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 2008. Though the Cold War was a time of tension and struggle, the post-Cold War era was/is a period of tremendous growth and power for the United States and a period of reformation for the former Soviet Union.

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. The United States supported democracy and capitalism where as the USSR represented communism. Some of the most infamous events of the Cold War include the Arms Race, Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the fall of the Berlin wall (1989) and the formation of important treaties and documents, such as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 1949), Warsaw Pact (1955) and the Truman Doctrine (1947). 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 dissolution 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. The Cold War was the major motivation for creations such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), lunar landers and space stations. It also prompted the innovation of inventions such as the computer, which is a vital piece of everyday life for many Americans as well as others from all over the world. The Cold War bred much creativity and objects such as the microwave oven, smoke detectors, satellites, the supercomputer, and the Global Positioning System(GPS). 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 termination 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. During 1990 and 1991 a series of events occurred that led to the eventual splitting of the Soviet Union. The end of the USSR was the result of work from a combination of the former President Gorbachev, the newly elected leader, Yeltsin, and President George H.W. Bush. Slowly and steadily the countries of the USSR announced their independence until it was announced that the USSR was no longer. Some claim that this breaking apart of the Soviet Union marks the end of the Cold War era. In which case, the post-Cold War era would involve the reformation of each country of the USSR as individual countries. The emergence of fifteen new states 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"?

There scholarly and political debate that the "Post-Cold War era", which began with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the United States' emergence as the single most powerful superpower (a hyperpower), has ended by the early years of the 21st century. The proposed loss of sole superpower status by the United States is attributed to two main effects: the rise of the People's Republic of China as a major power on the global stage, and the controversial shift on United States foreign policy in reaction to terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists.

The major turning point frequently cited to mark the end of the Post-Cold War era is the September 11, 2001 attacks carried out by the Islamic fundamentalist terrorist group Al Qaeda. The direct reaction of the United States under President George W. Bush was to launch the "War on Terror", primarily consisting of first an allied invasion/proxy war in Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban (which openly supported Al Qaeda) in 2002, and then to invade Iraq in 2003 on suspicion of an Al Qaeda link or harboring Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Iraq War was carried out by the US without the support of many key allies in NATO, if not actual opposition by several key strategic allies such as France and Germany.

The Iraq War deeply damaged the United States standing in the international community and tensions with several key NATO allies. Further, the handling of the occupation of Iraq and the subsequent humanitarian crisis has led to further criticisms. Coupled with this loss of strategic prestige and alliances, the Iraq War also carried a cost billions of dollars from the US economy, and drove up oil prices in this oil rich region, further harming the economy.

The United States' economy under President George W. Bush, in contrast to the prosperous economy of the Post-Cold War Clinton administration, slid into economic recession. This is further cited as a reason to consider the "Post-Cold War era", marked by the USA's global political and economic dominance, to be over. The exact cause of this economic recession and its correlation with the War on Terror is not clear: explanations vary that the economic recession was either already beginning by September 2001, that the 9/11 attacks drastically hurt the US economy, that President Bush's domestic policies damaged the US economy, that the decision to invade Iraq produced a massive drain on the USA's economic resources, or a mix of all of the above reasons.

Coupled with this relative decline in the USA's global influence, is the simultaneous "peaceful rise of China". The People's Republic of China has been steadily growing into the role of a new superpower, to replace the former Russian states (which have declined from superpower, to prominent secondary power). China's economy is outpacing the United States, leading to some accusations of unfair economic practices by China. At any rate, China has also been stepping into the role of global money-lending to third world countries, stepping in to support nations that the US has had to cut back support to.

In addition to the decline in the USA's global political/military/economic influence and China's rising influence, is the growing political-economic power of the European Union. The adoption of the euro and expansion of European Union membership to new states has marked a rise in the "collective" economic influence of Europe taken as a whole.

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 .

See also

* "New world order"