19351972

1935–1972 is a chronological interval that encompasses about four decades of modern history, extending from the mid-1930s to the early 1970s. It includes profound political, economic, and social changes that shaped the late 20th century.

The period begins amid the Great Depression, the consolidation of totalitarian regimes in parts of Europe and Asia, and growing military aggression that culminated in World War II. The war (1939–1945) and its aftermath reshaped borders, economies, and international institutions. In 1945, the United Nations was founded, and the wartime alliance gave way to a bipolar Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, influencing politics worldwide for decades.

Decolonization accelerated in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean during the 1950s and 1960s, redefining sovereignty and development. Economic growth, modernization efforts, and state-led development programs transformed many societies, even as disparities and political tensions persisted. Social movements—civil rights, feminism, student activism, environmental awareness—gained momentum and challenged established hierarchies.

From the mid- to late 1960s into the early 1972, political unrest, cultural change, and new technologies reshaped daily life. The era saw milestones such as the space program reaching the moon and significant arms-control initiatives inform subsequent diplomacy, including agreements signed in 1972. Overall, 1935–1972 is viewed as a bridging period between earlier interwar dynamics and the mature Cold War world, highlighting processes of modernization, globalization, and ongoing conflict and reform.