The Cold War is the continuing state of political conflict, military tension, and economic competition existing after World War II (1939–1947) particularly in regards to the United States and Soviet Union and their Spheres of Influence. In Europe, this would lead to the Polarisation of East and West in the forms of NATO in the west and the Moscow Pact members in the East. Outside of Europe however, several conflicts deciding the fate of countries split between ideology would result; many of which went in favour of the Soviet Union.