The global conflict centered on the ideological struggle between capitalism and communism was the Cold War, which lasted roughly from the late 1940s until the early 1990s. This period was characterized by political, military, and economic tensions between the United States and its allies (representing capitalist democracies) and the Soviet Union and its satellite states (representing communist regimes). The Cold War saw proxy wars, nuclear arms races, and intense propaganda efforts. It also included significant events such as the Berlin Blockade, Korean War, and Cuban Missile Crisis. The ideological conflict ultimately influenced global geopolitics and led to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.