The Cold War taught the world that soft power (culture, economics, and diplomacy) can be as effective as hard power (military force). The collapse of the USSR was driven more by economic stagnation and the desire for political freedom than by a battlefield defeat.
Capitalism and Democracy vs. Communism and Authoritarianism. The Cold War: A Post-Cold War History
Economic aid rebuilt Western Europe to prevent Soviet influence. The Cold War taught the world that soft