How did the end of the Cold War impact U.S. relations around the world?

Question

Going along with my other question. Just don't understand it all. So difficult.

Answer 1

Yun's answer is part of what I planned to discuss, but there's lots more to it. Still, credit him for making a pithy explanation!

There are at least three cateogiries of consequences:

1. Collapse of the USSR led to a VERY close relationship with Russia. The United States tried, and failed, in its efforts to help re-organize Russia in the ruins of the USSR. However, at the time the U.S. did achieve one primary goal, which was to get INSIDE the empty office buildings and secret vaults and empty them out, keep a lid on dispersal of Soviet nuclear technology, anddevelop some markets. But Americans did not understand the real needs of Russia (I worked closely with one of the top University advisors to Yeltsin at the time) and did not realize how a much more robust and enduring contribution could have "saved" Russia from what she is now becoming.

2. End of the cold War led to re-alignment of defensive (and some offensive) alliances, especially with Western European states as well as with "new" nations suddenly free from Soviet domination (Poland, Hungary, the "Stans" - Uzbekistan, etc.) The U.S. may have "won" the war but "lost" Europe, as things are now developing.

3. U.S. relations in the Middle East were substantially altered as Soviet "sponsorship" of some governments ended, American power seemed to be enlarged, and domestic political circumstances in the U.S. required a NEW "enemy" to use as a foil replacing the old "Communist threat." The Neo-Conservative movement set its eyes on Libya, Syria, Iran and Iraq in particular as the candidates of choice for a "bugger man" to frighten Americans in place of the departed Red Menace.

A great many events between 1991 and 2001 contributed to the prominence of America as the most hated enemy of radical fundamentalist Islamists, and the cumulative effect of those events was the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. But remember that 8 years before, the same organization had tried another way to destroy those buildings. This focus on America's role in the Middle East was a direct result of the increase in American influence in the Middle East after the end of the Cold War.

This could go on and on, but I haven't time or space for it. Darned good question, however.

At least next year, when you hear some candidates hand out utter bull puckey about "terrorism" and "Muslim threat," remember that they are now the boogey men in the closet. The candidaes WANT you to watch them while they screw up everything else.

Answer 2

We no longer had a unifying thought that could make us friends.

The Cold War brought many nations together that wouldn't have wanted to be together. The common threat of Communism made people work as a unit. We formed alliances with nations that we now find to be terrible, but we did it since at the time we had a greater threat to deal with.

Answer 3

The Cuban Missile disaster turned right into a disagreement between united statesa., the Soviet Union, and Cuba in the course of the chilly conflict. In Russia (and maximum Europe), it truly is named the "Caribbean disaster," even as in Cuba it truly is termed the "October disaster." The disaster ranks with the Berlin Blockade as between the significant confrontations of the chilly conflict, and is oftentimes known because the instantaneous wherein the chilly conflict got here closest to a nuclear conflict. The climax era of the disaster began on October 15, 1962, even as u . s . a . reconnaissance images taken by an American U-2 undercover agent airplane printed missile bases being equipped in Cuba, and ended 2 weeks in a lengthy time period October 28, 1962, even as President of united statesa. John F. Kennedy and United international locations Secretary-established U Thant reached an contract with the Soviets to dismantle the missiles in Cuba in change for a no invasion contract and a secret eliminating of the Jupiter and Thor missiles in Turkey. Kennedy, in his first public speech on the disaster, given on October 22, 1962, gave the foremost caution, It may be the coverage of this u . s . to treat any nuclear missile released from Cuba antagonistic to any u . s . contained in the Western Hemisphere as an attack at united statesa., requiring an total retaliatory reaction upon the Soviet Union. [a million] This speech coated different key coverage statements, initiating with: To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine on all offensive defense force equipment below shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any type sure for Cuba from in spite of u . s . and port will, if got here across to comprise cargoes of offensive guns, be grew to change into decrease back. This quarantine will be prolonged, if needed, to different styles of shipment and vendors. we are no longer as we communicate, even if, denying the needs of existence because the Soviets tried to do of their Berlin blockade of 1948. He ordered intensified surveillance, and observed cooperation from the overseas ministers of the corporation of yankee States (OAS). Kennedy "directed the defense force to practice for any scenarios; and that i trust that contained in the interest of both the Cuban human beings and the Soviet technicians on the internet sites, the disadvantages to all worried of persevering with the chance will be known." He observed as for emergency conferences of the OAS and United international locations protection Council to attend to the count. [a million]