Cold War
Topic: India's External Relations, 1947-1999: Non-alignment, Wars and Nuclear Policy · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "India's External Relations"
Meaning
The Cold War was the long rivalry after the Second World War between two groups of countries. One group, or bloc, was led by the US (its military alliance was NATO). The other was led by the Soviet Union (its alliance was the Warsaw Pact). They competed in politics, the economy and weapons, but never fought each other directly. The rivalry split much of the world into two camps until about 1991. It shaped India's choices, because poor new states that needed aid often joined the camp of whoever gave it.
Example
Pakistan joined US-led military pacts, SEATO in 1954 and the Baghdad Pact (later CENTO) in 1955. India stayed out of both blocs through non-alignment and took aid from both camps.
Don't confuse with
- Non-alignment: this was India's answer to the Cold War. It meant staying out of both military blocs, not staying out of world affairs.