The primary ideological conflict during the Cold War was between capitalism, predominantly represented by the United States and its allies, and communism, led by the Soviet Union. This period, lasting roughly from the end of World War II in 1945 until the early 1990s, was marked by political tension, military rivalry, and ideological battles, but it did not escalate into direct military conflict between the two superpowers. Instead, the Cold War featured proxy wars, an arms race, and efforts to spread their respective ideologies globally. The conflict influenced international relations and domestic policies during the second half of the 20th century.