State your opinion on the following statement: The cold war began between America and Russia.

Answer: I agree; the cold war began because of the ideological and power rivalry between America and Russia after the Second World War.

• America supported capitalism and democracy, while Russia (USSR) supported communism; each tried to spread its own ideology.
• Both emerged as superpowers and wanted to dominate world politics; the spread of communism in Eastern Europe alarmed America (Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan).
• They formed rival military alliances — NATO, SEATO and CENTO on one side and the Warsaw Pact on the other — and entered an arms race including nuclear weapons.
• They did not fight directly but kept tension high through propaganda and proxy wars; this state is called the Cold War.