1940s1950s

The 1940s and 1950s refer to the two decades spanning 1940–1949 and 1950–1959, a period characterized by conflict, reconstruction, and the emergence of a new international order. The 1940s were defined by World War II and its aftermath. Victory in 1945 led to the creation of the United Nations and a reorganized security framework. European and Asian economies began reconstruction under the Marshall Plan, and the Bretton Woods system shaped postwar finance, with the IMF and World Bank established to promote monetary stability and development. The era also saw accelerated decolonization and large-scale migrations as former colonies pursued independence and new political alignments. The early Cold War emerged from ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, influencing diplomacy, defense planning, and regional conflicts.

The 1950s experienced the consolidation of Cold War divisions, including the Korean War and an expanding nuclear deterrent. Economic growth accelerated in many Western countries through modernization and consumer expansion, while other regions pursued industrialization and reform within postcolonial transitions. Social and cultural changes included shifts in education, gender roles, and urban life, with television becoming a defining technology of everyday life. In geopolitics, military alliances such as NATO and the Warsaw Pact framed blocs in Europe, and regional integration began to take shape in Western Europe with early steps toward economic cooperation.

The period laid groundwork for rapid technological advances and enduring geopolitical structures that continued to influence the latter half of the 20th century.