Introduction
The Cord War is characterized by geopolitical competition between the Western and Eastern blocs. It was led by the Soviet Union and the United States from 1947 to 1991. It was defined by rivalry and attacks between communist nations under the leadership of the Soviets and the Western democracies, more so in the United States (McMahon, 2021). The relationship between the U.S. and the Soviets was not good, but they were partners during World War II. The Americans had gained some doubts concerning Soviet communism and Joseph Stalin’s authoritarian rule for quite some time.
Also, the Soviets felt hard about the United States for not giving them a prominent role in the international community and for the delayed American entry into World War II. It resulted in the loss of millions of Russian lives, and hostility between nations marked this era. It was primarily waged through political and economic means, proxy conflicts, propaganda, and espionage involving replacement more than recommended military hostility. Fundamental differences in political ideologies, financial systems, and military tactics drove this conflict.
Political principles were vital in the post-WWII fight between the Soviet Union and the U.S., while the latter endorsed communism. To some point, this strangle was contributed by well-known people like Harry Truman and Joseph Stalin (McMahon, 2021). Also, geopolitical considerations served as a factor because both superpowers targeted expanding their spheres of influence as they were simultaneously impacting the mission of others to gain excessive power.
World War II had a meaningful impact on the United States, which elevated them to complex global forces and intensified their rivalry. The Soviet Union and the U.S. continued their ideological and political struggle, leading to the Cold War after WWII ended. The development of nuclear weapons due to the arms race, surveillance, and wars over the spread of communism endangered the globe.
Cold War Proxy
A proxy war refers to an armed battle between two nations or even non-state actors whereby one or both operate on behalf of or under the control of outside parties that are not directly involved. For any war to be considered a proxy war, it has to have a direct, ongoing interaction between external parties and the fighters. The connection can be shown through financing, military training, guns, or other material support that helps an aggressive side maintain its war efforts. The Vietnam War is an excellent example of a proxy War that occurred during the Cold War in 1955 and 1975 (McMahon, 2021).
The Soviet Union took proxy conflicts as a way of expanding its influence in the area without running the risk of confronting the United Nations. They participated in their proxies in battles worldwide through strategies like arming and training their friends. They tried to influence the war’s outcome through diplomacy and economic help. The Soviet Union also wanted to participate in proxy conflicts to distribute its ideology and lessen the influence of the United States. They also tried to create a “domino effect” for their allies’ success in one fight to spur more success in other conflicts. This tactic proved effective in situations like the Vietnam War, but the North Vietnamese could defeat the Americans.
The United States was inadequate to fight communism, although it succeeded in some regions. Realistically, the Uganda-Tanzania War was an excellent example of pursuing one’s interests. The superpowers used the African countries as pawns in their grand chess game out of self-interest, which motivated their engagement. This proxy war epitomizes realism’s claim that nations are logical actors looking to maximize their power and security.
On the other hand, idealism might see the dilemma from a moral perspective. Tanzania’s approach is guided by humanitarian considerations, a desire for freedom of choice, and a rejection of autocracy. Idealism claims that advancing ethical principles and a just world order can influence international relations.
The Collapse of the Soviet Union
The collapse of the Soviet Union took place in 1991 during a time marked by political unrest and economic challenges. The historic happening resulted from several situations, such as a failing economy, numerous political corruptions, and the failure of the Soviet Union to satisfy the rising expectations and demands of its people. The Soviet Union is said to have had the second-largest economy in the world according to specific measurements in 1990. The local economy, or the black market of the Soviet Union, accounted for more than 10% of the official GDP of the nation (McMahon, 2021).
The Perestroika reforms worsened the economy, although the government had been tormented by economic stagnation. An essential source of foreign funding was considerably reduced when the price of oil fell from $120 per barrel in 1980 to $24 per barrel in March 1986 (McMahon, 2021). The Union’s collapse was already taking place even though the cost of oil suddenly increased after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990.
Gorbachev started a well-planned process of democracy by allowing elections within a multi-party framework and setting up a president for the Soviet Union. At long last, Gorbachev’s strategy weakened communist rule and contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union. These consistent dynamics finally flashed the collapse of the Soviet Union, negatively changing the political condition of the late 20th century. The fall was followed by social unrest, political instability, and economic turmoil.
Realistically, the collapse of the Soviet Union can be taken to be a result of power politics. They uncovered the vulnerability of vital powers and emphasized that nations mainly act self-interested (Decision-making models, n.d.). The collapse took place from 1988 to 1991, leading to the closure of the U.S.S.R. as a sovereign nation, encompassing political, economic, and ethical disintegration. The former general secretary began reforming the Soviet political and economic systems. The Baltic States and the Caucasus territories declared their desire for freedom from Moscow after the fall of communist regimes throughout Eastern Europe.
In January 1991, violence happened in Lithuania and Latvia, and Soviet tanks were used, a strategy President Bush passionately condemned to put down these democratic movements. However, liberal idealists saw the collapse of the Union as the reason for their cause, as it represented the victory of free enterprise and individual liberty against totalitarianism and socialism. It was believed that the spread of liberal democracy would lead to peace and stability and usher in a time of cooperation and multilateralism supported by the Western world.
Impact on Scholars and Practitioners of International Relations
The collapse of the Soviet Union had some challenges for scholars focusing on international relations as it called for the implementation of the notion and the assumption concerning the global political system. The collapse significantly changed how scholars approached their studies in the field, changing the focus towards a more complicated and multipolar international order as opposed to the bipolar world of the Cold War (Dorani, 2019).
It was thought that international relations would contribute to a more efficient utilization of human resources in the modern world, characterized by higher living standards than ever before. However, apart from continuous technological progress, humans still struggle with many issues and obstacles in life, making it a dilemma. Addressing these challenges requires the involvement of professionals, scientists, technocrats, diplomats, and capable individuals in various roles, something that has not yet been done.
Impact on International Foreign Policy
The collapse of the Soviet Union significantly changed the foreign policy of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The two main forces of the Cold War, the Soviets, and the U.S. created bipolar stability by balancing one another (Dorani, 2019). The assumption was that the end of this East-West conflict would lead to a feeling of international peace, but this optimism was not realized. Good examples of strangles that emerged after the end of the Cold War in developing countries are civil wars and the conflicts experienced of late. For instance, the United States received its first trial after the Cold War ended during the Gulf War in the spring of 1991 as the Soviet Union collapsed (Dorani, 2019).
The collapse of the Union marked the first instance since World War II in which the United States engaged in armed conflict with the full approval of the Soviet leadership. It signaled a potential future of cooperation in shaping a more secure global order. Also, the breakup of Yugoslavia happened during the Cold War conflicts and was replaced by ethical tensions. The succeeding fighting called for the deployment of the American peacemakers to Bosnia. After the end of the Cold War, there was a rise in insecurity in many parts of the world. Even though the Soviet Union had fallen and its Eastern European satellites had become democracies. New global issues, such as terrorism and climate change, have taken preference after the fall of the Soviet Union.
The Impact of The Collapse on Current U.S. Foreign Policy
The legacy of the Soviet Union’s collapse continues to shape U.S. foreign policy in the current world. The Cold War, a decades-long geopolitical war between the United States and the Soviet Union, came to an end as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union. When the superpower adversary U.S.S.R. vanished, the United States’ foreign policy priorities shifted significantly. Due to its lack of attention to restraining Soviet influence, the United States was able to reassess its worldwide goals after the collapse. NATO was created due to the Union’s failure and the conclusion of the Cold War.
Several former Eastern European nations requested to join NATO to gain security and integration into the Western institutions. The expansion continued even after the collapse of the Union, whereby NATO’s membership grew to include former bloc nations, which had some impacts on the defense commitment in Europe. A time of unipolarity, they followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, which left the United States as the only superpower globally. Due to the increased worldwide freedom of action, it had specific effects on American foreign policy. Additionally, the United States assumed a more assertive role in directing world events, including military interventions in countries like the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.
Cold War vs. War on Terror
In several ways, war and terror show significant similarities as they both concern extreme violence driven by political, ideological, or strategic objectives inflicted by one group upon another. Also, both outcomes of terror and war are catastrophic to the affected people, whether they were targeted or accidentally (McMahon, 2021). However, war mainly concerns a broader conflict, likely to result in more extensive devastation due to the nation’s involvement with formidable military forces and vast arsenals of weaponry as opposed to terror, which targets a particular group that might not be armed, hence attacking them.
The Cold War and terror contained some standard features that were singed by hostility among countries, commonly conducted through economic and political means, espionage, propaganda, or proxy wars fought by replacements rather than direct military conflicts. These conflicts also resulted from disputes over political ideologies and the roles played by influential political figures; wars were catalyzed by political ideology, and some nations were becoming more potent than others, but influential figures like Osama bin Laden caused terror.
Conclusions
The enduring legacy of the Cold War continues to exert a significant influence on international relations and foreign policy, leaving a substantial imprint on contemporary political events. Its repercussions persist today, evident in ongoing conflicts involving the United States and Russia and the persistent concerns regarding nuclear proliferation. International relations aim to analyze and understand the dynamics between nations and non-state entities within the global political system. States and non-state entities must cooperate via international relations to achieve their objectives.
Realist, liberal, and constructivist ideas will be most helpful in this class and throughout my future career in international relations. Liberalism emphasizes collective action and the function of supranational organizations to maintain peace and stability. Authenticity liberalism provides a framework for understanding the significance of power and self-interest in global affairs.
Constructivism, on the other hand, focuses on how ideas and norms shape international interactions. In an international relations degree or profession, three essential skills are critical thinking, research, and communication. These skills empower individuals to evaluate intricate global issues, conduct research to substantiate policy decisions, and effectively convey their concepts to diverse audiences, offering valuable advantages to practitioners
References
Decision making models. (n.d.). Web Archive. Web.
Dorani, S. (2019). The foreign policy decision making approaches and their applications. Journal of Politics and Development, 9(2).
McMahon, R. J. (2021). The Cold War: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
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