Stories 3 – Chapter 3 – Post War World (1945–1989)

America and the Soviet Union emerged from the Second World War as the two leading world powers. Europe lay in ruins, again. The world changed profoundly after the war. Colonies fought for their freedom, the world developed into a truly globalised economy and older and younger generations had different ideas on what it meant to lead a good life. The Cold War conflict between the capitalist and communist worlds held the world in its grasp, while European countries attempted to avoid future wars by merging their economies.

Soviet Russia collapsed in 1989, signifying the end of the Cold War. Many saw this moment as the end of the 20^th century, new times had arrived. Now, some 30 years later, they are not so sure anymore. The dismantling of the Soviet Union didn’t bring the safer world that everybody had longed for. A new super power has risen in the Far East and Russia and the United Stated still don’t get along that well. China has started to dominate the world economy more and more. Conflicts between China and the West over trade, human rights and pollution make big headlines. It seems like the world didn’t move towards safer waters, but is still in a political and economic storm.

The modern world is a complex place where all countries have political and economic ties with each other. Most relations are friendly and focussed on cooperation, especially in the scientific community. Some relations are complicated. The political relationship might be problematic while the economy of the countries might benefit from each other. The relationship between the United States and China is an example of such a relationship.