Cold War: Characteristics, Stages, and Key Events
The Cold War (1947-1991)
Characteristics of the Cold War
Between 1947 and 1991, the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union was characterized by a tense standoff known as the Cold War. This period was marked by a state of military tension, ideological and diplomatic rivalry, without escalating into a direct armed conflict. Nevertheless, each bloc sought to impose its economic and military superiority through:
- Establishment of economic cooperation instruments: The Western bloc implemented the Marshall Plan, offering U.S. aid to rebuild Europe. The Eastern Bloc created COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance), for economic coordination among its members.
- Defensive military alliances: These were the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Warsaw Pact.
- Creation of a large military arsenal: The two blocs engaged in an arms race, acquiring nuclear and conventional weapons, threatening the enemy with total destruction. The balance of armament between the blocs, known as the “balance of terror,” prevented direct military confrontation.
Stages of the Cold War
Period of Maximum Tension (1947-1956)
- The Berlin Blockade: The city of Berlin was located in the area of Germany occupied by the Soviets. In 1948, the Western allies decided to unify their zones of occupation in Germany. Stalin refused and ordered the blockade of land access to the western sector of Berlin. The allies responded by creating an airlift that supplied the population until Stalin lifted the blockade in 1949. As a result of this crisis, Germany was divided into two states: the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
- The Korean War (1950-1953): After Japan’s defeat in World War II, Korea was divided into two areas separated by the 38th parallel: the North under Soviet control, and the South under U.S. control. In 1950, the Northern army invaded the South, leading to a war in which North Korea was supported by the USSR and the Communist government of China, and South Korea had the assistance of the United States. The war ended in 1953 with the restoration of the pre-war border.
Peaceful Coexistence (1956-1977)
In 1956, a period called “peaceful coexistence” began, characterized by a desire for dialogue and the search for peaceful means of understanding. This new stage in international relations was facilitated by the growth of nuclear power in the Soviet Union, which made the possibility of mutual destruction a reality, and the change in political leadership of both blocs: Kennedy in the U.S. and Khrushchev in the Soviet Union.
Resurgence of the Cold War (1977-1985)
The Soviet Union increased its arms race, deployed missiles that threatened Western Europe, invaded Afghanistan, and increased its involvement in various Third World countries. The United States, meanwhile, supported anti-communist dictatorships in Latin America. The new president pursued a policy of rearmament and a new program called “Strategic Defense Initiative” (also known as “Star Wars”).
The End of the Cold War (1985-1991)
Gorbachev implemented domestic reforms, withdrew from Afghanistan, and recognized the Eastern European countries’ freedom to choose their own destiny. The result of these measures was the signing of various arms reduction agreements with the U.S., the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the dissolution of the USSR.