The Western sphere of influence during the Cold War was a classic sphere of influence inspired and sustained by competition with the Soviet Union, and it played a significant part in European integration, gave impetus to American civil rights and desegregation, and disciplined American power to remain part of something larger than itself.
causalpending
Speaker
Steven CodkinEvidence Quote
“the sphere of influence known as the West even disciplined American power. During the Cold War, America did many things that I personally am not proud of... But nonetheless, America understood more or less that it was part of something bigger than itself and that it was necessary to remain part of that because that's where the power came from.”
Source
Stephen Kotkin: Sphere of Influence I - The Gift of Geopolitics: How Worlds are Made, and Unmade— IWMViennaCreated: 8/12/2026, 6:14:33 PM
My Notes
Loading notes...