This presentation is about the cold war

1. (1945-1989)
By Dina Hashim + Mehak Naz +
Aleeza Ali + Nashmia Niazi +
Rahymeen Akbar

2. Indirect:
• Allies of US (western bloc/NATO):
⚬ All 5 brussels treaty nations
⚬ Canada
⚬ Denmark
⚬ Iceland
⚬ Italy
⚬ Norway
⚬ Portugal
• Allies of ussr (eastern bloc):
⚬ People's socialist republic of albania
⚬ People's republic of bulgaria
⚬ Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
⚬ German democratic republic
⚬ Hungarian people's republic
⚬ Polish people's republic
Direct:
• The united states
• The USSR (union of soviet socialist
republics)

3. • Post-WWII rivalry: U.S. vs. Soviet Union and allies.
• U.S. and Britain wary of Soviet control in Eastern
Europe.
• Soviets sought Eastern Europe control to prevent
German threats.
• Fought through politics, economics, and
propaganda, with limited direct military action.
• Tensions peaked during Berlin blockade, Korean
War, and Cuban missile crisis.
• Ended in 1991 with Soviet collapse, reshaping
global power dynamics.

4. Background:
• Emergence post-WWII: Cold War stemmed
from escalated tensions between the U.S. and
Soviet Union.
• Conflicting ideologies: U.S. championed
democracy and capitalism, while Soviet Union
advocated communism.
• Geopolitical competition: Division of Europe
into Eastern and Western blocs intensified
rivalry.
• Heightened tensions: U.S. and allies aimed to
contain Soviet influence, leading to ideological
and strategic confrontation.
Current Scenario:
• Legacy persists: Cold War's end in 1991 left
lasting impact on global politics and power
dynamics.
• Unipolar world order: U.S. emerged as
dominant superpower after Soviet collapse.
• New challenges emerge: Terrorism, nuclear
proliferation, and regional conflicts reshape
geopolitics.
• Lingering tensions: Despite official end,
issues like arms control and cybersecurity
maintain U.S.-Russia rivalry.

5. • Ideological conflict: Capitalism versus
communism defined primary
disagreement.
• U.S. perspective: Communism seen as
threat to democracy and freedom.
• Soviet perspective: Capitalism viewed
as exploitative and imperialistic.
• Manifestations: Proxy wars, arms races,
and competition for global influence
ensued.
United States and Allies:
• Global democracy and capitalism
promotion.
• Concerns about Soviet expansionism.
• National security and Western alliances
safeguarding.
Soviet Union and Allies:
• Communism promotion and buffer zone
establishment.
• Fear of Western encroachment and
desire for control.
• Security and strategic parity
aspirations with the U.S.

6. • Non-traditional end: Cold War concluded through
diverse influences rather than formal negotiations.
• Factors: Economic strains, internal Soviet reforms,
and diplomatic engagements crucial to resolution.
• Detente periods: Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
(SALT) and Helsinki Accords prominent in reducing
nuclear tensions.
• Objective: Arms control agreements and cooperation
initiatives aimed at mitigating Cold War hostilities.

7. • Escalation risk: Persistent tensions could lead to
further conflict escalation.
• Potential outcomes: Direct military confrontation,
nuclear war, or prolonged proxy conflicts feared.
• Devastating consequences: Global stability,
economic prosperity, and human lives at stake.
• Urgency for resolution: Importance of averting
catastrophic scenarios emphasized.

8. Different
Perspectives
• Democracy champion: U.S. perceives role in
containing communism and defending
freedoms.
• Ideological adversary: Views Soviet Union as
threat to global stability and U.S. interests.
• Defensive stance: Seeks to safeguard
democracy and prevent perceived Soviet
expansion.
• Strategic rivalry: Competitive dynamic
shapes U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union.
• Socialist movement leader: Soviet Union sees
itself advancing socialism and equality
worldwide.
• Anti-imperialist stance: Views Western
capitalism as exploitative and seeks to
counter it.
• Defensive posture: Perceives U.S. as
aggressive superpower threatening socialist
regimes.
• Resistance against influence: Soviet Union
strives to maintain sovereignty and resist
U.S. influence.

9. Berlin Blockade (1948-1949)
Soviet Union blocks access to West Berlin,
leading to a massive airlift by the U.S. and its
allies to supply the city. The blockade is
eventually lifted, but tensions escalate.
Formation of NATO (1949)
Western European nations, along with the United
States and Canada, establish the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) for collective
defense against Soviet aggression.
Formation of the Eastern Bloc (1949)
The Soviet Union establishes the Council for
Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) and
the Warsaw Pact, creating a military alliance
among communist states in response to NATO.
Korean War (1950-1953)
Conflict erupts between North and South Korea,
with the Soviet Union supporting the North and
the United States supporting the South. The war
ends in a stalemate, solidifying the division of the
Korean Peninsula.
Points

10. Arms Race
Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union engage in a
nuclear arms race, developing and stockpiling
increasingly powerful weapons, leading to
heightened global tensions and the concept of
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
Space Race
Competition intensifies as both superpowers race
to achieve milestones in space exploration, with
the Soviet Union launching the first artificial
satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, and the United States
landing the first man on the moon in 1969.
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Tensions peak as the U.S. discovers Soviet
nuclear missiles in Cuba. A standoff ensues,
bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war
before a diplomatic resolution is reached,
leading to the removal of missiles from Cuba.
Détente
A period of reduced tensions and increased
diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and the
Soviet Union, marked by arms control
negotiations, such as the Strategic Arms
Limitation Talks (SALT) and the signing of the
Helsinki Accords.
Points

11. Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (1979)
Soviet forces invade Afghanistan to support the
communist government, leading to increased
tensions with the United States and its allies,
who support Afghan resistance fighters
(Mujahideen).
Reagan Era and Strategic Defense
Initiative (1980s)
U.S. President Ronald Reagan pursues a more
confrontational approach toward the Soviet
Union, advocating for military buildup and the
development of missile defense systems.
Collapse of Eastern Bloc
Revolutions and protests across Eastern Europe
lead to the collapse of communist regimes,
starting with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Internal economic and political pressures
culminated in the dissolution of the Soviet Union
in 1991, leading to the emergence of independent
states and the end of the Cold War.
Points

12. Ronald Reagan's quote, "Peace is not the absence of conflict; it
is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means," emphasizes
the importance of managing conflicts without direct military
confrontation. During the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union
used deterrence, diplomacy, and negotiations to avoid direct
conflict.
Ronald Reagan