The Cold War was a geopolitical tension period after the Second War ended till the early 1990s. The war was between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies from the Western and Eastern blocs. The event is significant in international relations studies. This paper applies the neo-realism theory and the group, state, and system levels of analysis to analyze the Cold War. Realism, idealism, national interest, the balance of power, and the bipolar system are among the terms of international relations discussed. The Cold War was due to differences in political interests. It had both positive and negative impacts on member states and other countries.
The leading cause of the war was tension between the superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, over idealistic and realistic policies ( Betts, 2017). Realism is a pragmatic political approach that emphasizes national self-interest with the notion that power is a central factor in international relations. On the other hand, the idealism approach holds that international cooperation and moral principles should guide international relations. During and after the Second World War, the two countries had allied with whom they share common political ideologies ( Arnold & Wiener, 2012). The Soviet Union was allied with Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia, while the United States was allied with West Germany, France, Italy, Greece, and other states. Power at the time was bipolar. A bipolar system refers to a context where power is concentrated at two stations. The struggle by each nation to prove its power and sovereignty triggered the war, for instance, the nuclear arms race. After the Soviet Union developed its weapons, trust between the countries diminished and was replaced by tensions.
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The ideological conflict played a critical role in the Cold War. The Soviet Union was a communist nation hinged on the principles of socialism and collectivism, while the United States embraced liberal democracy characterized by individualism. The two countries had different national interests. National interest constitutes the country's most vital needs and objectives, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the Soviet Union tried to popularize communism, United States countered by adopting the containment policy. The struggle between the two states affected the balance of power. The balance of power refers to a state of equilibrium in the international order. At this point, there were conflicts at state and system levels. According to the neo-realism theory, nations are like units that differ significantly in military strength, economic capacity, and territorial sizes. Besides, security is the highest end in anarchy which is achieved through power.
The Cold War had both positive and negative outcomes for countries directly or indirectly involved. The war led to global political stability and economic prosperity. The enactment of the American Marshall Plan, Communist Molotov Plan, nuclear arms race, and other policies guaranteed the safety and well-being of individuals from member states. Unfortunately, the adverse outcomes were vast ( Arnold & Wiener, 2012). The war led to loss of many lives and property, weak economies, and long-standing conflicts among states ( Betts, 2017).
In general, the Cold War was a period of geopolitical conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies from Eastern and Western regions triggered mainly by political differences between the two superpowers. The paper has evaluated the event using the group, state, and system analysis and the neo-realism theory to determine to causes and effects of the war. The terms realism, idealism, national interest, balance of power, and bipolar system are used to emphasize the importance of the event in international relations studies. The Cold War was accompanied by both positive and negative outcomes, some of which are still prevalent in contemporary society.
References
Arnold, J. R., & Wiener, R. (Eds.). (2012). Cold War: the essential reference guide . ABC-CLIO.
Betts, R. K. (Ed.). (2017). Conflict after the Cold War: arguments on causes of war and peace . Taylor & Francis.
