4. A global Cold War, 1950–8

Abstract

‘A global Cold War, 1950–8’ examines how the Cold War became increasingly global in scope. The Americans and the Soviets each identified crucial strategic, economic, and psychological interests in the developing nations of the Third World, and sought to gain resources, bases, allies, and influence there. Ironically, the Korean War set in motion forces that helped stabilize US–Soviet relations while institutionalizing the East–West division of Europe in a manner that decreased the likelihood of war between the superpowers. The very idea of a military conflict there became increasingly unpalatable to Soviet and American leaders. The nuclear armaments race between the United States and the Soviet Union was an important event in this period of the Cold War.