Contemporary history

Contemporary history studies the recent past, usually from the mid-20th century to the present. Its starting point varies by country and historical tradition.

Historical periodization: The division of the past into named periods to organize historical study. Different national traditions set contemporary history’s starting point at different turning points.
Cold War: A global rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union from the late 1940s to 1991. It is a defining framework for interpreting postwar international relations.
Archives: Collections of records preserved for their enduring historical, legal, or administrative value. Declassification and new deposits can alter accounts of recent political events.
Modern history: The study of historical periods commonly beginning in the early modern era and extending into the recent past. Its conventional scope often begins centuries before contemporary history.
Historiography: The study of how history is written, interpreted, and debated. Competing interpretations shape accounts of events that remain politically charged.
Decolonization: The process by which colonies gained independence from imperial powers, especially after the Second World War. It transformed political boundaries and societies across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
Declassification: The removal of official restrictions on access to formerly secret government information. Newly opened files can revise established interpretations of recent history.
Current affairs: Recent events and issues reported and discussed as they unfold. Contemporary history examines developments retrospectively rather than only as news.
Primary source: Evidence produced by people or institutions directly involved in the events being studied. Recent periods leave abundant documents, recordings, and testimony for historical analysis.
European integration: The political and economic cooperation that developed among European states after the Second World War. It reshaped sovereignty and institutions in postwar Europe.

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