Final answer:
Post-WWII, the Soviet Union, under Stalin, saw a threat from the West and established communist satellite states in Eastern Europe to create a buffer zone. The Cold War tension between the US and USSR was marked by ideological battles over capitalism versus communism. The US containment policy aimed to prevent the spread of Soviet influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tensions Among Superpowers Post-WWII
After World War II, the Soviet Union, led by Joseph Stalin, perceived a significant threat from capitalist Western governments. To guard against potential invasion and influence from the West, Stalin implemented communist regimes in Eastern European countries, referred to as satellite states. These nations included Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria. The Soviets not only occupied these territories but also imposed totalitarian control, restricting free elections, seizing industry, and dominating various aspects of life within these nations. By establishing these satellite states, the USSR could ensure a buffer zone of nations aligned with communist ideology and friendly to Soviet interests. Moreover, the Eastern Bloc became a manifestation of the Cold War ideology, further dividing the world into capitalist and communist spheres.
The Cold War represented a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, marked by competitions in military might, technological advances, economic aid, and global influence. Throughout this period, the U.S. adopted a policy of containment to counter the spread of communism. Stalin’s control over Eastern Europe was part of the broader strategy to reinforce Soviet security through the control and influence over neighboring territories and the promotion of communism as a global counterweight to capitalism.