The Cold War emerged between the United States and the Soviet Union because of ideological, political, and economic differences. The United States, as a capitalist democracy, believed in free market economics and individual freedoms. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was a communist state that believed in collective ownership of property and central planning of the economy. The two nations also had competing geopolitical interests, with the United States seeking to spread democracy and capitalism around the world, while the Soviet Union sought to spread communism. The Cold War emerged as a result of these differences, with each nation seeking to influence other countries to adopt their respective ideologies, leading to a prolonged period of tension and competition between the two superpowers.