The Cold War and the End of History

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             In order to examine the meaning of the end of Cold war, it is essential to describe how events and decisions escalated to lead at the end and the new status quo. First of all, the Cold war had not the characteristics of previous wars the world has known. Although there was military involvement, the element which distinguished this war from previous ones was the absence of military engagements of the two superpowers: Soviet Union and United States1. Thus, military involvement was present, but not as a clash between national armies. .

             The term "cold war " was first used by Walter Lippmann, an American journalist, who first used the term in 1947, when crisis in Greece, Czechoslovakia, Turkey, Iran and Germany occurred, to characterize containment policy of America in Russia2. However, cold war is considered to have a starting point a little earlier from the year the term was used, but the opinions of historians on that matter vary, as on many matters that have to do with Cold War. Most of experts agree that Cold War's origins lay at the end of WWII, in 1945. It was the time when Soviet Union and the United States both gained the position of superpowers", who fought together against Hitler3, but as history proved, were united only because of the common enemy. It is important to note here that the Big Three (Britain, United States and Russia) did not have a coherent post-war plan, which is a fact that brought confusion and rivalries after the end of the war4. .

             The rivalries among the two superpowers were from the beginning indirect; they both were trying to control other, smaller powers, which is a factor that influenced foreign and domestic policies, military strategies and cultural initiatives5. This meant that Russia and the United states feared the possibility of their neighbor nations to side and make alliances with their enemies. For example, Russia crushed and anti- communist revolution in Hungary and America overthrew the left- wing reformer of Guatemala.

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