History knows hundreds of wars, all of which have significantly contributed to its development. The Cold War can be characterized as the tension between the United States of America (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and both powers allies, which was not followed with confrontation (week 12). This conflict has a variety of global effects, which can be noted even in the contemporary world. This work will examine the lasting results of the Cold War and discuss how the Cold War change over time through new its new forms acquiring.
The Greatest Lasting Results of the Cold War
To begin with, the significant effects the Cold War caused on the USA should be examined. Wars always result in financial deterioration to all the participants. Thus, the expectation of the USSR to start the open confrontation led to the USA preparing for it, which was expressed in substantial expenses on the army building (week 14). Despite the fact that the Cold War did not derive into the usual one, the USA had to finance military institutions instead of focusing on technical development and non-military production means improving. Therefore, it is possible to state that the Cold War reduced the USA potential and cause the delay in civil areas of activity improving, which negatively affected contemporary USA development.
The other lasting result of the Cold War is the social one. Thousands of USA soldiers did not return from Vietnam, while ones who came back have had the damaged psyche that is still an issue of particular attention (week 13). On the other hand, despite the end of the Cold War, many people could not get used to it. Based on the week 14 reading, their consciousnesses were significantly affected by this prolonged situation, when they could be involved in the direct confrontation, not voluntarily. It is possible to track the negative influence of the Cold War on people who were born during this period. The event affected the entire nation’s attitude toward wars, the imagination about the non-violent life, and the USSR for a long time.
However, it is possible to distinguish several positive lasting results of the cold war. Based on the week 14 reading, the necessity to compete with other military superpower bring the USA to the military and civil technology development. The acquired knowledge and invention include but are not limited to nuclear technology, computers, and immunization techniques (week 14). In addition, despite the negative consequences the Cold War had on the USA’s economics, it was the most developed one in the postwar world, which significantly contributed to the contemporary standard of living in America.
On the other side, the Cold War has had a lasting effect on the USSR. According to reading week 14, this superpower was dissolved in 1991 and divided into three distinct and independent countries, which are Ukraine, Byelorussia, and Russia. Therefore, it is possible to notice that the event changed the political map of Europe and contributed to the military superpower’s disappearance, which is the lasting global effect.
Despite the end of the Cold War, the tension it had did not disappear. It is possible to state that the familiar wars changed over time and became less straightforward. For instance, according to reading week 14, the contemporary USA faces terrorist group activity, making citizens concerned about their safety, although the immediate danger is not visible again. Therefore, the cold war was not ended permanently, as it has transformed into other forms, which expresses differently but still influences the contemporary USA.