User:Fences and windows/Post-Cold War era

The Post-Cold War era began immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union and, according to differing accounts, ended on September 11, 2001 or is still ongoing as of 2024. Another possible ending is April 2, 2009, with the G20 summits' proclamation of a new world order of reduced American influence.

During this period, the United States has been the world's only superpower.

Background

The Cold War was a period of conflict, strain and competition between the United States, the USSR and each of their allies. Although the Cold War itself was not a full-scale war there were small wars that occurred. These “proxy wars” were never fought by the USSR itself, but rather by their "allies". Examples of these are the Korean War and Vietnam War. Throughout the Cold War, international politics were profoundly shaped by the intense rivalry between the two world powers and the political principles they represented. Overtly, the United States supported capitalism whereas the USSR represented communism. Some of the most infamous events of the Cold War include the arms race (and mutual assured destruction), the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the fall of the Berlin wall (1989), and the formation of important treaties and documents, such as the Truman Doctrine (1947), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949), and the Warsaw Pact (1955). Knowing key facts about the Cold War is necessary to understanding the period of the post-Cold War era.

Post-Cold War

The United States Post-Cold War

After the death of the Soviet Union, the United States became the largest, most powerful and influential superpower. The Cold War consumed the United States' political leaders and the military.

Post-Cold War, the United States were allowed an opportunity to reallocate their efforts and resources towards more positive and beneficial objectives such as placing economics closer to the top of the global agenda. Also, the Cold War provided a boost for technological advancements post-Cold War. It also prompted the innovation of inventions such as the computer, which is a vital piece of everyday life. These innovations were critical to the development of society in the post-Cold War era. The spread of these innovations through processes such as globalization proved to be valuable to the entire world. The United States’ success was expedited by the struggles within the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union Post-Cold War

The death of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War called for that region to undergo much reformation during the post-Cold War era. When the USSR ended it was the result of work from a combination of the former President Gorbachev, the newly elected leader, Yeltsin, and President George H.W. Bush. The emergence of fifteen new states, in the Soviet Union, presented new issues.

All the states were in economic distress as they began to make the change from centrally planned economies to market economies. None of the countries had secure, legitimate, boundaries and some even had a considerable stock of nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, the post Cold-War era was a time period that allowed for these newly developing countries to expand and experience independence.

"Post-Post-Cold War"

Some commentators such as Thomas Friedman have proposed that the "post-Cold War era" has ended with the loss of sole superpower status by the United States, with the rise of China and Russia as major powers, anti-Americanism in Latin America and Iran, and the controversial shift on United States foreign policy in reaction to terrorist attacks by Muslim "extremists".

References

• "Cold War." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation. 29 Sept. 2007.
• "Cold War Experience: Technology." CNN Interactive. CNN. 5 Jan. 2008.
• "Collapse of the USSR." RusNet. Virtual Interavtive Promoter. 5 Jan. 2008.
• McNamara, Thomas E. "Rethinking Proliferation in the Post-Cold War Era: The Challenge of Technology." Find Articles. LookSmart Ltd. 29 Sept. 2007.