Was there ever a point in the Cold War when the USSR was ahead of the USA?

by Stereotype_Apostate

Economically, culturally, militarily, technologically, was there ever a point where the USSR had more influence over the world at large than the USA?

DeSoulis

Depends on what you mean.

Economically and culturally, no. The Soviets did have a -few- spots of technological advancements ahead of the US at certain points in time, such as space technology in the 1950s. Militarily speaking the Soviets had a conventional army which was capable during certain periods of time to defeat NATO in western Europe. But at the same time they never had the global power projection that the US had.