The main participants in the Cold War were the United States and the Soviet Union, representing a deep ideological divide between capitalism and communism. This prolonged period of geopolitical tension influenced global affairs from the late 1940s until the early 1990s. Multiple proxy wars, nuclear arms races, and ideological conflicts characterized this rivalry, impacting numerous countries worldwide. The Cold War shaped international relations, leading to the establishment of military alliances like NATO and the Warsaw Pact, as well as significant cultural exchanges and espionage activities.