Stretching from the end of World War II to 1989, the Cold Warbetween the Western powers and the Communist bloc shapednational alliances around the world. In 15 chapters, the Almanactreats the historic causes of the tension; the mutual suspicionsthat fueled the conflict for more than 40 years; the ideological clashbetween communism and democracy;and the policies that marked the longstandoff – the Marshall Plan, TrumansPoint Four program, the nuclear armsrace, economic aid, the Berlin Wall, dA©tente; and much more. Also coveredare the times when the ColdWar burst into armed conflict insuch areas as Korea, Cuba andSoutheast Asia.