COLD WAR & ITS IMPACT ON SHAPING THE WORLD POLITICS”

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project work entitled “Cold War & its impact on shaping the

World Politics”submitted to the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur is the

original work done by me under the guidance of Dr. Avinash Samal, Faculty Member of

Political Science, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur and this project has been

submitted for the partial fulfillments of the requirements for the award of the degree of BA-

LLB. The results embodied in this thesis have not been submitted to any other

University or Institute for the award of any degree or diploma.

Place: Raipur Neeraj Mahesh Zaveri

Date: 21th August, 2017 Semester – V

Section – C

Roll No. – 104

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I, Neeraj Mahesh Zaveri, feel myself elated, as it gives me immense pleasure to come

with the work on topic, “Cold War & its impact on shaping the World Politics””. Words

fail to express my deep sense of glee to my teacher, Dr. Avinash Samal, Faculty Member

of Political Science, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, who enlightened me on

my every difficulty in completion of task. I acknowledge the blessings and support which

my mother and father gave in finishing of this task.

I would like to forward my hearty thanks to my University and Vice-Chancellor for

providing all the necessary requirements which aided me to achieve my goal. I also

thank Librarian HNLU, Raipur, for assisting me and allowing me to use the library of the

University.

I feel a deep sense of thankfulness to all my seniors, my friends who helped me in

achieving my target.

Much Obliged,

Neeraj Mahesh Zaveri

Semester – V

Section – C

Roll No. – 104

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION----------------------------------------------------------------------II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS------------------------------------------------------------III

1. INTRODUCTION -----------------------------------------------------------------------1-3

1.1 INTRODUCTION---------------------------------------------------------------1

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY-------------------------------------------------2

1.3 SCOPE OF STUDY-------------------------------------------------------------2

1.4 METHODOLOGY OF STUDY ------------------------------------------------2

1.5 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY---------------------------------------------3

2. COLD WAR ERA-----------------------------------------------------------------4-11

2.1 THE ORIGINS OF COLD WAR -----------------------------------------------4

2.2 EVENTS OF COLD WAR------------------------------------------------------6

3. POST-COLD WAR INFLUENCES----------------------------------------------12-17

3.1 BENEFITS OF COLD WAR FOR THE THIRD WORLD---------------------12

3.2 AFTER THE COLD WAR----------------------------------------------------14

4. CONCLUSION----------------------------------------------------------------------------18

5. REFERENCES-------------------------------------------------------------------19-20

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CHAPTER-1

1.1 INTRODUCTION

What is considered by some scholars as the tensest war in the history of mankind i.e. “The
Cold War” has impacted the world in many ways. Rightly put by the then US president John
Fitzgerald Kennedy this war threatened to existence of mankind during its peak. The Second
World War ended in August 1945 and the Allies powers emerged as victorious. But during
the Second World War a very strange phenomenon was observed. The two countries i.e. The
USSR and The USA, which represent the two extreme ends of the Ideologies, formed an
alliance to fight against the fascist forces of the world. But this surprise didn’t last long and
eventually this alliance was soon converted into hostility due to one or more reasons.
Gradually this hostility took the form of a war called as Cold war. But this was a passive
form of war where there was no full on confrontation between the enemies The Cold War or
more prominently called as “Diplomatic war” was the fight of superiority between the two
Super Powers that emerged after the World War II. The Eastern bloc was spearheaded by The
USSR and its allies and to counter them was the United states led Eastern bloc. however, the
two powers did not fight or used weapons against each other, it was fought through Nuclear
Arms race, proxy wars, ideological influence and propaganda war and therefore, had a great
impact on the world. The world during the cold war got divided into the two parts, every
country was directly or indirectly under the influence of any of the two blocs. This project
report will examine in detail the world in two eras , Cold War era and the Post-Cold war era.
It will also try to find out the ways in which the Cold War affected the current International
relations of the world.

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1.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The main research questions of the study are:-

 What is Cold War?

 What is the impact of Cold War in shaping World Politics?

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

In the project report we will study about the cold war in detail, what were the causes of the
cold war, the phase of cold war and subsequently the end of cold war. In the second part of
the study we will focus on the new developments in the world picture that emerged after the
cold war. The main objectives of the study are:-

 To study in detail the Cold War era.

 To study about the Post-Cold war developments in International Arena.

1.4 SCOPE OF STUDY

The project report entitled “Cold War & its impact on shaping the World Politics” covers
about the cold war in detail, what were the causes of the cold war, the phase of cold war and
subsequently the end of cold war. In the second part of the study we will focus on the new
developments in the world picture that emerged after the cold war.

1.5 METHODOLOGY OF STUDY

Research Methodology is systematic approach and methods of study concerning for

obtaining new knowledge and generalization and the formulation of theories.

 NATURE OF STUDY-

Non empirical research work has been used in this project as the material in this project
mainly consists of the work of people which is already done. The project is basically
doctrinal in nature. Citations are also provided wherever they were necessary.

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 SOURCES OF DATA-

This Project is made on the basis of secondary sources of information, which include:
1) Books, and
2) Information from the internet.

1.5 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY

The study/report has been organized into three sections. The first section deals with the
introduction of the problem followed by objectives and methodology adopted for carrying
out the study. The second section deals with the Cold war era in the International arena. The
third section deals with the developments that occurred after the cold war ended and its
impact on shaping World Politics.

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CHAPTER-2

COLD WAR ERA

The differences over distribution of spoils of 2nd World War and emergence of new super
powers created a paradigm of bipolarity in the world. This paradigm was manifested in the
form of Cold War between USA and erstwhile USSR and the remaining world by and large
revolved around these poles of power. Many regions became battle grounds for the conflict of
ideologies and political and economic philosophies. Let us now analyse the cold war era in a
sequence.

2.1 THE ORIGINS OF COLD WAR

A. ENLARGEMENT OF MOSCOW’S EMPIRE:-.

The traditional boundary of the Russian empire and of its Soviet successor had been roughly
along the line extending from Eastern Baltic to the Black sea .West of that line there had, in
recent times been an unhappy group of buffer states: Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Poland and the Balkans. West of buffer states had been Germany, Austria, Italy and France.
Traditionally the gigantic power of Russia had been contained by one or a combination of
great West European powers. Before 2nd world war this role was performed by Germany.
Germany’s defeat in the 2nd world war gave USSR an opportunity to establish his influence
in the buffer states and even beyond it. 1They, in 1945, were in occupation of all Poland, of
Germany till a line 100 miles West of Berlin, of Hungary and of Eastern part of Austria. They
were in occupation of Rumania and Bulgaria and in ideological control of Yugoslavia .So in a
way the Soviets had occupied Eastern half of the Europe and the Western half was threatened
by the prospect of West ward Soviet expansion. The US army had affected a rapid
withdrawal after the German defeat and the West Europe now laid prostrate .This new
challenge to the balance of power in European continent and the reaction of the Atlantic
world under American leadership formed a major reason for the beginning of Cold War.

B. RUSSIAN BEHAVIOUR DUE TO ITS HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE:-

Despite the October revolution of 1917 and transformation of Russian society into a

1
Louis J Halle, The Cold War as History(New York: Harper & Row) P.1
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communist one, the Soviet geopolitical behaviour was driven by their historic feeling of
insecurity .The basic factor in producing this national sense of insecurity has been
geographical limitation of absence of natural frontiers to serve for the defence of Russia.
Thus necessity of a Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe followed logically from the
Soviets’ view of their own history. 2The communists displayed the zeal equal to that of Czars
to achieve security by expanding the Russian space.3 German invasions in 1st and 2nd world
wars only amplified Russian insecurities and incited her to undertake multidirectional
expansion initiating a reaction from USA and West in the shape of Cold War.

C. USA AS BALANCER OF POWER.

British naval supremacy in the period intervening between two world wars was challenged by
German, Japanese and US navies. German war waging capability, though self destructive
broke the back of UK and France, the traditional old powers. USA, notwithstanding the
advices of its founding fathers, had to intervene to rescue the allies against Fascist Hitler in
2nd World War. After the war .UK was no more in a position to act as a balancer of power, a
role it played throughout 19th century. It lost almost all of its colonies and was itself in the
danger of communist onslaught .USA, enjoying geographical safety, enormity of size,
abundance of resources and technical prowess, was a natural replacement.4 USA, which had
to indulge itself in last two wars without really wanting to, also decided to perform more
proactive role in world power politics and contain the menace of communism. Assumption of
such a role by her became one of the reasons of Cold War.

D. RUSSIAN EXPANSION IN THE FAR EAST:-.

The city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by US nuclear bombs and so was the
Japanese will to fight .Russians benefited from the Japanese collapse and occupied
Manchuria and almost half of Korea, the Kurile Islands and Southern half of Sakhalin
islands. Soviet Union’s expansionist policy in the Far East made Western countries
apprehensive and forced them to think of containing USSR.5

2
Bruce R .Kuniholm, The Origins of the First Cold War, Published in the Cold War Past and Present. (London:
Allen and Unwin,1987) P.46
3
Louis J .Halle, The Cold War as History (New York: Harper& Row, 1967) P.11.
4
Id.
5
Marshall R .Singer, Weak States in a World of Power (New York: Free Press, 1972) P.79
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E. MARSHAL PLAN AND SOVIET REACTION.:-

Secretary Marshal of USA conceived a plan for the economic recovery of Europe after the
2nd world war and Soviet Union was also invited to be a part of it .Soviet Union, however,
refused to be part of any American sponsored programme and also did not allow its protégé
6
East European countries to participate. Europe was thus divided in USA led West Europe
and USSR led East Europe .USSR was accused by West of trying to sabotage the
implementation of Marshall Plan through communist strikes and disorders. 7Nevertheless the
Marshal plan succeeded and created a sense of gratitude in West Europe for USA and made
them permanent allies in war against communist bloc.

F.IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICT:-

The most obvious element of continuity in post war East –West relations was ideological face
off between communism and democratic capitalism. Both the powers as defenders of their
8
respective ideologies were convinced of mutual incompatibility of the two systems. But
many historians believe that in the context of Cold War, ideological difference does not
explain every thing.9Traditional power rivalry and geopolitical factors were actually the main
factors in the breakdown of wartime alliance between USA and Soviet Union.

2.2 EVENTS OF COLD WAR:-

 THE BEGINNING OF COLD WAR.

Germany, the losing power of the 2nd world war was divided between the victors. The
Western portion held by USA, France and UK while the Eastern portion was usurped by
Soviet Union. Strains in the unnatural alliance of 2nd World War were already visible, when
the currency reform introduced by the Atlantic forces in its part of Germany infuriated Soviet
Union. The Soviets blockaded West Berlin on June 24, 1948 with a hope to starve West out
of Berlin. The West tackled the embargo by one of the biggest logistical operations,
involving air lifting of massive food supplies to the Berliners. This was an expensive
operation and the West suffered causalities in hundreds, in the form of accidents and crashes.

6
Louis J.Halle, the Cold War as History (New York: Harper & Row, 1967) P.98
7
D.F Fleming .The Cold War and its Origins Volume One. (New York:Doubleday,1961) P.507
8
Supra note 6 ,p.50
9
Richard Crockatt.The Cold War Past and Present. (London: Allen and Unwin,1987) P.10.
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 THE NUCLEAR RIVALRY.

In August 1949, the Soviet Union was able to break American monopoly on nuclear bomb.
The acquisition of nuclear capability by Soviet Union strengthened the prospects of its
emergence as a capable rival of USA .By 1952; USA developed and tested the Hydrogen
bomb, a milestone which the Soviets were able to match many years later. They, however,
took the lead by test firing first Intercontinental missile of the World in 1957.

 THE KOREAN WAR.

Like the defeat of Germany, the Japanese power in Korea was defeated by the combined
efforts of USA and USSR during 2nd World War. The victors here also agreed to divide the
nation along 38th parallel as a temporary measure. Communist Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea in the north and anti- communist Republic of Korea in the south were
created. Leaders of both Koreas looked grudgingly at each other and dreamt of reunifying the
country with force. North Korea invaded South on June, 1950.A force composed of
contingents of 16 nations, but dominated by USA, was formed by UNO and dispatched to
South Korea. After initial difficulties, USA led force was able to roll back communist
advance. Communist China entered the war by sending 50,000 volunteers to support the
North Koreans, while the Soviet Union provided all kinds of support to its communist
allies.10 Chinese entry tilted the balance once again in the favour of communist forces and
UN forces went back southwards. The war turned into a painful stalemate at 38th parallel,
11
almost where it had started. The cease fire was reached upon in July 1953, though Korea
remains divided to date.

 NATO AND WARSAW PACT.

In September, 1953 the West Germany was admitted to NATO and 1955 it was allowed to
maintain its army by the Atlantic powers. Soviet Union considered it a potential threat and
responded by making Warsaw Pact12, a formal military alliance of East European communist
states giving more formal shape to Cold War’s military dimension.13

10
Supra note 6 , p213
11
John Sharnik, Inside the Cold War. . (New York :Arbor House,1987) P.68.
12
Broadhurst, Arlene Idol (1982). The Future of European Alliance Systems. Boulder, Colorado: Westview
Press. p. 137
13
"Warsaw Pact: Wartime Status-Instruments of Soviet Control". Wilson Center. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
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 THE BERLIN WALL .

By 1961, the flow of refugees from East to West Berlin due to prosperity and freedom of
West Germany, had become a torrent. On the morning of August 13, 1961, East German and
Soviet troops sealed the East Berlin side of the border, closing crossing points and erecting
14
barricades. Berlin was divided. Angry West Berliners demonstrated against the division of
their city, a divide that separated many families. The West was unsure how to react as their
rights within Berlin had not been challenged by the Soviets. For next three decades, the wall
remained a symbol of the Cold War’s cruelty and Europe’s division. Its message was a bitter
one: Whatever happened beyond that line, the West might lament, but would not interfere.15

 THE CUBAN CRISIS.

USA established economic interests in Cuba in 1940s and 50s. Cuban land and industry were
almost entirely owned by U.S corporations. When Fidel Castro established his hold in
Havana, his revolutionary ideas hurt the American interests.16He nationalized millions of
acres of land previously held by American companies and distributed to the people. Soviet
Union quickly embraced the revolutionary in American backyard. The confrontation reached
to a stage that the Americans attempted to overthrow Castro through invasion at Bay of Pigs,
17
which failed. Nikita Khrushchev offered to deploy Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba to
thwart any further American attempts. After initial resistance, Castro accepted. With nuclear
warheads less than 100 miles from the United States, the Soviets had the ability to strike
without warning. President Kennedy of USA demanded the removal of missiles from Cuba.18
For several days the world held its breath as the United States and Soviet Union appeared to
19
be moving towards a war. In October 1961, an agreement was reached upon between two
super powers as a result of which USSR lifted its missiles from Cuba and USA did so in
Turkey. The crisis was over, but both sides were well aware how close they had come to
nuclear annihilation.

14
Jack Marck "Over the Wall: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience" American Heritage, October 2006.
15
Untangling 5 myths about the Berlin Wall". Chicago Tribune. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
16
Supra note 11 , p108
17
Len Scott; R. Gerald Hughes (2015). The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Critical Reappraisal. Taylor & Francis.
18
"Cool Crisis Management? It's a Myth, Ask JFK". The Washington Post.
19
Supra note 6, p.400
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 THE REALIZATION OF DANGERS .

In October 1962, the Cuban missile crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
Though the crisis was finally resolved, both sides realized as how close they were to a
mutually destructive war. They set up a “hot line,” a direct communications link between the
Soviet and U.S. capitals. Several months later, the Soviet Union, United States and Britain
agreed to a Limited Test Ban Treaty, ending atmospheric tests. A grim logic was beginning
to emerge. Nuclear disarmament was not achievable, yet nuclear war was unthinkable.
During Cold War nuclear weapons created a shared interest between Soviet Union and
United States in each other’s survival.20

 THE DÉTENTE.

By the end of the 1960s, the United States and Soviet Union faced a choice: slow down their
Cold War competition, a process that would be called détente or continue an arms race that
could end in all-out war. Both the countries opted for the first choice.21The process of
negotiations was facilitated by Mr. Willy Brandt; the West German Chancellor .He also
undertook certain diplomatic initiatives which eased tensions between two Germanys. His
effort bore fruit and both the countries agreed to reduce nuclear weapons, laying the
foundation for détente. The agreement was symbolically represented through the Apollo-
Soyuz project. In space, cooperation was replacing years of Cold War confrontation.22

 THE COLD WAR IN MIDDLE EAST.

The Cold War did not remain restricted to East Europe. It proliferated in five continents of
the world barring Australia and Antarctica. In 1956, Egyptian President Jamal Abdul Nasser
nationalized Suez Canal and was attacked by Israel, France and Great Britain. Egyptian
forces suffered heavy losses and it was a Soviet ultimatum to France and Britain, which
ended war.23

20
Nicholas J Wheeler and Ken Booth .The Security Dilemma .Published in Dilemmas of World Politics
(Oxford: Calerendon, 1992) P.49
21
Phil Williams, the United States and Détente, Published in the Cold War Past and Present. (London: Allen and
Unwin,1987) P.114
22
The Rise and Fall of Détente''', Professor Branislav L. Slantchev, Department of Political Science, University
of California – San Diego 2014
23
Goldman, Marshal Soviet Foreign Aid, New York: Fredrich Prager, 1968, p. 60.
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 THE POLISH SOLIDARITY.

In 1980s, Soviets faced a fresh challenge in the East Europe, this time in Poland. The Polish
economy was in crisis and wide spread unrest resulted into a movement of shipyard workers,
named Solidarity, becoming representative of the aspirations of Polish people. The Soviets
responded in their typical way, forcing the puppet regime to impose Martial Law and adopt
violent ways to crush the uprising. Support for Solidarity grew throughout Poland. Hard line
policies adopted by new US President Reagan boosted the morale of Polish people and it
fractured East – West relations once more.24

 SOVIET BEAR IN AFGHANISTAN.

Due to its strategic location – proximity to Persian gulf oil and Indian ocean ports ,was vital
to Soviet interests .Afghanistan’s socialist party overthrew the Government in 1978 and
Soviet Union sent hundreds of advisers to support the regime. The socialist reforms of the
new government were strongly resisted by the tribal and religious population which took up
arms against the puppet regime. Hundreds of thousands fled to neighbouring Pakistan and
25
Iran. The intensity of resistance movement forced Soviet Union to send their troops in
support of puppet regime. Americans viewed socialist Afghanistan along with post Shah Iran
as serious threat to American interests in the region and started covert support of
Mujahadeens, fighting against the Kabul regime with the active assistance of Pakistan. Soviet
invasion of a country other than an East European one had rung alarm bells in Washington.
Money and weapons were channelled to Menhaden through Pakistan and Soviet forces were
bled in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. Soviet casualties ran into thousands and soldiers
had no motivation to fight a pointless battle. By the mid of 1980s, the Soviets wanted to
reconcile and pull their forces out but Americans wanted a revenge of Vietnam and
26
humiliation of Soviet Union. Meanwhile, U.N. officials pressed on with peace talks. By
April 1988, an agreement was signed in Geneva allowing Moscow to withdraw its troops..,
Afghanistan was to endure more years of bloodshed in the form of infighting between
Mujahadeen groups .and has seen much more misery and destruction ,a legacy of Cold War.

24
THE POLISH CRISES AND THE MILITARY PROBLEMS OF THE WARSAW PACT IN THE FALL OF
1981 available at:- http://www.coldwar.hu/html/en/publications/Online%20PublicationOpris.pdf
25
Cornwell, Rupert (February 13, 2010). "Charlie Wilson: Congressman whose support for the mujahideen
helped force the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan". The Independent. London. Retrieved October 2, 2014
26
Rashid, Ahmed, Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia (New Haven, 2000), p. 129.
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 THE BREAKUP OF SOVIET UNION.

Encouraged by the changes in East Europe and facing extreme economic problems, the three
Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia declared their independence in 1990.
Gorbachev suggested introducing multi-party system in Soviet Union. He also gave
sovereignty to Soviet states and accepted the principle of freedom of worship. The states
including Russia were, however, dissatisfied with his pace of reform and started
disassociating themselves from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union ceased to exist On
December 25, 1991. In Washington, Bush made his Christmas address and announced to the
world that the Cold War confrontation between the two superpowers, which had dominated
world affairs for 45 years – was now over. The West felt that the democracy had won their
political argument with the East, the market had won the economic argument. While the
difficulties lay ahead, the fundamental debate that created the Cold War had finished.27

27
Arthur Schlesinger, Jr, Lessons from the Cold War, published in “The End of Cold War “(New York:
Cambridge) P.62
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CHAPTER- 3

POST-COLD WAR INFLUENCES

3.1 BENEFITS OF COLD WAR FOR THE THIRD WORLD

 COLD WAR AS A STABILIZING FACTOR

As mentioned, earlier during Cold War the super powers sought regional allies and armed
them sufficiently. This helped weaker countries in the region while facing threat from a
stronger enemy to become able to thwart aggression .After the comprehensive defeat of Arab
countries in war of 1967, they were able to regroup themselves due to massive Soviet military
aid and unleash a war against Israel with a degree of success in 1973 which forced Israel to
return occupied Sinai peninsula and West bank territory to Egypt and Jordan respectively,
bringing some stability in troubled Middle East. Attainment of this kind of regional balances
prevented many conflicts in the world, though it is possible only to realize that now when
unrestrained and arbitrary use of power by USA has plunged the world in greater instability
and much more widened conflict. The need for aligning with one of the super powers was
best described by President Qaddafi of Libya when he said that “When Palestinians face their
enemy, Israel, they face the United States. That means this occupied Palestine you call Israel
is like a state of USA. We are obliged to look for an ally to face this super power, and of
course, the Soviet Union is our friend”28. .During Cold War, the right of veto was also
exercised by super powers at UN Security Council in favour of their client states to avert or
contain conflicts in troubled regions; Middle East is the most visible case in point.
Attainment of military and diplomatic balance by antagonists of many regions prevented and
contained conflicts in their regions.

 DOMINANCE OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

Cold War not only played its role in maintaining stability through preventing and containing
conflicts in various regions of the world ,it also ensured that the people oppressed by a
particular dominant group in a country were not left alone . American invasion of Vietnam
was blunted by Communist support to Viet Cong guerrillas and Soviet invasion of

28
President Muammar Qaddafi quoted in John Sharnik, Inside the Cold War. . (New York :Arbor House,1987)
P.321. Cold
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Afghanistan was repelled by active American support to Mujahedeen .So while Cold War
might have initiated many intra-national conflicts, it also ensured that only the group
enjoying popular support became victorious at the end and the usurper groups were defeated.

 CONTAINMENT OF NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

Although the world faced the dangers of nuclear war during Cold War, yet the end of Cold
War has had a contradictory impact on horizontal nuclear proliferation. It has increased the
sense of insecurity of Third World countries, thus enhancing their security incentives to go
29
nuclear. For this reason, many argue that bipolarity of Cold War era contained regional
conflicts and nuclear proliferation. Emergence of Pakistan and India as overt nuclear powers
due to their antagonism within a decade of end of Cold War only substantiates their
arguments.

 EFFECTS OF COLD WAR IN SOUTH ASIA

Cold War did cast its shadows on South Asia also. The hostility between Pakistan and India
over unresolved Kashmir dispute and Pakistan’s perceived weakness against India brought
Cold War to South Asia. Pakistan due to its geo –strategic location was of interest to USA for
containment of Communism. The events of 1980s in Afghanistan did prove accuracy of
American reading of Soviet designs in the region. Pakistan became a member of CEATO and
CENTO in 1950s and through American military aid was able to establish effective armed
forces to counter Indian threat. India by simple logic became a beneficiary of Soviet arm
supplies and its professed non- alignment became questionable. 30The rout of Indian Army in
Sino-Chinese war of 1962 brought a qualitative shift in Cold War paradigm that prevailed in
South Asia. This was a time when China had lost the good will of big communist brother i.e.
Soviet Union and USA was still to establish a working relationship with China. This reflected
in both Soviet Union and USA giving military aid to India against Chinese threat which was
ultimately used in war against Pakistan. The Sino –Indian war thus complicated Cold War in
South Asia to the advantage of India in Pakistani perspective. Pakistan again became a front
line state in war against communism when Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in late
Seventies and redressed its conventional military imbalance against India to quite an extent

29
Mario E, Carranza, Indo Pakistani Nuclear Relations after the Cold War ,Published in published in South Asia
Approaches the Millennium .(Lahore:Vanguard,1996) P.104
30
Martin Wainwright, Regional Security and Paramount Powers, published in South Asia Approaches the
Millennium. (Lahore:Vanguard,1996) P.55
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bringing stability to the region.31

 COLD WAR FOR THIRD WORLD

The above arguments would substantiate to quite an extent that Cold War was not entirely an
evil for the Third World, it may rather have proved blessing in many a dimensions. In the
context of regional conflicts, weaker powers were able to benefit from the military aid
received from one or the other Cold War rivals by way of coinciding interests. They also
received economic aid and help in the establishment of industries from super powers because
of their competing interests. .Super powers at times also tried to keep their backyards stable
to preclude the chances of the entry of other super power. Soviet role in Tashkent Declaration
between Pakistan and India is a case in point. For similar reasons the Third World did not
enthusiastically welcome the US vision of New World Order when it was proclaimed by
President Bush on the eve of Gulf war.32

3.2 AFTER THE COLD WAR

 EMERGENCE OF NEW WORLD ORDER

The US President George Bush senior celebrated the end of Cold War by saying that “We
have a new credibility and that dictators and tyrants everywhere know that what we say goes
on”. This statement and his conduct of Gulf war only revealed seamiest side of Western
civilization, its unrestricted appetite for dominance, its morbid fascination for hi-tech military
33
might, its insensitivity to alien cultures and its appalling jingoism. Third World leaders
quickly understood that that Bush’s words were not directed to dictators and tyrants, but to
anyone who stepped out of line. Since then USA has acted in a unilateral manner being
insensitive to the aspirations and feelings of the people belonging to other nations and
cultures. This unabashed use of unilateralism has created resentment in various parts of the
world and the so called problem of terrorism has arisen as a reaction.34

31
The Cold War in South Asia Available at:- http://www.historytoday.com/blog/2014/10/cold-war-south-asia
32
Noam Chomsky, A view from Below, published in “The End of Cold War “(New York: Cambridge) P.137
33
"The Dog that Failed to Bark", Financial Times, January 10, 1989
34
H. W. George Bush, (1990). “Address before a Joint Session of Congress,” September 11,
http://millercenter.org/president/bush/speeches/speech-3425
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 REGIONAL HEGEMONS

Since the demise of bipolarity , the regional hegemons finding quick convergence of interest
with USA , have intensified their efforts to bully their smaller or weaker adversaries ,India
and Israel are cases in point .The weaker Third World countries which could balance out the
power of regional hegemons by linking their interest with that of a super power, have no such
facility available any more .There is increasing high handedness in the attitude and tenor of
regional hegemons and their opposing countries are increasingly vulnerable to dangers of
subjugation. The prospects of peace in South Asia and Middle East have deteriorated since
the demise of Cold War and wars seem much more likely.

 FREEDOM MOVEMENTS AFTER THE COLD WAR

The era of Cold War showed much better understanding of the dynamics of freedom
movements’ .Freedom movements, the world over, got support of a super power or the other,
during Cold War period perhaps except Kashmir. Kashmir movement could also be termed
as an indirect beneficiary in a sense that American arms supplies to Pakistan during initial
and final stages of Cold War prevented India for attempting to solve the problem once and
35
for all. At the same time, Soviet support to India also prevented any meaningful
advancement on the Kashmir dispute. Generally speaking, Cold War era was a better time for
freedom movements the world over. Freedom movements in Africa, Vietnam and reformist
revolutions in many parts of the world fared much better in Cold War times due to competing
interests of the super powers. Now the sole power’s obsession with terrorism incites it to
quickly label freedom movements as terrorist activities.

 DIMINISHED ROLE OF UNO

The UNO may have never had desired effectiveness, yet its role after Cold War has been that
36
of a pliant organization of USA. Veto power is hardly being exercised by any permanent
member of Security Council ,not that all is well with the world ,but because USA has grown
too dominant and no one is ready to risk its annoyance .USA no more feels the necessity of
getting the UN’s mandate for its actions may these be military ones. It uses its economic

35
"Kashmiris join insurgency against India at highest rate in two decades". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 25
June 2015.
36
The UN during the Cold War: “A tool of superpower influence stymied by superpower conflict”? NICOLA-
ANN HARDWICK, JUN 10 2011 available at :- http://www.e-ir.info/2011/06/10/the-un-during-the-cold-war-a-
tool-of-superpower-influence-stymied-by-superpower-conflict/
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leverage over UNO to exploit it for the furtherance of its interests.37

 THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS

The base of rivalry between West and East during the times of Cold War was ideological
conflict. Capitalism and Communism clashed for supremacy over each other. USA in order to
justify and reinforce its hegemony had to look for an enemy .Paul Huntington’s famous
theory of clash of civilization did the trick for USA. By suggesting that in future ,world
would be polarized along cultural lines and that the Islam would emerge as potential threat to
American civilization, he provided the enemy ,USA so desperately needed after the retreat of
communism. This view builds on the hoary argument that Islam is pre-eminently concerned
with the creation of universal Muslim community and is intolerant of those who are not
38
Muslims. The events since the end of cold war have followed the pattern, Huntington had
suggested .The events of 9/11 have reinforced US perceptions of danger and it has unleashed
a war against Muslim civilization in the garb of combating terrorism.

 LIKELY HOOD FOR INCREASING CONFLICTS

The operation of security dilemma between the state especially Third World countries is likely to be
intense as they begin to arm competitively to safeguard their territorial and ethnic disputes .All these
conflicts will make effective economic reform impossible ,resulting in hyperinflation ,wide
spread famine ,and the reduction of economic activity. Nuclear weapons may fall into the
hands of ruthless leaders willing or desperate enough to use them in war or for nuclear
blackmail.39

 END OF COLD WAR

A Sceptical View. Communism may have finished and communist economic philosophy may
have no more remained a threat to capitalist, free market economy yet Russia still remains a
power .Merely its size, stockpiles of nuclear weapons it holds, makes it a potential adversary
as and when it overcomes its economic morass. The unilateral policies being pursued by USA
have caused tremors in Continental Europe and a fast unifying Europe does not view many
37
Krisch, N. (2008), “The Security Council and the Great Powers” in Lowe, V., Roberts, A., Welsh, J. and D.
Zaum (eds.), The United Nations Security Council and War: The Evolution of Thought and Practice since 1945
(New York: Oxford University Press).
38
James Piscatori. Islam and World Politics , Published in Dilemmas of World Politics(New York: Oxford
,1992 ) P.316
39
Erric Herring .The Collapse of the Soviet Union, Published in Dilemmas of World Politics (New York:
Oxford, 1992) P.379.
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American actions, justified or prudent. China, though dormant, at the moment is not at ease
with USA and has great potential to challenge American hegemony in future. Muslim though
apparently incompatible at present may be spurred by continuous attacks on its values and
ethos and collide seriously with US interests in future. Any political upheavals in decadent
40
Muslim societies will reflect on the nature of their relationship with USA. The theory of
“End of history” propounded by Francis Fukiyama only appears to be an oversimplification.

40
John Baylis, Dilemmas of World Politics (New York: Oxford) P.367.
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CONCLUSION

The Cold War between two super powers remained dominant international power paradigm
for about half a century .The era was marked with intense struggle for supremacy between
two super powers. Rest of the world was also plunged into the crises generated by Cold War
every now and then and especially Europe lived in constant fear and insecurity during Cold
War. The demise of the Cold War was supposed to be the harbinger of peace and stability and
provide justice and equitable world order. Now only a decade later, all such hopes have been
vanquished .Wars are taking place with same frequency and the sole power has failed to bring
justice and equality in the world order. The counter balancing force of USSR is no more
available to inject sanity and caution in US actions. Regional hegemons have found a happy
union with the ultimate hegemon and embarked upon a vicious path of destroying the
aspirations of hapless people through the instrument of state terrorism. The hindsight
suggests that Cold War was rather a blessing than a menace for the world.

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 Nicholas J Wheeler and Ken Booth .The Security Dilemma .Published in Dilemmas of
World Politics (Oxford: Calerendon, 1992) P.49
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 Mario E, Carranza, Indo Pakistani Nuclear Relations after the Cold War ,Published in
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 The Cold War in South Asia Available at:-
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Cambridge) P.137
 The Dog that Failed to Bark", Financial Times, January 10, 1989
 H. W. George Bush, (1990). “Address before a Joint Session of Congress,” September 11,
http://millercenter.org/president/bush/speeches/speech-3425

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