The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a major event in world history that had far-reaching consequences. It not only affected the countries of the former Soviet Union, but also had a significant impact on global trade and military spending. This essay will explore how the collapse of the Soviet Union affected trade and military spending globally, including its impact on the arms race, the global balance of power, and the economic policies of Western countries.
The collapse of the Soviet Union had a significant impact on the arms race and military spending globally. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a massive arms race that consumed huge amounts of resources and drove up military spending around the world. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the arms race came to an end, and military spending began to decline. In the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many countries began to reduce their military spending, as the threat of a global conflict diminished. This allowed for greater resources to be allocated to other areas, such as social programs and economic development. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military spending peaked in 1987, during the Cold War. In 1992, the year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, global military spending decreased by 5.5%. Since then, military spending has fluctuated but generally declined, with some
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During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were the dominant superpowers, with the Soviet Union serving as a counterbalance to American power. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States emerged as the sole superpower, with no real rival to its global influence. This has had a profound impact on global politics and has led to a shift in the balance of power in many regions of the
During the long and gruesome second world war, the Soviet Union and the United States were allies because their mutual goal was to destroy the strong military powerhouse of Germany. After completing this daunting task, the United States and Soviet Union each became eager to obtain sole possession atop the international spectrum, meaning the world’s leading superpower. An era known as the Cold War began immediately following World War II and lasted well into the latter twentieth century, but this “war” was not the usual physical war that fills history but a bloodless war of social and governmental world dominance. Although the Cold War did not involve actual fighting and the loss of numerous United States soldiers’ lives, the tension filled
The Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union had major effects on many regions in the world. After World War II came to an end the United States and Soviet Union started to show differences which turned into conflicts affecting not only both sides but many other regions in the world. Countries started to take sides either communist or non-communist (Doc1). As Winston Churchill describes it as The Iron Curtain Over Eastern Europe (OI). The city of East Berlin in Germany had the dose of communism in that Soviet Russia controlled the sector (3a).
In order to fight such an evil, Reagan went onto the offensive, resulting in an enormous increase in military spending. This strategy depended on the Soviet Union not being able to keep up the pace, and due to economic problems from military spending, financing other communist governments, and
Why Can’t We Be Friends?: The Rise of Tension between the US and USSR post-WWII Dating back to at least the start of communism, the world saw the gradual rise of the Cold War between the United States of America (USA) and the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). Although the Cold War was may have been inevitable because of these countries differing visions of economic policy, governmental systems, and the postwar world in general, it was during the years 1941-1949 when it became imminent. In this time, suspicion and tension between the Superpowers increased due to the battle between communism and capitalism, as well as their different governmental systems.
The Cold War is a proxy war that is said to be the root cause of a triumph of capitalism over communism. This geo-political conflict between the United States and The Soviet Union lasted a total of about fort-five years and ended with major economic impacts in both countries. During the Cold War, the Americans took it upon themselves to try and boost the United State’s economy. During President Reagan’s term, he went through with numerous tax cuts and deregulation in order to stimulate the economic growth. Many people believed, “due to the advantageous economic position that the US held in the beginning of the war and continued to have throughout that the US was destined to victory from the outset” (The U.S. Victory in the Cold War).
Conflicts were fueled by various events and leaders and left the world in constant fear of political combat. The outcomes of the Cold War can be seen as both a victory and a loss. The United States and the Soviet Union remained strong and both came out of the cold war as a super power. Countries became heavily independent on aid from the United States. The aftermath of the Cold War was felt in the United States long after the war had
The aftermath of World War II marked the beginning of a new era in global politics - the Cold War. Following USSR expansion, tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union had risen, with both sides seeking to expand their spheres of influence and prestige. The Cold War was fought primarily through proxy wars, and the rivalry between the two superpowers was characterized by an intense nuclear arms race, a space race, and a struggle over political ideology. In the United States, fears about the spread of communism triggered a policy of diplomatic containment. However, as China fell to communism and the Korean War broke out, diplomatic strategies shifted to military strategies.
Massive increases in military aid to U.S. allies were more effective and necessary to achieve U.S. goals. Before the report was issued, America was spending only $13 billion on defense. After the report there was an estimated $50 billion that needed to be
After WWII the United States was a stronger country that was trying to use its power to bring about a new universal order that was based on democracy and capitalism (Schultz, 2013). However, the Soviet Union was not in agreement with this world order because they were in favor of a world that was commonly owned and a society that fought against authority instead. The viewpoints between the two countries turned into a struggle that turned into the cold war. During the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s this war was able to form the United States in their politics, economic life, cultural, and social developments.
The U.S. became a superpower when they showed the world their superior military strength. Although America had already obtained the knowledge to create a nuclear bomb, Oppenheimer warned: Nuclear weapons were cheap and easy to create once you knew how (Rhodes). “Today eight countries brandish known arsenals, while approximately 20 others possess the technology and materials to go nuclear if they so choose” (Rhodes). One of the more powerful countries that obtained nuclear power after America was the Soviet Union. Before the United States and Russia were allies against Nazi Germany during World War II they distrusted each other because of their obvious political and social differences.
As on document E it shows The military spending differences between the Soviet Union and the U.S. during 1980. This document shows how much the Soviet Union was spending on their military, The USSR was using 11% of their GNP(Gross National Product) on their military and the U.S. was only using 5% of their GNP. I don’t exactly know why they were trying to build their military up by that much, maybe they thought there would be another great war and were trying to be prepared. .Another example is shown on document f, on this document it talks about how the Soviet Union fires earth satellite into space.
The long lasting positive effects of the Cold War can be seen throughout the world and the thriving countries that were
Slide 1 Cold War Task 5 By: Cristina Prince Slide 2 The Soviet Union and the United States rose as superpowers, and the world progressed towards bipolar politics, a state in which two rather equally matched sides confronted one another. The United States strengthened much of Europe through the Marshall Plan, giving $12 billion dollars in aid to Western Europe after WWII. Resulting in implementing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a defense agreement meant to organize opposition to the Soviet Union and China, both politically and militarily.