Title: How did the Cold War affect the Middle East?
Headings: How did the Cold War affect the Middle East?
How did the Cold War affect the Middle East?
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Content: The Cold War was an international conflict which dominated global politics from the end of the Second World War to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The nature of the Cold War can be explained by examining three key features: bipolarity, nuclear weapons and ideology (Sayigh, Shlaim 2003, p.1). The bipolar nature of the international structure created a world order with rival spheres of influence. The impact of bipolarity is that both superpower’s balance against one another. They use the Realist logic of zero sum to explain international relations. This means that if one power gains, then the other automatically loses. This logic fuelled the competition for the powers to actively try to shift the balance of power in their favour through proxy wars in theatres around the world. Secondly, the technological development of nuclear weapons led to a nuclear arms race, a competition for nuclear weapon superiority. The threat of nuclear war dramatically escalated tension and suspicion between the nations.