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The Cold War

Decent Essays

Essay 2 Prompt # 2: The Risk of Incomplete Information
Despite its name, the Cold War did not actually involve military fighting between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, the Cold War is still an excellent example as to why war can be a result of bargaining failures and explains reasons as to why war occurs. A single person’s rationality can tip the scale between war and peace. The Cold War was essentially a deadlock between the two super powers of that time, the United States and the Soviet Union. Both states expressed desire to maintain and widen their respective spheres of influence around the world. Both states also wanted to prove that their political system is superior; whereas the United States was pro-democracy, the Soviet Union was pro-communism. Although the Cold War was a result of many factor, war can definitely occur due to information problems between two states. Nonetheless, I do believe there is always a range of agreements that is possible between states, as is evidenced by the resolution of the Cuban missile crisis. Knowledge plays a key role in a state’s decision, and erroneous decisions that lead to war often occur due to lack of information. One of the greatest examples that emphasize the importance of information and human rationality was during Cuban Missile Crisis. An article published by The New York Times, written by Neil Genzlinger, highlights the Cuban missile crisis, and how close the United States and the Soviet Union were on the

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