Cold War

In this episode, we explore the Cold War as a decades-long geopolitical struggle between the United States, the Soviet Union, and their respective allies, shaped by competing political and economic systems, military rivalry, and the changing balance of global power. The discussion examines how capitalism and communism influenced diplomacy, domestic societies, the nuclear arms race, proxy conflicts, and international alliances, while also considering the major historical interpretations of the Cold War’s origins. By comparing Orthodox, Revisionist, Post-Revisionist, and Structuralist perspectives, the episode highlights the continuing debate over whether ideological confrontation, the actions of individual states, or deeper features of the international system best explain the conflict. Together, these perspectives reveal the Cold War as both an ideological contest and a global power struggle that profoundly shaped international relations until the dissolution of the Soviet Union.