The two types of governments (communist and capitalist) were in a race to make which country communist or capitalist which led to some conflicts like the Korean war and Vietnam war.
Explanation:
It was a race of influence. Which country (mainly the US or Soviet Union) can influence another country's government. These led to civil war conflicts in new countries that were trying to gain the full country like the Korean war and Vietnam war.
The Cold War asked the question in which the general public as well as the government decided where to draw the line in between a person and their own personal freedom & <em>personal space</em>, and the general public's safety. The Cold War saw extensive usage of spies and espionage, as well as counter-espionage tactics that included surveillance, counter wire-tapping, etc. With the government listening to almost everything a citizen says, it took away the sense of privacy. The trend is seen even today, where the US government's past record & capability to continue surveillance of the general public makes many wonder whether or not they really have "freedom".
