The term Cold War refers to the state of hostility that existed between the countries in the
Soviet Bloc and those allied with the United States of America and which lasted for 45 years
from the end of the Second World until 1990. It generally described the atmosphere of
threats, propaganda and political games but fell short of all out open warfare.
The Cold War has produced the longest period of stability among World Powers over the
last quarter of a century but it cannot really be described as an era of true peace as globally
there has continued to be conflict and loss of life.
Peace is not the correct word where there has been a series of devastating and destructive
Proxy Wars with the Cold War Alliances not far away in the background even if the conflict is
limited in terms of territory and actual length. These have included in Korea and Syria.
There has also been an ongoing Arms Race with nuclear and conventional weapons being
developed and stockpiled.
It should not be forgotten that there has also been revolution, ethnic, religious and civil
wars, regime change and ideological conflicts.
Conventional warfare has continued in many parts of the world and although Nuclear War
has been close to breaking out, by accident, technical issues, misinformation and mischief
there has been no World War Three to date.
Some lessons may have be learned from the Peace Settlement after the First World War
which saw Germany, its people and allies punished and which led to the Rise of Hitler as
revenge for this humiliation and the aggression of the Nazi’s from the 1930’s onwards.
The difference in the Peace after 1945 was that two Super Power Nations emerged, the USA
and Russia. They had not until that time been natural enemies being on opposite sides of
the world , self sufficient and independent in trade and resources and with a remote border
only in Alaska.
The two Powers were very compatible in 1945 in their military strength and the existence of
what is called the Military Industrial Complex although from the very different ideologies of
Capitalism and Communism, as in Private and State Enterprise.
Early on in the Cold War there were potential war situations for conventional military such
as the Berlin Blockade and where Sovereign States now behind the Iron Curtain showed
rebellion. The Cold War created an artificial division of the world into two distinct groups.
World War Three was a main subject of discussion, it was planned for but the important
factor was that the Super Powers were stable in their respective regimes with no dictator
type leaders.
In the Cold War Era the Nuclear Deterrent was a major influence. The prospect of mutual
annihilation in a nuclear war did help to keep a lid on potential escalation of many
situations.
Both alliances did continue with technology and weapons such as Satellites, the U2 Spy
Plane, Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles and advances in intelligence gathering.
Developments such as the neutron bomb which killed humans but left buildings and
infrastructure intact threatened to cause imbalance but both sides could spy on and
evaluate each others capabilities which caused reassurance.
The Cold War developed its own set of Rules between the Super Powers which although not
written down in a formal Agreement were very much understood.
These included;
- Respect for each others areas of influence. For example the Soviet Bloc occupied countries and those in which the USA had interests such as Western Europe and South America were kept free of direct interference.
- Direct Military Conflict was to be avoided. Proxy Wars instead were waged
- Nuclear Weapons were to be used as a last resort only
- Any unstable regional arrangements were tolerated such as the Berlin Wall, Korean Partition and Cuba
- Leadership of the Cold War Powers was not to be undermined.
In all there existed in the Cold War not a true peace but an uneasy one that could have
escalated easily into World War Three and an assured Nuclear Destruction of Mankind.
With the publication of previously secret Cold War Documents in recent years the avoidance
of Nuclear War appears to have been down to luck and the action of individuals rather than
a determined outbreak of Peace.
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