postWorldWarII

Post-World War II refers to the period roughly from 1945 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, though some indicators extend the timeframe into the 1990s. The era was defined by reconstruction, political realignment, and rapid social and economic change across the globe. In international affairs, the United Nations was founded in 1945 to promote cooperation and prevent future conflicts. The Bretton Woods system established institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and trade liberalization began with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

Western Europe and Japan underwent extensive reconstruction under programs like the Marshall Plan, leading to sustained economic growth in the 1950s and 1960s. The period also saw the emergence of a global Cold War, a geopolitical rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, often expressed through proxy wars, arms racing, and diplomacy. Decolonization accelerated, with many states in Asia and Africa gaining independence in the 1950s–1970s, reshaping international politics and economic ties.

Socially, the era witnessed migration, urbanization, and shifts in civil rights and gender roles in many countries. Technological advances in nuclear energy, space exploration, and computing began to transform economies and everyday life. The late 1980s and early 1990s brought political change, culminating in the dissolution of the Soviet Union and a new, more multipolar international order.

Overall, the post-World War II era laid the foundations for contemporary international politics and economic development, marked by institutions, regional blocs, and ongoing debates over development, security, and human rights.