What significant global conflict followed World War II?

The Cold War was a significant global conflict that emerged after World War II, characterized by geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and its satellite states, and the United States along with its allies. Unlike traditional warfare, the Cold War involved a struggle for ideological dominance between communism and capitalism, leading to various forms of confrontation including political, military, and economic arenas without direct military conflict between the major powers.

This period saw the division of Europe, exemplified by the Iron Curtain, the establishment of NATO and the Warsaw Pact, and numerous proxy wars around the world. The Cold War fundamentally shaped international relations and domestic policies in multiple countries and lasted for several decades until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

In contrast, while the Korean War, Vietnam War, and World War III (which has not occurred) were significant events, they were either direct conflicts that occurred during the Cold War or hypothetical scenarios rather than being recognized as an overarching global conflict like the Cold War itself.