954, was an organization created to deny communist influence in Southeast Asia. The thenUnited States backed it with the membership of countries like Australia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Though a less powerful version of NATO, SEATO represented U.S. efforts in controlling communism outside Europe, especially where Soviet or Chinese-influenced regions were being affected.

CENTO referred to Central Treaty Organization.

Also known as the Baghdad Pact, CENTO was formed in 1955 to improve security and cooperation in the Middle East. Its members included Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Although rather pointless, the organization continued to be part of a scheme that the Western bloc promoted to limit the control that Moscow had over the oil-rich Middle East.

Non-Aligned Movement

Although not a military alliance per se, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was a result of reaction to the Cold War. Instead of being aligned with either the NATO group or the Warsaw Pact, the leaders, for instance, in India’s Nehru and Yugoslavia’s Tito, chose not to join, showing alignment with no superpower rivalry games.

ANZUS Pact

The ANZUS Treaty has been an alliance formed between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States since 1951. Its main purpose is to maintain security in the Pacific area particularly against the communist threat. This alliance, therefore, emphasizes the commitment of the US to defend its allies from outside Europe during the Cold War.

Key Events of the Cold War

All these incidents heighted tension levels and ensured that the world was an inch away from hot conflict. Some of the major defining incidents in Cold War Period were:

Berlin Blockade and Airlift, (1948-1949)

The Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin, which deprived all supplies in a threat to force the Allies out. In a bold response, the U.S. and Britain organized the Berlin Airlift, supplying essentials to the long blockaded city. This became one of the first significant crises of the Cold War, which increased tensions between East and West.

Korean War (1950-1953)

This war was a proxy one between North Korea and South Korea by the Soviet Union and China on one side, and the U.S. and its allies on the other. The Korean War resulted in a stalemate, as it left the Korean Peninsula still divided. This further heating up the ideological warfare between communism and capitalism within the Cold War.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred when the Soviet Union installed nuclear missiles in Cuba approximately 90 miles from U.S. shores, leading to a standoff that brought the entire world on the cusp of nuclear war. The outcome was peaceful after intense negotiations but focused everyone’s attention on the dangers of the nuclear arms race of the Cold War.

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

The Vietnam War was a long battle fought by the U.S. to repel communism in Southeast Asia. In the end, it was the North, supported by the Soviet Union and China that emerged victorious over the South, supported by the United States. The war was a bitterly divisive experience for U.S. society and demonstrated the limitations of American power during the Cold War.

Space Race (1957-1969)

One of the areas the United States and Soviet Union were in grave competition with each other was the technology of space. The Soviet Union actually launched the first artificial satellite called Sputnik in 1957 while the United States sent the first humans to the moon in 1969. This race demonstrated the Cold War tensions of nations for world influence and the technological might of each superpower.

Prague Spring (1968)

The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia to build “socialism with a human face.” The movement is crushed by a military invasion from the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies, which indicates Soviet intent to keep Eastern Europe under its control in the Cold War.

Afghan War (1979-1989)

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to prop up a communist government that was being challenged by insurgents. The US supplied weapons and aid to the Afghan Mujahideen. The war bled resources from the Soviet republic, was one of the contributing factors to the collapse of the Soviet Union when it became one of the critical events of the Cold War.

Collapse of Berlin Wall (1989)

The fall of the Berlin Wall was a symbol for the collapse of communist control throughout Eastern Europe and weakening Soviet power. This event marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War, as Eastern European countries began leaving the influence of the Soviet Union, thereby starting the reunification of Germany and ending the Warsaw Pact.

Dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991)

The Cold War technically ended when the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991. Political and economic crises revealed weakness in the U.S.S.R., followed by the independence of the former satellites and democratic Russia. This marked decades of a conflict between ideologies led by the United States and the Soviet Union.

Consequences of the Cold War

The consequences of the Cold War were held deep. At a long-term basis, the Cold War determined international relations in late 20th and 21st centuries. Many of today’s conflicts trace back to the geopolitics of this time. Although the Cold War technically ended without one final large war, it left deep imprints on the planet:

• The tempo of the arms race produced and stockpiled nuclear weapons.
• Proxy wars were fought all over continents, including Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan; countries were left in destruction.
• Space exploration opened skies to new heights of technology development.
• The political and economic burden put the Soviet Union into a complete downfall in 1991.
• The world divided into two schools of thought, capitalist West, and communist East.

Effects of the Cold War

The Cold War deeply influenced global politics, economics, and society. Its legacy can be described in the form of the nuclear arms race, regional conflicts, technological achievements, and polarization of nations-which continue to affect the same regard in international relations and defense systems today. Effects of Cold War were very deep-going and had a profound impact on every aspect of global relations. It affected:

• International diplomacy: The world became divided into competing blocs; neutral countries formed the Non-Aligned Movement.
• Military policies: The arms race led to the doctrine of mutually assured destruction (MAD), thus influencing defense strategies.
• Economies: Vast sums were spent on military build-ups and foreign aid by both the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
• Cultural shifts: The rivalry fueled the propaganda war, which affected media, education, and culture.

The Non-Aligned Movement

The Non-Aligned Movement stood as the most important reaction to the Cold War. Many countries, particularly newly independent ones, were in no mood to take part in the superpower rivalry. Heads of state such as India’s Jawaharlal Nehru and Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser campaigned for a third way-that is, a bloc of countries refusing to line up either with the United States or the Soviet Union.

This movement allowed countries to exercise sovereignty and avoid direct influence by either of the superpowers, and created a platform for decolonization and economic independence discussions.

Conclusion

The period of the Cold War marked a defining epoch in modern history, not only shaping the political and military landscapes of the world but also its economic landscape. From the Causes of Cold War to the more lasting results, the element of rivalry, tension, and proxy wars defined this era. While the Consequences of Cold War were drastic, remarkable technological progress in the world and global shifts in diplomacy had taken place during this period.

Cold War UPSC Notes

1. The Cold War was primarily a geopolitical and ideological conflict between the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union. 2. The global order became bipolar, with nations aligning either with the US-led Western bloc or the USSR-led Eastern bloc. 3. Both superpowers engaged in a nuclear arms race, developing large arsenals of nuclear weapons as deterrents. 4. The Cold War saw several proxy wars, including the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Soviet-Afghan War, where the superpowers supported opposing sides. 5. Many newly independent countries formed the Non-Aligned Movement, refusing to align with either superpower bloc. 6. The competition extended to space exploration, marked by the USSR’s launch of Sputnik and the US’s Apollo moon landing. 7. The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war but ended in de-escalation. 8. The Cold War effectively ended in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, signaling the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.

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