1950luvulla

1950-luvulla, or 1950-luvulla in Finnish, refers to the decade spanning 1950 to 1959, a period of postwar reconstruction and rapid modernization. Many countries experienced sustained economic growth, rising living standards, and the expansion of consumer society, while Cold War tensions and geopolitical realignments shaped international relations.

Geopolitically, the era was defined by the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Korean War (1950–1953) underscored bipolar conflict. In 1955 the Warsaw Pact was formed; NATO had strengthened alliances earlier. Decolonization accelerated in Asia and Africa, reshaping former empires and giving rise to new states.

Society and culture saw suburbanization, mass media, and the growth of consumer culture, with television and automobiles becoming central to daily life. The baby boom increased population growth. Culturally, rock and roll and cinema helped define youth culture; science and technology advanced with the early space program, initiated by the launch of Sputnik in 1957.

The decade set the stage for the social and political shifts of the 1960s and for enduring patterns in global economics, politics, and culture.