Post–Cold War era
The post–Cold War era is a period of history that follows the end of the Cold War, which represents history after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. This period saw many former Soviet republics become sovereign states, as well as the introduction of market economies in Eastern Europe. This period also marked the United States becoming the world's sole superpower.
Relative to the Cold War, the period is characterized by stabilization and disarmament. Both the United States and Russia significantly reduced their nuclear stockpiles. The former Eastern Bloc became democratic and was integrated into the world economy. In the first two decades of the period, NATO underwent three enlargements, and France reintegrated into the NATO command. Russia formed the Collective Security Treaty Organization to replace the dissolved Warsaw Pact, established a strategic partnership with China and several other countries, and entered the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS alongside China, which is a rising power. Reacting to the rise of China, the United States began a gradual rebalancing of strategic forces to the Asia–Pacific region and out of Europe.
Though the post–Cold War era is generally agreed to be the current period of history, it has been argued that the era may have ended some time in the 21st century with the arguable rise of multipolarity and challenges facing the dominance of the United States, neoliberalism, and the liberal international order, with the possible beginning of a Second Cold War some time in the 2010s and 2020s.
Major crises of the period are generally agreed to have included the war on terror, war on drugs, Great Recession, COVID-19 pandemic, China–United States trade war, hybrid warfare predominantly using the Internet, and growing concerns surrounding climate change, mental health, misinformation, information overload, wealth inequality, and generative artificial intelligence. Major conflicts generally associated with the post–Cold War era include the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict, the Iran–Israel proxy conflict, Gulf War, Yugoslav Wars, First and Second Congo Wars, First and Second Chechen War, September 11 attacks, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War, Arab Spring, Russo-Georgian War, Arab Winter, Syrian civil war, Russo-Ukrainian War, and the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present).