Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was a long-term global rivalry between:
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the United States (USA, capitalism 资本主义) and its allies
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the Soviet Union (USSR, communism 共产主义) and its allies
It was a conflict of:
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ideology → capitalism vs communism
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military power
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economic influence
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political control
Characteristics
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No direct large-scale war between the two superpowers
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Proxy Wars(代理战争)
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Arms race(核武竞赛)
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Propaganda & espionage(宣传与间谍活动)
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Diplomatic and political competition
Definition
“Cold” means the two superpowers did not fight each other directly in a full-scale war.
Historical Importance
Note
The Cold War shaped:
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decolonization
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regional conflicts
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nuclear policy
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global alliances
It defined much of the second half of the 20th century.