The period of geopolitical tension between the erstwhile Soviet Union with its satellite states (the Eastern Alliance) and the United States of America with its European Allies (the Western Alliance) after World War II is known as the Cold War. It began around 1947 and ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Cold War was not a mere military conflict. It was also based on differing ideologies between the USA and USSR.

After the events of the Second World War, USA and USSR emerged as the two superpowers in the international arena. The Western Alliance followed the ideology which promoted liberal democracy and capitalism. The Eastern Alliance followed an ideology based on socialism and communism.