The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a major event in world history that had far-reaching consequences. It not only affected the countries of the former Soviet Union, but also had a significant impact on global trade and military spending. This essay will explore how the collapse of the Soviet Union affected trade and military spending globally, including its impact on the arms race, the global balance of power, and the economic policies of Western countries.
The collapse of the Soviet Union had a significant impact on the arms race and military spending globally. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a massive arms race that consumed huge amounts of resources and drove up military spending around the world. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the arms race came to an end, and military spending began to decline. In the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many countries began to reduce their military spending, as the threat of a global conflict diminished. This allowed for greater resources to be allocated to other areas, such as social programs and economic development. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military spending peaked in 1987, during the Cold War. In 1992, the year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, global military spending decreased by 5.5%. Since then, military spending has fluctuated but generally declined, with some
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During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were the dominant superpowers, with the Soviet Union serving as a counterbalance to American power. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States emerged as the sole superpower, with no real rival to its global influence. This has had a profound impact on global politics and has led to a shift in the balance of power in many regions of the