Origins of the Cold War

The roots of the Cold War can be traced back to the ideological clash between the West and the Bolsheviks starting in 1917. As Russian intelligence scandals resurface, it becomes clear that aggressive espionage tactics were employed by a fragile Soviet regime long before the conventional timeline of the Cold War. The West's tendency to reduce its intelligence efforts often created openings for the Soviets to escalate their activities, revealing a persistent battle of wits that predates the post-World War II era.