Cold War

The period of geopolitical tension and ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union (and their respective allies) roughly from the late 1940s until the early 1990s, characterized by an arms race, proxy conflicts, and competition for global influence rather than direct military confrontation. It is often dated as beginning in earnest with the 1947 Truman Doctrine and is central to debates about deterrence and technology policy.

Claims that use this term

• The Cold War outcome does not prove deterrence worked
• The Cold War threat justified technology controls that later became hard to enforce.
• The Cold War began in earnest with the 1947 Truman Doctrine