The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Cold War:
Cold War – period of political and military tension that occurred after World War II between powers in the Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others) and powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its allies in the Warsaw Pact). Historians have not fully agreed on the dates, but 1947–1991 is common. It was termed as "cold" because there was no large-scale fighting directly between the two sides. Based on the principle of mutually assured destruction, both sides developed nuclear weapons to deter the other side from attacking. So they competed against each other via espionage, propaganda, and by supporting major regional wars, known as proxy wars, in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan.
Participants
Cold War participants – the Cold War primarily consisted of competition between the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc. While countries and organisations explicitly aligned to one or the other are listed below, this does not include those involved in specific Cold War events, such as North Korea, South Korea, and Vietnam. It also does not include countries such as China which, while not aligned to either blocs, still played an influential part in the Cold War.
Eastern Bloc
Eastern Bloc – the communist side of the Cold War conflict, including the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe. Organizations that the Soviet Union created in order to solidify its control over Eastern Europe, and which tied the Eastern Bloc together, included:
Comecon – the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance was founded in accordance with Joseph Stalin's desire to enforce Soviet domination of the lesser states of Central Europe. Initially, the Comecon served as cover for the Soviet taking of materials and equipment from the rest of the Eastern Bloc. Its members were:
People's Republic of Bulgaria
Cuba
Czechoslovak Republic (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic since 1960) Hungarian People's Republic Laos Mongolian People's Republic North Korea Polish People's Republic People's Republic of Romania (after 1965 the Socialist Republic of Romania) Vietnam Warsaw Pact – defensive pact led by the Soviet Union for defence in Eastern Europe. It was the military complement to Comecon. Its members were:
People's Republic of Albania
People's Republic of Bulgaria
Czechoslovak Republic (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic since 1960) German Democratic Republic (withdrew in September 1990, before German reunification) Hungarian People's Republic Polish People's Republic (withdrew on January 1, 1990) People's Republic of Romania (after 1965 the Socialist Republic of Romania)
Additionally, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussia) and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Ukraine) were represented separately in the United Nations in addition to the Soviet Union. Though not parties to the Warsaw Pact, Vietnam, North Korea, Cuba and Laos, maintained Cold War alliances with the Eastern Bloc.
Western Bloc
Western Bloc – the United States and countries allied with it against the Soviet Union and the rest of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. As part of its Containment policy, the United States backed a series of regional alliances: (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – In the North Atlantic and Europe, NATO was formed in 1949, and its members during the Cold War were:
- Joined 1952
- Joined 1952
- Joined 1955
- Joined 1982
SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) – formed in 1954 for the collective defence of Southeast Asia, though disbanded in 1977. Its members were:
- including modern Bangladesh
ANZUS – formed in 1952 as a form of defensive cooperation in the Pacific. Its members are:
CENTO (Central Treaty Organization) – formed in 1955. Although the United States did not formally join, the country did support the alliance, aimed at containing Soviet ambitions in the Middle East. The organization was disbanded in 1979.
- Withdrew 1959
History
Timeline of events in the Cold War
Overview articles
Cold War (1947–1953) Cold War (1953–1962) Cold War (1962–1979) Cold War (1979–1985) Cold War (1985–1991)
Beginnings
Origins of the Cold War – the Cold war was a major part of the aftermath of World War II, and was caused by frictions in the relations between the Soviet Union and the allies (United States, United Kingdom, and France) that emerged during and after the Second World War.