Cold War context

The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and its allies versus the Soviet Union and its allies from roughly 1947 to 1991. While they never fought directly, they competed for global influence through nuclear arms, espionage, and ideological dominance of capitalism versus communism. This rivalry affected international relations, led to proxy wars, and created widespread fear of nuclear conflict. The Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, shifting the global order and ending decades of superpower rivalry.