Discuss how the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union affected other nations and/or regions of the world.

The Cold War affected the entire world, not just members of the two nations primarily involved.  The United States and the Soviet Union fought a series of proxy wars in the developing world.  Both the Soviet Union and the United States initially sent advisers to North and South Vietnam respectively before moving to send combat forces, the United States sending ground troops and the Soviet Union sending fighter pilots.  The United States and the Soviet...

The Cold War affected the entire world, not just members of the two nations primarily involved.  The United States and the Soviet Union fought a series of proxy wars in the developing world.  Both the Soviet Union and the United States initially sent advisers to North and South Vietnam respectively before moving to send combat forces, the United States sending ground troops and the Soviet Union sending fighter pilots.  The United States and the Soviet Union also fought a proxy war in Afghanistan, with the Soviets sending ground troops and the United States arming the mujaheddin rebels.  Both of these proxy wars served to destabilize both countries.  Millions of Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians died as a result of the Vietnam War, and the world is still experiencing the results of extremism as a result of the chaos that was created in Afghanistan during the 1970s.  

Even regions that did not experience war directly were affected by the Cold War.  Germany remained divided between East and West well after World War II was over.  Even today, American troops are a presence in Germany.  Cuba received Soviet aid for decades; this nearly led to the island being invaded in 1962 and has led to sanctions that has affected all Cubans.  Many armies  and paramilitary groups around the world still use Soviet-era weapons.