After World War II, Russia was able to build up a huge communist empire, through outright annexations, military occupations and the establishment of dependent "satellite" states. In 1947, the United States, along with Britain and France took steps to stop Russian and communist aggression, which only fell short of an open war. The events which ensued may best be described as a "cold war" which a critic describes as "a war between two ideologies (Capitalism and Communism)." The American statesman Bernard Baruch first used this term in a speech to the South Carolina Legislature on April 16, 1947 when he said, "Let us not be deceived; we are today in the midst of a cold war."

It is convenient to divide the history of the cold war into various periods. The first period was between 1945 1947, the second period between 1947 1953, the third period between 1953 1963, the fourth period between 1970 1980 and the fifth period from 1980 onwards to the present day.