Webthe cold war's end has a lot to teach us about how we can end hostile conflict in a peaceful way — and why luck sometimes matters more than you might think. We strive to bring people. Webour understanding of the cold war has been shaped by the work of historians. Since the outbreak of global tensions in 1945, the events, ideas and. Webcold war, the open yet restricted rivalry that developed after world war ii between the united states and the soviet union and their respective allies. Kissinger, the scholar turned diplomat who engineered the united states’ opening to china, negotiated its exit from vietnam, and used cunning, ambition and intellect to remake american power relationships with the soviet union at the height of. Websince détente was motivated by a desire to stabilize the nuclear arms race, enhance bilateral cooperation, and decrease the ideological and geopolitical rivalry. Webthe cold war is the title given to the period of tension between the two superpowers, the usa and the ussr, which dominated international relations for most of the second half. Webcold war, open yet restricted rivalry and hostility that developed after world war ii between the u. s. And the soviet union and their respective allies.