The Cold War – the political, ideological, economic, and military rivalry between the US and USSR – is a topic that fascinates me.

Most historians agree that it started in 1945 after World War II and ended in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR. While the US and USSR were allies during the War, the two nations had divergent political systems. One represented democracy, while the other championed communism.

In ideological terms, the conflict was framed as freedom versus repression. Broadly speaking, the West offered freedom and choices; the communist bloc countered that capitalism was evil and that trading freedom for order would lead to happiness.

The Cold War encompassed some of the most famous events and conflicts around the world. In Europe, Berlin was a flashpoint.

During the 15-month Berlin Blockade (from June 1948 to May 1949), Soviet Union restricted all land and canal access to the portions of the city under Western control. The Allies responded by airlifting supplies to keep residents from starving until the blockade ended.

The Berlin Wall, circa 1974. Image: Immo Wegmann, Unsplash

Later, the split between East and West in Europe resulted in the partitioning of Germany into East Germany (ironically called the German Democratic Republic or GDR) and West Germany. And during this period, one of the most enduring symbols of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, was constructed.

The Berlin Wall did not divide East and West Germany. It encircled West Berlin to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Germany. And here's an interesting fact: Although Berlin was divided into East and West, the city itself was in East Germany.

Why the interest?

These are just several significant events that took place between 1945 and 1991. But the Cold War remains interesting because it occurred while I was a child, and learning about what happened and why is fascinating.

As a kid, I remember my late grandparents going to Europe for a holiday. When they returned to Singapore, my grandmother told me about how strict the East German border guards were.

"Our bus was stopped, and we had to present our passports. From the window, I could see guards using mirrors attached to poles to check under the bus."

I didn't realise till much later that this was how they checked for escapees!

Closer to home

The Cold War shaped modern Asia, too. This struggle between East and West erupted into open conflicts. There was the Korean War, and just a few years later, the Vietnam War.

Although an armistice was signed, the Korean War never officially ended since there is no peace treaty between both countries. Today, there are still two Koreas divided along the 38th parallel.

But more significantly, East Asia remains a potential flashpoint despite the war ending in 1953. Complex geopolitical tensions still abound between China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan.

China and Russia continue to support North Korea, because without backers, there is a risk of regime collapse. And it's not hard to imagine that neither China nor Russia want to deal with the ramifications of a failed state.

The Vietnam War ended not in division, but unification. But this chapter is interesting when you compare how the conflict was viewed. The US saw their involvement as a way of preventing domino theory - the belief that if one state became communist, neighbouring countries would fall to communism as well.

In Vietnam, the conflict is viewed as a war against American aggression. North Vietnam fought to bring South Vietnam under its control, unify the country and liberate it from imperialists.

But 50 years since the conflict ended, its effects still linger. 'Vietnam' became another name for an un-winnable war. Questions about why the US got involved in the first place continue to be asked.

There are other events and open conflicts that occurred during the Cold War, many of which I still haven't learned of. But that's what makes this topic so fascinating. The Cold War supposedly ended in 1991, but much of what happened continues to shape our world today.

Main image: Pei Peng, Unsplash

– Jeremy