The Soviet Union played a major role in the Cold War as it was one of the two superpowers that emerged from World War II. The Soviet Union, led by communism, represented an opposing ideology to the capitalist West, and both sides engaged in a nuclear arms race and various proxy wars around the world. The tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States, along with their respective allies, defined the Cold War period and shaped much of international relations during the second half of the 20th century.
