What does the term "Cold War" refer to?

The term "Cold War" specifically refers to the geopolitical tension that arose after World War II, particularly between the United States and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies. This period, spanning from roughly 1947 to 1991, was characterized by ideological conflict, military buildups, and proxy wars, but notably lacked direct large-scale fighting between the two nuclear superpowers.

During the Cold War, both sides engaged in a struggle for global influence, leading to the establishment of military alliances like NATO and the Warsaw Pact, intense arms races, and competitive technological advancements, including the space race. The Cold War had profound implications on international relations and shaped various events such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and numerous other conflicts influenced by the ideological divide between capitalism and communism.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of the Cold War. Military conflicts might reference specific engagements during that period, but they do not encompass the broader ideological and strategic atmosphere that defined the Cold War. Economic competition in the 1920s occurred well before the Cold War era, and civil rights movements, while significant, are not relevant to the international political dynamics that characterized the Cold War period.