LESSON 1: Bipolarity of the USA and the USSR during Cold
BIPOLARITY AND MULTIPOLARITY: END OF War – the division of the world into two superpowers
COLD WAR TO CONTEMPORARY WORLD with opposing ideological, political, and economic
systems.
I. INTRODUCTION
Historical Timeline of the Bipolarity Between the
Power USA and the USSR During Cold War
→ an actor’s ability to achieve their preferred
outcomes 1945
→ possession of control, authority, or influence over • The end of World War II leads to the emergence
others (Merriam Webster, 2023) of two superpowers: the United States (US) and
the Soviet Union (USSR).
Resources of Power • Yalta Conference – held in February 1945 that
1. Economic size brought Franklin D. Roosevelt as the United
2. Military forces States President, Joseph Stalin for the Soviet
3. Cultural influence Union, and the United Kingdom Prime Minister
4. Political stability Winston Churchill. The allied leaders discussed
and brought the post-war reorganization of
Power Distribution – the power relationships in an Europe and agreed to divide Germany into
international system and considers the relative occupation zones.
power between states.
1946
Hegemony – the political, economic, and military • The US delivers the "Truman Doctrine,"
predominance of one state over other states. promising military and economic aid to any
country threatened by communism.
The Different Systems of Global Power • The "Iron Curtain" speech was delivered by
Distribution former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
on March 5, 1946, at Westminster College in
1. Unipolarity – a single state dominates the system Fulton, Missouri, USA. "Iron Curtain" is used to
and can achieve objectives with minimal describe the ideological and physical separation
resistance. between the democratic Western countries and
2. Bipolarity – two states compete for the top spot the communist Eastern bloc, particularly the
in the system. This was the dominant system countries under Soviet influence. He expressed
during the Cold War. concerns about the expansion of Soviet power
3. Multipolarity – in a multipolar system, there may and the imposition of communist governments in
be several states balancing each other at a Eastern European nations, creating a division in
comparable level of power. Europe.
Power Diffusion – as explained by political scientist 1948
Joseph Nye, is the increasing ability of non-state • The Marshall Plan was executed, providing
actors to upset international orders. economic aid to Western Europe to prevent it
from falling under Soviet influence.
The 21st Century Global System • The formation of the North Atlantic Treaty
1. 1st layer: Military Power – Unipolar Organization (NATO) between the US, Canada,
2. 2nd layer: Economic Power – Multipolar and other Western European countries.
3. 3rd layer: Non-state actors and power diffusion • The Berlin Blockade begins, as the Soviet Union
tries to force Western powers out of Berlin. The
II. THE BIPOLAR WORLD: COLD WAR US and its allies respond with the Berlin Airlift.
,1949 – The Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb, 1975 – The Helsinki Accords are signed by 35
sparking a nuclear arms race between the US and countries, including both superpowers, committing
USSR. them to respect human rights and self-determination
for all people in Europe. This becomes a source of
1950 – North Korea invaded South Korea, leading to tension between the USSR and its satellite states in
the start of the Korean War. The US intervenes, with Eastern Europe who feel bound by these
support from UN forces. commitments despite Soviet efforts to ignore them.
1953 – A ceasefire is signed in Korea, ending the 1983 – President Ronald Reagan delivers his "Evil
conflict. Tensions between the US and USSR remain Empire" speech at the National Association of
high. Evangelicals annual convention, labeling the USSR
as an "evil empire" that must be opposed by
1956 – The Hungarian Revolution against Soviet freedom-loving peoples around the world. He
control is crushed by Soviet troops. The US and planned to cripple the Soviets economically. He kept
other Western powers condemn the action. the economic pressure on them by drawing them
into an expensive arms race.
1957 – The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first
artificial satellite, igniting a space race between the 1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the
US and USSR. Soviet Union, ushering in an era of reform known as
"perestroika" (restructuring) and "glasnost"
1961 – The construction of the Berlin Wall begins, (openness). These policies lead to increased contact
dividing East and West Berlin and becoming a between East and West, including summits between
symbol of Cold War tensions. Gorbachev and Reagan that help reduce Cold War
tensions.
1962 – The Cuban Missile Crisis occurs, as the US
discovers Soviet missiles in Cuba. President 1987 – The Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty is
Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba, leading signed by both superpowers, reducing their
to a tense standoff between the superpowers. stockpiles of medium-range nuclear weapons in
Eventually, a deal is reached for the removal of the Europe by half. This treaty becomes a model for
missiles in exchange for a US pledge not to invade future arms control agreements between Russia and
Cuba and the removal of US missiles from Turkey. NATO countries after the Cold War ends.
1963 – President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Impact of Bipolarity on International Relations
Texas, leading to increased tensions between the
US and USSR due to conspiracy theories linking Lee 1. Arms Races
Harvey Oswald (the alleged assassin) to communist → This competition resulted in massive
groups. investments in military technology and
research, as well as the development of new
1968 – Soviet tanks invade Czechoslovakia to crush weapons systems.
a reform movement known as "Prague Spring." This → According to a study by the Stockholm
leads to international condemnation of the Soviet International Peace Research Institute
Union's actions. (SIPRI), global military spending reached a
peak of $1.7 trillion in 1987 during the Cold
1972 – President Richard Nixon visits China, War era, with the United States and the
marking a shift in US foreign policy towards Soviet Union accounting for the majority of
engagement with China rather than confrontation this spending for nuclear weapons, space
with both China and the USSR. race, communications technology, and
intelligence gathering.
, 2. Proxy Wars 5. Limited Scope for Multilateralism – bipolarity
→ These proxy wars were often fought by tends to discourage multilateralism and
smaller powers that were aligned with one cooperation among states, as smaller powers
superpower or the other, and they served as are often caught in the middle of superpower
a way for the superpowers to test their competition.
military capabilities and strategies without
directly engaging each other. 6. Technological Advancements – the rapid pace of
→ There were a total of 8 Proxy Wars or Hot technological advancements in areas such as
Wars during the Cold War— Korea, Cuba, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and
Vietnam, Congo, Nicaragua, Chile, Angola, biotechnology has created new challenges for
and Afghanistan. international security that are not easily
addressed within a bipolar framework.
3. Nuclear Deterrence
→ Bipolarity also played a significant role in III. A MOMENT OF UNIPOLARITY: THE
shaping nuclear deterrence strategies during COLLAPSE OF USSR AND THE RISE OF
the Cold War era. Both superpowers “PAX AMERICANA”
developed large nuclear arsenals and
sophisticated delivery systems as a way to “What we may be witnessing is not just the end of
deter each other from launching a nuclear the Cold War, or passing of a particular period of
attack. post-war history, but the end of history as such: that
→ This strategy of mutual assured destruction is, the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution
(MAD) relied on the threat of massive and the universalization of Western liberal
retaliation to prevent either side from democracy as the final form of human government.”
initiating a nuclear war. — Francis Fukuyama
Criticisms and Limitations of Bipolarity as The Collapse of the USSR
System of International Relations → The Soviet Union appeared to be a superpower
with an economy that appeared to be performing
1. Stability vs. Instability – while bipolarity can well.
provide stability in the international system by → In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev proposed a reform
limiting the number of major powers, it can also of the hybrid communist-capitalist system.
lead to instability due to the intense competition → He also planned to ease restrictions on freedom
and arms race between the two superpowers. of speech and religion.
→ His plan backfired, as he discovered that the
2. Lack of Flexibility – the two superpowers loosening of control over the people, meant the
dominate the international system, leaving little people used their new-found powers to critique
room for other states to exercise influence or the government until they eventually succeeded
challenge the status quo. in pushing for reform
3. Cold War Mentality – the mentality of zero-sum Did You Know?
competition and mutual distrust persists even → In the days of Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and
after the end of bipolarity, making it difficult for Joseph Stalin, the Soviets were led with strong
states to cooperate and find common ground on ideological beliefs tied to Marxism.
important issues. → This brand of Communism had operated
historically on tight central control, the loosening
4. Nuclear Arms Races – the intense competition of control led to the abandonment of the entire
between superpowers during bipolarity led to a construct.
nuclear arms race that posed a significant threat
to global security.
BIPOLARITY AND MULTIPOLARITY: END OF War – the division of the world into two superpowers
COLD WAR TO CONTEMPORARY WORLD with opposing ideological, political, and economic
systems.
I. INTRODUCTION
Historical Timeline of the Bipolarity Between the
Power USA and the USSR During Cold War
→ an actor’s ability to achieve their preferred
outcomes 1945
→ possession of control, authority, or influence over • The end of World War II leads to the emergence
others (Merriam Webster, 2023) of two superpowers: the United States (US) and
the Soviet Union (USSR).
Resources of Power • Yalta Conference – held in February 1945 that
1. Economic size brought Franklin D. Roosevelt as the United
2. Military forces States President, Joseph Stalin for the Soviet
3. Cultural influence Union, and the United Kingdom Prime Minister
4. Political stability Winston Churchill. The allied leaders discussed
and brought the post-war reorganization of
Power Distribution – the power relationships in an Europe and agreed to divide Germany into
international system and considers the relative occupation zones.
power between states.
1946
Hegemony – the political, economic, and military • The US delivers the "Truman Doctrine,"
predominance of one state over other states. promising military and economic aid to any
country threatened by communism.
The Different Systems of Global Power • The "Iron Curtain" speech was delivered by
Distribution former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
on March 5, 1946, at Westminster College in
1. Unipolarity – a single state dominates the system Fulton, Missouri, USA. "Iron Curtain" is used to
and can achieve objectives with minimal describe the ideological and physical separation
resistance. between the democratic Western countries and
2. Bipolarity – two states compete for the top spot the communist Eastern bloc, particularly the
in the system. This was the dominant system countries under Soviet influence. He expressed
during the Cold War. concerns about the expansion of Soviet power
3. Multipolarity – in a multipolar system, there may and the imposition of communist governments in
be several states balancing each other at a Eastern European nations, creating a division in
comparable level of power. Europe.
Power Diffusion – as explained by political scientist 1948
Joseph Nye, is the increasing ability of non-state • The Marshall Plan was executed, providing
actors to upset international orders. economic aid to Western Europe to prevent it
from falling under Soviet influence.
The 21st Century Global System • The formation of the North Atlantic Treaty
1. 1st layer: Military Power – Unipolar Organization (NATO) between the US, Canada,
2. 2nd layer: Economic Power – Multipolar and other Western European countries.
3. 3rd layer: Non-state actors and power diffusion • The Berlin Blockade begins, as the Soviet Union
tries to force Western powers out of Berlin. The
II. THE BIPOLAR WORLD: COLD WAR US and its allies respond with the Berlin Airlift.
,1949 – The Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb, 1975 – The Helsinki Accords are signed by 35
sparking a nuclear arms race between the US and countries, including both superpowers, committing
USSR. them to respect human rights and self-determination
for all people in Europe. This becomes a source of
1950 – North Korea invaded South Korea, leading to tension between the USSR and its satellite states in
the start of the Korean War. The US intervenes, with Eastern Europe who feel bound by these
support from UN forces. commitments despite Soviet efforts to ignore them.
1953 – A ceasefire is signed in Korea, ending the 1983 – President Ronald Reagan delivers his "Evil
conflict. Tensions between the US and USSR remain Empire" speech at the National Association of
high. Evangelicals annual convention, labeling the USSR
as an "evil empire" that must be opposed by
1956 – The Hungarian Revolution against Soviet freedom-loving peoples around the world. He
control is crushed by Soviet troops. The US and planned to cripple the Soviets economically. He kept
other Western powers condemn the action. the economic pressure on them by drawing them
into an expensive arms race.
1957 – The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first
artificial satellite, igniting a space race between the 1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the
US and USSR. Soviet Union, ushering in an era of reform known as
"perestroika" (restructuring) and "glasnost"
1961 – The construction of the Berlin Wall begins, (openness). These policies lead to increased contact
dividing East and West Berlin and becoming a between East and West, including summits between
symbol of Cold War tensions. Gorbachev and Reagan that help reduce Cold War
tensions.
1962 – The Cuban Missile Crisis occurs, as the US
discovers Soviet missiles in Cuba. President 1987 – The Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty is
Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba, leading signed by both superpowers, reducing their
to a tense standoff between the superpowers. stockpiles of medium-range nuclear weapons in
Eventually, a deal is reached for the removal of the Europe by half. This treaty becomes a model for
missiles in exchange for a US pledge not to invade future arms control agreements between Russia and
Cuba and the removal of US missiles from Turkey. NATO countries after the Cold War ends.
1963 – President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Impact of Bipolarity on International Relations
Texas, leading to increased tensions between the
US and USSR due to conspiracy theories linking Lee 1. Arms Races
Harvey Oswald (the alleged assassin) to communist → This competition resulted in massive
groups. investments in military technology and
research, as well as the development of new
1968 – Soviet tanks invade Czechoslovakia to crush weapons systems.
a reform movement known as "Prague Spring." This → According to a study by the Stockholm
leads to international condemnation of the Soviet International Peace Research Institute
Union's actions. (SIPRI), global military spending reached a
peak of $1.7 trillion in 1987 during the Cold
1972 – President Richard Nixon visits China, War era, with the United States and the
marking a shift in US foreign policy towards Soviet Union accounting for the majority of
engagement with China rather than confrontation this spending for nuclear weapons, space
with both China and the USSR. race, communications technology, and
intelligence gathering.
, 2. Proxy Wars 5. Limited Scope for Multilateralism – bipolarity
→ These proxy wars were often fought by tends to discourage multilateralism and
smaller powers that were aligned with one cooperation among states, as smaller powers
superpower or the other, and they served as are often caught in the middle of superpower
a way for the superpowers to test their competition.
military capabilities and strategies without
directly engaging each other. 6. Technological Advancements – the rapid pace of
→ There were a total of 8 Proxy Wars or Hot technological advancements in areas such as
Wars during the Cold War— Korea, Cuba, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and
Vietnam, Congo, Nicaragua, Chile, Angola, biotechnology has created new challenges for
and Afghanistan. international security that are not easily
addressed within a bipolar framework.
3. Nuclear Deterrence
→ Bipolarity also played a significant role in III. A MOMENT OF UNIPOLARITY: THE
shaping nuclear deterrence strategies during COLLAPSE OF USSR AND THE RISE OF
the Cold War era. Both superpowers “PAX AMERICANA”
developed large nuclear arsenals and
sophisticated delivery systems as a way to “What we may be witnessing is not just the end of
deter each other from launching a nuclear the Cold War, or passing of a particular period of
attack. post-war history, but the end of history as such: that
→ This strategy of mutual assured destruction is, the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution
(MAD) relied on the threat of massive and the universalization of Western liberal
retaliation to prevent either side from democracy as the final form of human government.”
initiating a nuclear war. — Francis Fukuyama
Criticisms and Limitations of Bipolarity as The Collapse of the USSR
System of International Relations → The Soviet Union appeared to be a superpower
with an economy that appeared to be performing
1. Stability vs. Instability – while bipolarity can well.
provide stability in the international system by → In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev proposed a reform
limiting the number of major powers, it can also of the hybrid communist-capitalist system.
lead to instability due to the intense competition → He also planned to ease restrictions on freedom
and arms race between the two superpowers. of speech and religion.
→ His plan backfired, as he discovered that the
2. Lack of Flexibility – the two superpowers loosening of control over the people, meant the
dominate the international system, leaving little people used their new-found powers to critique
room for other states to exercise influence or the government until they eventually succeeded
challenge the status quo. in pushing for reform
3. Cold War Mentality – the mentality of zero-sum Did You Know?
competition and mutual distrust persists even → In the days of Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and
after the end of bipolarity, making it difficult for Joseph Stalin, the Soviets were led with strong
states to cooperate and find common ground on ideological beliefs tied to Marxism.
important issues. → This brand of Communism had operated
historically on tight central control, the loosening
4. Nuclear Arms Races – the intense competition of control led to the abandonment of the entire
between superpowers during bipolarity led to a construct.
nuclear arms race that posed a significant threat
to global security.
