The Cold War ended in 1994, when the Russian government collapsed. We had a 15-20 year window in which Kennedy-esque American moderates thought they could dominate the industrial world through high finance while using a few "Rogue States" as punching bags.

And then 2008 happened, revealing that this was not working. And then we got Trump's ahem national socialism ahem of interstate deals making minus immigration. And the only thing NATO states seem to agree on is everyone building even biggest militaries with which to duke it out across North Africa and Eastern Europe.

Now we're flirting with Cold War 2, except it's looking a lot hotter than the last one. Feels more like the prelude to WW1, tbh.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'd describe it as a lull in the same general conflict. The primary contradiction remained. I do think there will be war, tragically.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

There was a solid minute during the War on Terror when DC, Moscow, and Beijing were in full kumbahyah mode.

Turning the resource rich Middle East into a free fire zone had a broad popular appeal among industrial powers.