Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
It was the last great era of Nation State against Nation State and really the end of Communism as a viable opponent.
It was pretty close to the end of the Doomsday Clock being relevant
The end of the 80's signaled the end of true Nation State power games against Nation States.
the Cold War was replaced by regional civil war hot flashpoints and confused loyalties.
The Soviet Union, China, Cuba and even North Korea moved from being dire threats to democracy to being also rans.
The threats of the Soviet Military in Germany and the Soviet Navy and especially their submarines and their frontal missile divisions faded as the great threat of death for us all.
The West saw the rise and then end of the non diplomatic strong leaders like Thatcher and Reagan, that took on Brezhnev and then KGB leaders like Antropov and in losing bought Gorbachev into power.
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In other words, the "New World Order" as coined by George Bush. A change in the balance of power and greater focus on collective security became prominent, especially as the first Gulf War was opening. Of course we all knew the hegemon and world conflict arbiter would (continue to) be the U.S., but there was greater emphasis on engaging the UN and getting collective consensus on matters pertaining to international affairs.
However, where one period ended, another one started. I like to think that this world after the Cold War started realizing Huntington's "clash of civilizations" theory, and that borders have become more meaningless in times of greater international integration, free trade, and ever-evolving global technology. The world is a much smaller place than it was when Thatcher and Reagan stepped aside.