<P> Other Cold War weapons states, are slowly reducing their arsenals . In the meantime, they have not abandoned their dependency on nuclear deterrence, while a few more nations have attempted or succeeded in carrying out nuclear - explosive tests and thus creating their own nuclear deterrence . </P> <P> During the Cold War, an international fabric of arms - control constraint had evolved, much of it carried over as a beneficial heritage with institutional mechanisms for multilateral or international function and verification . </P> <P> Aside from tangible measures of national defense, such as standing military and security forces and hardware, are various institutional structures of government and functionality that have less to do directly with military or security factors, but more to do with underlying public attitudes and risks . These institutional structures and perceptions have had their own challenges and adjustments after the Cold War . </P> <P> Strong impressions were made and continue to affect national psyche as a result of close brushes with all - out nuclear warfare . In some cases this had resulted in aversion to warfare, in other cases to callousness regarding nuclear threats . Peaceful applications of nuclear energy received a stigma still difficult to exorcize . </P>

Effects of the cold war on western europe