Was the cold war the war of the soft power or hard power and why?

The Cold War was primarily characterized by a struggle for influence through soft power rather than traditional hard power. While military buildups and direct confrontations occurred, such as the arms race and proxy wars, the overarching conflict was defined by ideological competition between capitalism and communism. Nations engaged in Propaganda, cultural exchanges, and alliances, using diplomacy and economic influence to assert their dominance without direct military confrontation. Thus, soft power strategies played a crucial role in shaping global politics during this period.