Peran Amerika dalam Perang Dingin: Rivalitas dengan Uni Soviet

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of the United States in the Cold War rivalry against the Soviet Union, spanning from the end of World War II to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The research focuses on the political, military, ideological, and economic strategies employed by the United States to contain the spread of communism through the implementation of the containment doctrine, the establishment of security alliances such as NATO, and economic assistance programs such as the Marshall Plan. The findings reveal that the rivalry between the two superpowers extended beyond military and structural domains, reaching into technological competition through the nuclear arms race and the Space Race, as well as geopolitical confrontations manifested in proxy wars across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The theoretical framework, which incorporates perspectives from realism, liberalism, and constructivism, demonstrates that U.S. actions were shaped by a combination of power interests, ideological identity, and the pursuit of global leadership. Further analysis indicates that these strategies had a profound impact on the formation of the post–Cold War international order and continue to influence contemporary global politics. The study concludes that the involvement of the United States in the Cold War was a long-term strategic process that not only determined the direction of the conflict itself but also played a crucial role in shaping modern geopolitical structures and international relations.