Clash of Ideologies & the Cold War

Question 1

What is alignment/non-alignment?

Answer 1

Choosing to align with a superpower (e.g. NATO or Warsaw Pact) or remain neutral (Non-Aligned Movement).

Question 2

What is sphere of influence?

Answer 2

Regions where a superpower exerts dominant control politically, economically, or militarily.

Question 3

What is foreign policy?

Answer 3

A nation’s strategy in dealing with other countries, shaped heavily by ideology during the Cold War.

Question 4

What is expansionism?

Answer 4

Efforts by the USSR to spread communism into other countries, often through force or influence.

Question 5

What is balance of power?

Answer 5

Maintaining military parity to avoid dominance by one superpower.

Question 6

What is Iron Curtain?

Answer 6

The symbolic and physical boundary dividing East (communist) and West (liberal) Europe.

Question 7

What is containment?

Answer 7

US strategy to prevent the spread of communism beyond existing borders.

Question 8

What is Truman Doctrine?

Answer 8

US policy of supporting countries resisting communism through economic and military aid.

Question 9

What is Marshall Plan?

Answer 9

American initiative to aid Western Europe’s economic recovery and prevent communist influence.

Question 10

What is Berlin (Blockade, Airlift, Wall)?

Answer 10

Key Cold War confrontations in Berlin reflecting division, support, and escape prevention.

Question 11

What is alliances (NATO, Warsaw Pact)?

Answer 11

Military alliances that formalized Cold War blocs: democratic NATO and communist Warsaw Pact.

Question 12

What is Domino Theory?

Answer 12

Belief that if one country falls to communism, neighboring countries will follow.

Question 13

What is hysteria?

Answer 13

Widespread fear, especially of communist infiltration, often irrational (e.g., Red Scare in the US).

Question 14

What is espionage?

Answer 14

Spying between superpowers to gain strategic advantage (e.g., U-2 incident, KGB, CIA).

Question 15

What is McCarthyism?

Answer 15

US campaign accusing people of communist ties without evidence; violated liberal freedoms.

Question 16

What is de-Stalinisation?

Answer 16

Khrushchev’s policy of undoing Stalin’s oppressive policies and promoting limited reforms.

Question 17

What is proxy wars (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan)?

Answer 17

Indirect conflicts where superpowers supported opposing sides to avoid direct war.

Question 18

What is Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 18

1962 standoff over Soviet missiles in Cuba; nearly led to nuclear war.

Question 19

What is brinkmanship?

Answer 19

Pushing conflict to the edge of war to gain political advantage.

Question 20

What is deterrence?

Answer 20

Preventing enemy action by threat of retaliation, especially nuclear.

Question 21

What is Mutually-assured Destruction (MAD)?

Answer 21

Military strategy where both sides could destroy each other, preventing nuclear war.

Question 22

What is arms race?

Answer 22

Competition between the US and USSR to build more advanced weapons.

Question 23

What is Doomsday Clock?

Answer 23

Symbolic clock showing how close humanity is to global catastrophe.

Question 24

What is hotline?

Answer 24

Direct communication link between US and USSR leaders to avoid misunderstandings.

Question 25

What is Sputnik/“space-race”?

Answer 25

Competition to dominate space technology, starting with the USSR’s Sputnik satellite.

Question 26

What is Anti-war Movement?

Answer 26

Protests against military actions, especially during the Vietnam War.

Question 27

What is Hungarian Revolution?

Answer 27

1956 uprising against Soviet control; crushed by Soviet military.

Question 28

What is Brezhnev Doctrine?

Answer 28

USSR’s policy allowing intervention in any socialist country straying from communist rule.

Question 29

What is Prague Spring?

Answer 29

1968 Czechoslovak movement for liberal reforms, ended by Warsaw Pact invasion.

Question 30

What is detente?

Answer 30

Period of eased tensions between the US and USSR during the 1970s.

Question 31

What is summitry?

Answer 31

High-level diplomatic meetings between world leaders to resolve issues.

Question 32

What is diplomacy?

Answer 32

Negotiations and discussions used to manage international relations peacefully.

Question 33

What is peaceful co-existence?

Answer 33

Khrushchev's idea that capitalism and communism could coexist without war.

Question 34

What is Partial Test Ban Treaty?

Answer 34

1963 agreement to ban nuclear tests in atmosphere, outer space, and under water.

Question 35

What is Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?

Answer 35

1968 treaty to prevent spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament.

Question 36

What is Treaty?

Answer 36

Formal agreement between countries; in Cold War often related to arms control.

Question 37

What is SALT?

Answer 37

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks; treaties to cap US and USSR nuclear weapons.

Question 38

What is START?

Answer 38

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty; reduced nuclear arsenals beyond SALT limits.

Question 39

What is SDI?

Answer 39

Strategic Defense Initiative or 'Star Wars', a US plan for missile defense.

Question 40

What is INF Treaty?

Answer 40

1987 US–USSR treaty eliminating intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

Question 41

What is Helsinki Accord?

Answer 41

1975 agreement promoting human rights and cooperation across East and West Europe.

Question 42

What is liberation movements?

Answer 42

Revolutions or wars aimed at achieving independence or resisting oppression, often Cold War-linked.