What policy sought to contain the spread of communism during the Cold War?

The policy that sought to contain the spread of communism during the Cold War is known as Containment. Developed in the late 1940s, particularly through the ideas of diplomat George F. Kennan, this strategy aimed to prevent the further expansion of communist influence beyond where it already existed. The underlying belief was that communism, if left unchecked, could spread to other nations, threatening democratic governance and capitalist economies.

Containment was a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War and involved various strategies, from military interventions and alliances (like NATO) to supporting countries resisting communism (such as in Korea and Vietnam). The focus was on stabilizing areas susceptible to communist movements, thus maintaining a balance of power. This approach shaped many geopolitical decisions and conflicts throughout the Cold War era.

Other policies such as Isolationism focused on keeping the U.S. out of international conflicts, and Detente aimed to ease tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union but did not inherently seek to contain communism. Globalization pertains more to the increasing interconnection of economies and cultures around the world and does not specifically address the containment strategy during the Cold War.