Bipolarity and Beyond: The Evolution of World Politics in the Cold War Period
Sr No:
Page No:
43-46
Language:
English
Authors:
Prem Anand*
Received:
2026-01-05
Accepted:
2026-02-12
Published Date:
2026-02-27
Abstract:
The Cold War era, spanning from the end of the Second World War in 1945 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991,
marked a defining epoch in international relations. The bipolar structure of global politics, constituted by the ideological rivalry
between the United States and the Soviet Union, reshaped diplomatic, economic, military, and cultural landscapes across continents.
This research paper explores the evolution of world politics under the influence of bipolarity, tracing how superpower competition
permeated regional conflicts, shaped global institutions, and ultimately engendered transitions toward unipolarity and multipolar
visions in the post–Cold War phase. By examining key events and ideological frameworks, the paper underscores how bipolarity
influenced both international cooperation and confrontation, and how its eventual dissolution reconfigured global power dynamics.
The analysis situates the Cold War not merely as a binary confrontation but as a transformative period that laid the foundation for
contemporary global politics, highlighting the enduring legacies of its structural patterns and policy paradigms.
Keywords:
Cold War, bipolarity, superpower rivalry, international relations, ideological conflict, deterrence, post–Cold War order