The Cold War was a period of tension and hostility between two global superpowers, the USA and the USSR, that lasted from 1945 to 1991. It was characterized by ideological, political, economic, and military rivalry, but did not result in direct conflict between the two nations. Instead, it involved wars fought by proxy, an arms race, espionage, and economic competition.

• Significance: The importance of the Cold War lies in the fact that it influenced global geopolitics for almost five decades, defined US-Soviet relations, and had a lasting impact on various parts of the world.

• Causation: Understanding the factors that led to the Cold War is crucial in grasping the nature of the conflict.

• Cold War Defined: The term "Cold War" describes periods of high tension and hostility between states that stop just short of war. American journalist Walter Lippmann popularized this term in 1947. Alternatively, US President Harry S Truman called it a "war of nerves."

• Origin of Superpowers: The USA and the USSR emerged as competing superpowers after the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

• Nuclear Arms Race: The rapid escalation of nuclear armament by both superpowers made direct conflict unthinkable due to the catastrophic consequences. As a result, it became vital to find strategies to avoid escalation to nuclear warfare.

• Proxy Wars: Instead of direct conflict, the Cold War led to wars fought by proxy on the battlefields of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

• Espionage and Economic Rivalry: The period also involved economic competition and the development of extensive espionage networks, as each side tried to infiltrate the other to uncover military and strategic secrets.

• Ideological Differences: A core reason for the Cold War tensions was the opposing ideologies of Capitalism and Communism. In 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Party established the world's first Communist state, based on the ideas of 19th-century economist Karl Marx. These ideas seemed to threaten the foundation of Western societies.