8.9 Causation in the Age of the Cold War and Decolonization

There was, needless to say, a ton of change during this period. New countries emerged from under their old imperial powers and in the process, redrew boundaries and established new political/economic organizations-- with varying success. Many developed midways between the U.S. and USSR economies, mixing land reform with some free-market policies.

Additionally, the power dynamic shifted completely by the end of this unit. We began with Western European countries in near-total control of the rest of the world, and by the end, we leave with the U.S. and USSR as our superpowers (as well as China, to some extent). 

Of course, there was some continuity (though less). Decolonized states often kept similar social structures, as well as religions-- think India and Hinduism. And though it may seem obvious, the United States remained capitalist and the USSR communist (until 1991, of course).