Final answer:
The Soviet Union's efforts to expand communism and support allied regimes through military intervention had short-term successes but ultimately led to economic difficulties and a loss of international prestige, contributing to the state's collapse. Both the US and the Soviet Union shared responsibility for the Cold War, driven by differing ideologies and concerns for their respective visions of a world order. Soviet actions, like the suppression of religion and aggressive industrialization, further contributed to their downfall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cold War was a complex geopolitical struggle that had profound implications for both the United States and the Soviet Union.
An analysis of the Soviet approach reveals that their expansion of communism and military interventions, such as in Afghanistan, were ultimately detrimental to their long-term stability and contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union. Soviet leaders became victims of their own perceived success, leading to a pattern of interventions that resulted in economic strain and diminished international prestige.
Regarding who bore more responsibility for the onset of the Cold War, the debate is intricate; nevertheless, the US and USSR both viewed one another as aggressors, each driven by their respective ideologies and strategic interests. The ambitions of both superpowers to spread their economic and political systems were not solely motivated by aggression but also by a genuine belief in their respective visions for a prosperous world order.
While the US favored democracy and capitalism, the Soviet Union was guided by Marxist principles and aimed at ensuring its security through control over Eastern Europe.
Ultimately, while the US did benefit economically in the short term from its policies, the Soviet Union's actions, including the oppression of religious practices and aggressive industrialization through the Five-Year Plans, contributed to an unsustainable national trajectory that led to its dissolution. These complexities highlight the nuanced and multifaceted nature of the Cold War era.