Final answer:
The fall of the Soviet Union led to the emergence of new independent nations, a shift towards a unipolar world under U.S. influence, and the rise of cross-national terrorism, creating a more complex global landscape.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War and led to major changes on the global stage. Among the consequences of this event were the emergence of new independent nations from the former Soviet republics, as well as old ethnic and regional conflicts that emerged once the USSR's control diminished. Additionally, there was a shift to a unipolar world dominated primarily by the United States, as it became the sole remaining superpower. This new global context also saw the rise of cross-national terrorist organizations, adding complexity to international relations. In this post-Cold War world, the United States engaged in a variety of foreign policy goals and global interventions.