Outcome of the Cold War free essay sample

Did America Win the Cold War? Coming to the end of World War Two, both the United States and the Soviet Union were left two very powerful countries with exceptionally different views on how things should be run. America ran the country with a â€Å"survival of the fittest† type of outlook, while the soviets lived by â€Å"everybody helps everybody†. Both the countries were determined in becoming the â€Å"super power† of the world in regards to their economic systems, political policies, and especially military strength. The strength of the American nation progressed throughout the cold war simply because of the USSR’s choice of where and how to spend money and organize their country. In the end, the dissolution of the USSR did not lead to entire victory for the Americans, although their political system remained in tact, the strength of the military advanced, and the economic system saw a large amount of growth. During the cold war and post cold war eras, both the type of free election the government ran and the international spread of democracy allowed the United States to show the strength they showed through their political system. The democratic system as opposed to the Soviet’s autocratic system allowed a free vote to citizens of America. This means there is a choice in who works for congress and it allows room for change, proved in a recent report regarding the American political policies; Thus, Type 1 sham elections, which provide virtually no information, make no difference, while Type 4 free and fair elections, which provide accurate but largely unsurprising information, are also statistically inconclusive once we correct for endogeneity. Robertson, 2009) Endogeneity is the ability in a congress to provide variables for change, often to please the majority of society. These free elections have proven to make a majority happy, and allow room for change in law. The wide spread of democracy was essential in progressing through the cold war. The US used propaganda to influence countries globally. The end of the Cold War, indeed, signified a triumph of the Western style democracy and market economy over the Soviet version of communism. (Mullerson, 2007) The Americans were successful in spreading heir ways and used their freedom in media to prove their thoughts on a democratic system. The influence throughout the globe came with the perks of free elections, and attaining rights, but the United States did prove that their political system was indeed in tact. Prior to the Cold War the American military was at its all time peek in strength and numbers, but to manifest their power throughout the Cold War they showed their strategy and brains by enforcing international military policies as well as proving their unmatched potential. The Cold War lasted approximately from 1947-1991. Being a long and dreadful arms race; many international policies were enacted to enforce the importance of national security of all citizens throughout America. They made sure no military force would be used unless absolutely necessary. A book written on Cold war policies stated, â€Å"The nation had not yet identified clearly threats and opportunities that it viewed as extensions of the vital interest in national survival in the post-Cold War world. (Sloan, pg. 1) Survival was in main importance to each president in office during this era to re-coop troops following WWII, therefore, they waited back as the Soviets spent all their money and effort into building their military. Although the United States took a more hands- off approach they proved they had enormous potential through using strategic methods such as threats, and planning out all possible scenarios in case of an outbreak of war. The United States has required that a numb er of conditions be met including NATO (not United Nations) command of any enforcement operations, clear political and military strategies, including an exit strategy, plans for financing the operation and support from the Congress for the commitment. † (Sloan, pg. 9) This quote refers to the position American Congress stood in regarding any military force. They had multiple organized plans to ensure national survival, while threats were sent back and forth from the USSR to the United States. The cold war did not in any means showcase the strength of the US military, but it proved the intelligent ideas Congress was able to create as well as prove they were ready for whatever came their way. The Cold War largely exhibited the capitalist structure of the United States. It was able to display the strength America’s economy held at this time using their strong capitalist beliefs, as well as the foreign policies pushing America through the Cold War. Capitalism includes hierarchy; which in The United States has, for the most part, proved to work. It has allowed them to obtain an organized system, and the Cold War demonstrated the strong capitalist pride they needed to do so. The liberals point to the considerably more efficient capitalist system; which was able to generate the vast amounts of wealth necessary to sustain the investment in weaponry, technology and international operations that the USSR was unable to match. Sykes, 2010) The capitalist system may not come off as fair as communism, but through the Cold War, American’s proved it is the way to get things done and be able to live a comfortable life, by working with the organized system. The United States had a strong economic system from post WWII through the Cold War era. It assisted them and left the world doubting their failure against the USSR. But when the disparity in economic strength was utilized by the US foreign policy it enabled the US to have a clear advantage over its enemy; and this is what happened during the Reagan administration, when the US was able to negotiate from a position of strength in order to force an increasingly desperate Russia into agreeing to US demands. (Sykes, 2010) The foreign policies to spread capitalism as well as the strong economic base allowed America to push through and push Russia into demands. The Cold War era revealed the power of the United States economy during that period pushing American to be the sole super power. The Cold War demonstrated the true determination The United States obtained through out the building of their country. Although there was not an entire victor of the cold war, the power validated through the political policies, the military, and the economic system, proved they advanced as a nation. The country of The United States proved their intelligence throughout The Cold War, using new tactics, enforcing policies, and organizing their system, and made strides as a global super power.