Superpower Struggles and the Impact on Developing Nations

During the Cold War, both the USA and the USSR sought to expand their ideologies to developing nations, often treating these countries as battlegrounds for influence rather than sovereign states with their own interests.

Superpowers provided economic aid to developing countries, but this was often conditional, requiring alignment with either capitalist or communist ideologies, leading to a dependency that influenced local economies and politics.

Developing nations frequently became the sites of proxy wars, where superpowers supplied arms and funding to opposing factions, exacerbating conflicts and resulting in long-term destabilization and loss of life.

In response to superpower pressures, the Non-Aligned Movement was formed by countries wishing to avoid choosing sides. It sought an independent path in international politics and aimed to prevent further colonialism.

The CIA and KGB were notorious for covert operations in developing countries, supporting coups and regime changes to install favorable governments, which often led to authoritarian rule and human rights abuses.

The nuclear arms race between the superpowers introduced the threat of global annihilation. Developing nations, often close to test sites or potential targets, faced the environmental and health repercussions of this global standoff.

Post-Cold War, the geopolitical landscape in many developing nations remained divided along ideological lines established during the superpower struggle, affecting their political and economic development for decades to come.