Cold War (Napoleon's World)

The Cold War is a reference to a series of diplomatic, quasi-military and economic standoffs and tensions between the French Empire and the United States of America during the 20th, and to a lesser extent, early 21st century. While it is an ongoing conflict continuing into present day, the neverending balancing act and competition for global influence between the two superpowers has waned in recent years, as the United States is once again economically viable and not competing as bitterly with France. The bursting of the proverbial East Asian balloon has removed the competitive third parties of China, Japan and Korea from the Cold War mix as well.

Other Similar Conflicts
The Cold War refers specifically to the ongoing struggle for global influence between the French Empire and the United States of America; however, the name has been used intermittently by other countries in other similar situations.

Persia and China have a long rivalry that has never escalated into actual violence; their struggle for control of central and southern Asia has been primarily economic and diplomatic, including forays into Afghanistan, the independent Hindustan, Ceylon and other Indian states. The rivalry has been referred to as a cold war during the late 20th century, but in China and Persia it is typically referred to as the "Silent War."

Rivalries between Turkey and France, China and the US, and the US and Alaska have been termed "Cold Wars" as well. The tensions in South America between Colombia, Argentina and Brazil are called "Las Problemas" there. While sometimes referred to as a cold war, the occasional military conflict makes this an ongoing regional issue.

Etymology
The term "Cold War" was first coined by Max Richardson of the New York Press, a nationally syndicated American newspaper. Richardson commented in 1958 - even before atomic weapons entered the equation - that "For some time now, our United States and the Empire of France have been in a war of words, a war of pointed fingers and pursed lips - a cold war, a frozen war, an exchange of diplomatic posturing, of false military gestures, of near-conflict."