en PortalulTauTV. During the Cold War, Iceland was part of the West. They became a member of NATO and the United States operated a military base there. Centerright coalitions ran the national government and municipalities all across the country, with one exception: In Neskaupstadur, a town of 1,500 people in the east of the country, socialists ran the show. They came to power in 1946 and maintained control for 52 years.