Outer Space, a new dimension for the application of the principle of balance of power during the Cold War

Since 1947 an ideological, political and especially military opposition began between the U.S.A. and the USSR, which the American journalist Walter Lippmann named "Cold War." Through the analysis of the main lines of interpretation of this period of history, it is possible to reconsider the geopolitical, cultural and domestic political reasons that led States to engage the bipolar confrontation. Such analysis reveals the concepts of "security" (security dilemma) and the complex debate about the "balance of power". The latter, in particular, leads to read the Cold War no longer under the appearance of a total conflict between ideologies, but rather as a balanced system based on two main actors. This approach allows to demonstrate how, despite their conflicts, the two superpowers soon reached a sort of modus vivendi, a balanced demonstration of power, that had the result of a paradoxical "stability” of the period. Within this peculiar dynamic, outer space has assumed an exclusive interest. Since 1957 with the launch of the first artificial satellite, the Russian Sputnik I, outer space becomes the main area of competition between the two states, completely focused one on the initiatives of the other. Outer space has the role of a new dimension in which the U.S.A. and the USSR can study their moves, a new and unique chessboard where to compete or cooperate.