The Post-Cold War Era

We can say that the post-Cold War era began immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but about the ending date researchers argue. According to different accounts, it might have ended in 1995,1 1999,2 on September 11, 2001 or is still ongoing as of 2009. The most important conclusion about the post-Cold War era is that although it is hard to define its exact nature, a window of opportunity exists for the major states to work together for a better international society. 3
So that we would better understand the post-Cold War era, we have to keep in mind the main things about the Cold War. The Cold War was a period of conflict between the United States, the USSR and each of their allies. Although the Cold War itself was not a full-scale war, there were small wars that occurred. Throughout the Cold War, international politics were profoundly shaped by the intense rivalry between the two world powers and the political principles they represented – the United States supported democracy, capitalism, while the USSR represented communism. As the most famous events of the Cold War, we can mention the arms race, the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), the Truman Doctrine (1947), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Warsaw Pact (1955).4
In this essay more attention will be paid to activities of the United States, Soviet Union and NATO in the post-Cold War era.

The United States Post-Cold War
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States became the largest, most powerful and influential superpower. During the Cold War, the United States was a political and military leader. Many innovations of inventions were made, for example – a computer, and they all have influenced the development of society in the post-Cold War era. We can say that the spread of these innovations through globalization has proved to be valuable to the entire world. …