What was the legacy of the Cold War?

The legacy of the Cold War includes the establishment of a bipolar world order dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union, which influenced global politics for decades. It led to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and an arms race that shaped military strategies and international relations. Additionally, the ideological conflict between capitalism and communism fostered numerous proxy wars and conflicts around the globe. The eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked a significant shift, leading to the rise of new geopolitical dynamics and the spread of liberal democracy in many former communist states.