Final answer:
The Cold War was the decades-long geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, characterized by nuclear arms races, proxy wars, and ideological conflict, without direct military engagement between the two superpowers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cold War: Definitions and Characteristics
The Cold War was a prolonged period of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as their respective allies, from the end of World War II until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This era was marked by an ideological battle between capitalism, championed by the US, and communism, supported by the USSR. Though it was termed a 'war,' the Cold War fortunately never escalated into a direct military confrontation between the two superpowers, known as a 'hot war.' Instead, it manifested itself through an arms race, especially with nuclear weapons and the policy of Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.), intense propaganda campaigns, espionage, technological and scientific competition including the space race, and proxy wars in various countries.
An essential aspect of the Cold War was each superpower's attempts to extend its influence globally while preventing the other from doing so. This battle for supremacy encompassed social, economic, and cultural aspects and was characterized by events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the strategic alliances formed by both the US and the USSR. The term 'iron curtain' famously coined by Winston Churchill, epitomized the division between the communist and non-communist blocs.
The period had profound effects on global dynamics, shifting the geopolitical landscape and impacting international relations for decades. The rivalry led to significant political and economic issues worldwide, including alignments that shaped policies, governance, and international conflict. The Cold War came to an end with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.