The Cold War was a period of conflicts/confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union, but according to experts, it was much more than that; it was a conflict between Capitalism and Socialism.
Actions from both sides, in terms of propaganda war and media coverage of the events, created an atmosphere of instability and distrust among the two nations (that's affected the globe as a whole, and also contributed to the ongoing polarization Capitalism x Socialism/Communism).