The major war fought from 1947 to 1991, characterized by ideological conflict, was the Cold War. This prolonged period of geopolitical tension primarily involved the United States and its allies versus the Soviet Union and its satellite states. The Cold War was marked by a series of proxy wars, nuclear arms races, and ideological competition, with capitalism and democracy pitted against communism. Key events included the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and numerous confrontations such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although no direct large-scale fighting occurred between the superpowers, the cultural, political, and economic ramifications of the Cold War significantly shaped global affairs in the 20th century.