Europe’s Transformation: Post-WWII to the 21st Century
Europe Between Two Giants: Post-WWII to the 21st Century
The Division of Europe
The end of World War II marked the division of Europe. The so-called “Iron Curtain” separated Eastern Europe from Western Europe. Germany was divided into West Germany and East Germany. The first was awarded the western part of Berlin, and the second, East Berlin.
Eastern Europe
The Eastern European countries that adopted the communist system without being integrated into the USSR became known as People’s Democracies. These states were independent but depended on the decisions and the protection of the USSR, except for Albania and Yugoslavia, which were independent but kept Communist systems. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were turned into Soviet Republics and incorporated into the USSR. Tensions with Moscow broke out in the Prague Coup (1948), the Hungarian Uprising (1956), and the Prague Spring (1968).
Capitalist Europe
Western Europe adopted the market economy and a democratic political system. The engine countries of Western Europe were the UK, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). In this period, the UK suffered the loss of its empire and had to address the issue of Ulster. In France, the stress was on the independence of Algeria and the student revolt of May 1968. The FRG confronted the division of the country and, since 1961, the existence of the Berlin Wall.
The Welfare State
Western Europe’s recovery was described as a miracle. American aid (Marshall Plan) was determinant. The most important of its accomplishments was the Welfare State: a strong state must have the highest priority on the social and economic welfare of its citizens.
The First Steps
After World War II, several European organizations approached the states:
- The OEEC (1948) administered the Marshall Plan aid.
- The European Council (1949) aimed to bring countries together and preserve human values.
- Benelux (1948) and ECSC (1951) were immediate antecedents of the EEC.
The Treaty of Rome and the EEC
The Treaty of Rome is the document consisting of the EEC. It was signed in Rome in 1957. The EEC was the sum of the common market and Euratom. The initial countries signing the Treaty of Rome were six: Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, France, and Germany.
From the Europe of Six to the Europe of Twelve
Europe took almost thirty years to expand the number of partners from six to twelve. In 1973, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK joined (EU-Nine). In 1981, Greece joined, and in 1986, Portugal and Spain joined (Europe of the Twelve). The admission of the countries of southern, backward economies was a major cooperative effort.
Europe in the Late Eighties
During the eighties, Europe lived through a difficult situation. With the fall of the Iron Curtain, the union took a new momentum.
- The solidarity efforts that required the economic leveling of the new partners met resistance from member countries.
- Dependence on other countries and hydrocarbon materials left Europe’s economy in a delicate state.
The Iron Curtain was dividing the continent. Since 1989, the picture changed: the communist systems of Eastern Europe dropped, Germany reunified, and the USSR disintegrated.
The European Union
In 1992, the EEC became the European Union by the Maastricht Treaty. The EU exceeded the goal of economic unity by switching to the identification of a bigger picture. The most important aspects of the Maastricht Treaty were the birth of European citizenship and the adoption of the single currency. After Maastricht, Austria, Sweden, and Finland joined the EU, giving way to the Europe of Fifteen.
The Enlargements of the Century
The twenty-first century has brought great enlargements. The largest EU enlargement took place in 2004 with the accession of ten new members, including former Soviet republics and People’s Democracies. In 2007, Europe was transformed into the Europe of Twenty-Seven with the entry of Bulgaria and Romania.
Unknowns for the Future
The first uncertainties are raised about the number of partners who can support the EU. In 2002, the Euro became the single currency in twelve countries. There is concern about the failure by some member states, and its stability and strength, particularly against the dollar. The Lisbon Treaty would allow the EU to sign international agreements. Europeans see illegal immigration, terrorism, and the spread of organized crime as threats. The balance between security and liberty is extremely delicate.