At The Topic Lens, we explain the background behind the headlines. But headlines are made of words, and words have backgrounds too. The term βcold warβ was used by George Orwell in 1945, then popularized in 1947 by American financier Bernard Baruch and journalist Walter Lippmann.
π If you enjoy understanding why things are the way they are, our book Why Is It Called That? does the same for 350 everyday words. A gift for yourself, or for anyone who loves asking βwhy?β β https://books2read.com/u/mKa8V9
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From the name to the conflict itself: how did two former allies end up in a 45-year standoff?
In this episode, we explore the Cold War from the ruins of 1945 to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991: the Iron Curtain, the nuclear arms race, proxy wars from Korea to Afghanistan, and the moments when the world came closest to catastrophe. We also look at why its legacy still shapes the headlines today.
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In this episode: β’ 00:00 β From Orwell to Baruch: The origin of the term "Cold War" β’ 04:00 β What was the Cold War? Framing 1945β1991 β’ 09:00 β The Security Dilemma: Why former allies became rivals β’ 17:00 β The Iron Curtain Hardens: Berlin, NATO, and the division of Europe β’ 25:00 β Why it stayed "cold": Nuclear deterrence and changing balances β’ 31:00 β Going Global: Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, and local agendas β’ 37:00 β How it ended: Gorbachev, popular movements, and 1989β1991 β’ 42:00 β Why it matters now: Modern alliances and nuclear risks today
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Connect & Support: π Get our book: Explore the surprising origins of 350 everyday words in Why Is It Called That?: https://books2read.com/u/mKa8V9 π Subscribe: Follow The Topic Lens on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. β Support the show: If you found this explanation helpful, please leave us a rating and review β it helps others find the podcast!
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