The Importance of the First World in the Cold War

As the Cold War ramped up after World War II, reviving early 20th-century fears of communism dominating the planet, these coups were often framed as moral necessities. These nefarious activities may not have been technically legal, it was reasoned, but they were ethically sound and crucial to further freedom under capitalism. In practice, these justifications were all too often revealed to be spurious. While many members of the political and military classes doubtlessly believed in the mission of spreading democracy, big business was inextricably intertwined with many of these initiatives.