Cold War

The Cold War was a period of geographical tension between the powers of the Western Bloc and Eastern Bloc. It was mainly the tension between the United States and Soviet Union via proxy wars such as the Vietnam War and the Invasion of Afghanistan. It was the objectives of the Soviet Union to expand Communism and the United States to contain it and expand democracy.^[1] It is referenced throughout the James Bond series. In addition, Ian Fleming created the Cold War references for the basis of some 007 villains and parts of James Bond story-lines.

Despite the name, some members of the Eastern Bloc were in the Americas (Cuba) and some parts of the Western Bloc in East Asia (Japan).

Impacts on the Bond Universe

Novels

The novels were heavily based on the Cold War and elements of the Cold War were incorporated into some of the novels based on real life events.

• SMERSH is a villainous organisation based in Russia which was also a real organization in the early Bond novels such as From Russia, With Love. It resembles the KGB, the Soviet Union's secret police.

Films

The Bond films from 1995 prior, used the Cold War as backdrop, but they were vaguely based on it.

• The invasion of Afghanistan is heavily referenced in the final act of The Living Daylights. SMERSH also is mentioned in the film as a defunct organization.
• The KGB and their agents exist throughout several Bond films such as The Spy Who Loved Me, A View to a Kill, and GoldenEye.
• However, despite the opposition between the two sides, the likes of General Gogol prefer Cold War to all out nuclear war.
• Octopussy plays on the fears that rogue elements in east and west would try and use a false flag incident to start all out war.

Inspiration

Ian Fleming drew inspiration from observing the evil behaviour of the Russians and the KGB which inspired him about a hero who would protect the helpless and the innocent against evil.^[2]

External link

• Cold War on Wikipedia

References