Post-Cold War era
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The Post-Cold War era began immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union and, according to differing accounts, ended on September 11, 2001 or is still ongoing as of 2009. Another possible ending is April 2, 2009, with the G20 summits' proclamation of a new world order of reduced American influence. [1] [2]
During this period, the United States was the world's only superpower.
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[edit] Background
The Cold War was a period of conflict, strain and competition between the United States, the USSR and each of their allies. Although the Cold War itself was not a full-scale war there were small wars that occurred. These “proxy wars” were never fought by the USSR itself, but rather by their allies. Examples of these are the Korean War and Vietnam War. Throughout the Cold War, international politics were profoundly shaped by the intense rivalry between the two world powers and the political principles they represented. Overtly, the United States supported democracy and capitalism whereas the USSR represented communism. Some of the most infamous events of the Cold War include the arms race (and mutual assured destruction), the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the fall of the Berlin wall (1989), and the formation of important treaties and documents, such as the Truman Doctrine (1947), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949), and the Warsaw Pact (1955). Knowing key facts about the Cold War is necessary to understanding the period of the post-Cold War era.
[edit] Post-Cold War
[edit] The United States Post-Cold War
After the death of the Soviet Union, the United States became the largest, most powerful and influential superpower. The Cold War consumed the United States' political leaders and the military.
Post-Cold War, the United States were allowed an opportunity to reallocate their efforts and resources towards more positive and beneficial objectives such as placing economics closer to the top of the global agenda. Also, the Cold War provided a boost for technological advancements post-Cold War. It also prompted the innovation of inventions such as the computer, which is a vital piece of everyday life. These innovations were critical to the development of society in the post-Cold War era. The spread of these innovations through processes such as globalization proved to be valuable to the entire world. The United States’ success was expedited by the struggles within the Soviet Union.
[edit] The Soviet Union Post-Cold War
The death of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War called for that region to undergo much reformation during the post-Cold War era. When the USSR ended it was the result of work from a combination of the former President Gorbachev, the newly elected leader, Yeltsin, and President George H.W. Bush. The emergence of fifteen new states, in the Soviet Union, presented new issues.
All the states were in economic distress as they began to make the change from centrally planned economies to market economies. None of the countries had secure, legitimate, boundaries and some even had a considerable stock of nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, the post Cold-War era was a time period that allowed for these newly developing countries to expand and experience independence.
[edit] "Post-Post-Cold War"?
There scholarly and political debate that the "post-Cold War era", which began with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the United States' emergence as the single most powerful superpower (a hyperpower), has ended by the early years of the 21st century. The proposed loss of sole superpower status by the United States is attributed to two main effects: the rise of the People's Republic of China as a major power on the global stage, and the controversial shift on United States foreign policy in reaction to terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists.
The direct reaction of the United States to the September 11, 2001 under President George W. Bush was to launch the "War on Terror", primarily consisting of first an allied invasion/proxy war in Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban (which openly supported Al Qaeda) in 2001. The War in Iraq was carried out by the US without the support of many key allies in NATO, if not actual opposition by several key strategic allies such as France and Germany.
The Iraq War deeply damaged the United States standing in the international community and tensions with several key NATO allies. Further, the handling of the occupation of Iraq and the subsequent humanitarian crisis has led to further criticisms. Coupled with this loss of strategic prestige and alliances, the Iraq War also carried a cost billions of dollars from the US economy, and drove up oil prices in this oil rich region, further harming the economy.
The United States' economy under President George W. Bush, in contrast to the prosperous economy of the post-Cold War Clinton administration, slid into economic recession. The economic recession was either already beginning by September 2001, that the 9/11 attacks drastically hurt the US economy.
Coupled with this relative decline in the USA's global influence, is the simultaneous "peaceful rise of China". The People's Republic of China has been steadily growing into the role of a new superpower, to replace the former Russian states (which have declined from superpower, to prominent secondary power). China's economy is outpacing the United States, leading to some accusations of unfair economic practices by China. At any rate, China has also been stepping into the role of global money-lending to third world countries, stepping in to support nations that the US has had to cut back support to.
In addition to the decline in the USA's global political/military/economic influence and China's rising influence, is the growing political-economic power of the European Union. The adoption of the euro and expansion of European Union membership to new states has marked a rise in the collective economic influence of Europe taken as a whole.
[edit] References
"Cold War." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation. 29 Sept. 2007 <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569374_2/Cold_War.html>. "Cold War Experience: Technology." CNN Interactive. CNN. 5 Jan. 2008 <http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/experience/technology/>.
"Collapse of the USSR." RusNet. Virtual Interavtive Promoter. 5 Jan. 2008 <http://www.rusnet.nl/ encyclo/c/collapse.shtml>.
McNamara, Thomas E. "Rethinking Proliferation in the Post-Cold War Era: The Challenge of Technology ." Find Articles. LookSmart Ltd. 29 Sept. 2007 <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/ mi_m1584/is_n50-52_v6/ai_18099974>.
