Neither the Soviet Union nor the West actually came to directly "fight" the war hence the aspect of the word "cold". Yet various aspects were conducted through active participation.
WEST
Actively spied on the Soviet Union in an attempt to gather "top-secret" information held by the other side. The West's national intelligence agencies were responsible for carrying out these tasks.The USA as well as the USSR were in the process of developing deadly weapons and creating new inventions. This caused a rift and competition between both sides.Through the media the West used a multitude of methods in order to obtain leverage over the Soviet Union by depicting the Union in an inferior way. (through the use of newspapers, books, television, radio etc.) America portrayed the Soviet Union as a group of communist who ignored human rights and lived under an extremely harsh regime ruled by a dictator. These portrayals can be seen throughout many cartoons in which Russians are seen as the antagonist which America eventually defeat. Throughout the radio much propaganda was spread about negative communism.The Union and the USA were in technological races in the earth field as well as the space field.Indirect wars were fought between the USA and the Soviet Union overseas through "proxy" (a third party). Proxy came in forms of a government or of an armed group. They "fought" one another using money, arms, and trainings/logistical assistance towards their proxy to aid in the fight.
SOVIET UNION
Actively spied on the West in an attempt to gather "top-secret" information held by the other side. The Soviet Union's national intelligence agences were responsible for carrying out these tasks.Through the media the Soviet Union used a multitude of methods in order to obtain leverage over the West by depicting the West in an inferior way to the public. (through the use of newspapers, books, television, radio etc.)The Soviet Union portrayed the West as a capitalist, greedy, cruel,and obese group of people who treated those under them in an unkind manner. The media in the Soviet Union was heavily controlled and this allowed the Union to publish propaganda which benefited their side. For example, students were taught to be anti-American and the history taught was a re-written version in order to fit the governments view. The West was depicted as evil and racist and many channels were funded in order to prove these facts such as "Uncle Tom's Cabin" which depicted the life of an African slave in America.The Union and the USA were in technological races in the earth field as well as the space field.Indirect wars were fought between the USA and the Soviet Union overseas through "proxy" (a third party. Proxy came in forms of a government or of an armed group. They "fought" one another using money, arms, and trainings/logistical assistance towards their proxy to aid in the fight.
CIA
The CIA (central intelligence agency) participated in the cold war as well. The agency participated by means of both espionage and the undertake of operations throughout the world in order to undermine the governments which sided with the Soviet Union.
