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1) Post-War Europe, 1945-49: - Break Down of Grand Alliance
1) Post-War Europe, 1945-49: - Break Down of Grand Alliance
- ECSC (1952): union of voluntary states and equal partnership -> integration of
the six coal and steel industries (-> opposite of Comecon)
- EEC (1957): customs union and CAP of 9 countries by 1973
How were the living conditions in the states, blocs and regions of
Europe different between 1949 and 1973?
How did economic development in Eastern and Western Europe compare?
GNP/Capita in:
- Eastern Europe: rose about 4% per year
- Full employment
- Individuals do not benefit of the growth -> Goes to the state
-Living conditions might add more on Party control informers terror
arrest and imprisonment without trial.
- Western Europe: rose about 5% per year
- Unemployment < 3%
- Standard of living rose rapidly -> consumer society
-1949-73 is seen as a Golden Age for Western Europe steady economic
growth, consumerism with increase of domestic appliances, credit,
advertising, low inflation, low unemployment the West German economic
miracle and the boom of the EEC trade. Brought to an end by the Oil Crisis
of 1973 and high inflation of the 70s.
What impact did economic development have on living conditions?
Eastern Europe:
- Growth was in the production of heavy industry (iron/steel, cement, tanks) ->
production of consumer goods was of lower priority
- Central planning demanded quantity and was insensitive to consumer needs and
quality
- Little consumer choice and long waiting lists
Western Europe:
- Standards of living rose rapidly -> consumer society (with proliferation of gadget
such as toasters, washing machines and TVs)
- Increasing employment (because of increasing technology)
- Wages more than doubled (after inflation) and working hours fell
- Boom period -> economic miracle
How far was economic development a driving force for increasing integration in
Europe? (1949-73)
(Low economic development was a factor of the collapse of the dictatorships.)
Eastern Europe
Economic discontent played a part in the 1953 East Berlin riots and the protests in
Poland in 1956 and 1980. It was also a factor in the events of 1989 in Eastern
Europe in Poland and Hungary reforming Communists saw the need to change
the system. Stability in Eastern Europe 1949-89 was imposed by the USSR!
Western Europe
OEEC: USA promoted increase integration to distribute Marshall Aid
Benelux Union: economic logic of abolishing customs duties and creating a
larger free market
ECSC: France fears that West Germanys coal and steel production would outpace
them -> to control the West German economic strength -> Schuman proposed the
ECSC as a way of controlling.
struggle for power between left and right. Strikes, demos, economic decline as
tourism collapsed, high inflation, Civil War seemed possible in 1975.
Difficult transition to democracy: The issues were how much control would the
army retain, would it intervene to prevent conflict between political groups?
Communism was strong in the South and in Lisbons working class. The church
was still influential.
Democracy established: 1976 a new constitution agreed elections and these were
won by the Socialists led by Soares. 1979 elections saw a peaceful transition of
power to the Centre Alliance. Joined the EEC in 1986.
Spain
-after victory in the Civil War 1936-39 he established a one party state anti-liberal,
anti-socialist/communist, strongly nationalist, cooperated with the Catholic
church, neutral in WW2
-Western nations disapproved Francos repression but they needed him as a Cold
War ally. The USA gave financial and military assistance to Franco in return for
military bases.
-Largely agricultural economy, high illiteracy, emigration of young
-1960s: a more dynamic economy opened Spain to foreign investment. Funds
came from migrant workers and tourism, urbanization (by 1970 only 20% worked
in agriculture), growing middle class wanted greater freedom. Workers wanted
better pay and conditions. Franco eased censorship and allowed a limited mal
vote for the National Assembly.
-Applications to join the EEC were turned down and Spains per capita income was
less than half of the EEC average.
-Transition: Franco died in 1975, designated King Juan Carlos as his successor.
-New King was determined to create a democratic constitutional monarchy.
Political parties formed
-June 1977 elections produced a majority for Conservatives.
-Smooth transition contrasted with the crisis in Portugal.
-Democracy established
-an attempted military coup was quickly condemned by the King and more army
officers remained loyal. This failure strengthened the monarchy and the
democratic process.
-1982 elections saw peaceful transition of power from the Conservatives to the
Socialists
-Joined NATO in 1982 and EEC in 1986
Conclusion
1970s saw transition from dictatorship to democracy in Greece, Portugal and
Spain. In all countries the change was managed by conservatives from the old
regime who recognized the need to change. In the 80s, all three were governed
by Socialist parties, so recently banned.
In all countries (especially Spain) young urban society was ready to move on from
the dictatorship. They wanted an end to cultural isolation.
The catalyst in Greece was the Cyprus crisis, in Portugal the colonial wars and in
Spain Francos death. The three policies had always been aligned with the West in
the Cold war so they were easily integrated into NATO and EEC.
Greece: the leaders of the Junta were arrested, trialed and imprisoned. Greeks
opinion of the military dictatorship is still divided
Portugal: Caetano went into exile in Brazil
Spain: Condemnation of the Francoist regime, historical memory law.
How and why did the communist regimes of central and eastern Europe collapse
in 1989?
How successfully did the newly democratic states meet the challenges of
transition?
What are the challenges? The criteria?
-Democratic elections and development of political parties to replace the one
party system where were the new politicians coming from? What role for the
old Communist Party?
-The rule of law end of arbitrary justice. The reform of the legal system and
police.
-Free press to replace Party propaganda.
-Development of a free social or civil life to replace Party domination.
-A market economy to replace the Communist system. Early problems of
transition inflation, competition, privatisation of state assets, greater inequalities
in wealth.
-International independence.
These were all part of the criteria that states had to meet to join the EU
successfully achieved by
Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Baltic States (ex-USSR) and
Slovenia (ex-Yugoslavia) in 2004, by Bulgaria and Romania in 2007 and by Croatia
(ex-Yugoslavia) in 2013.
Apart from the Baltic States, the former USSR republics have had a less successful
transition varying degrees of dictatorship.
The cooperation between Chiang and the CCP against Japan led to Japans
surrender in September 1945. By 1945, much of Eastern China had been
destroyed by the war. There was hyperinflation, starvation and homelessness.
Floods and war led to a refugee crisis and meanwhile, the Nationalist movement
was considered infamous for corruption and profiteering.
When the Civil war began again in 1946, the Nationalists appeared stronger. They
had a huge superiority in troops (army of 2.8 million against the CCP army of 320
000), equipment, artillery, the CCP had no aircraft and USA supported the
Nationalists against the Communists. They also controlled the more prosperous
and urban parts of China, the coast and the South.
During WWII, USA sees China as a key ally against Japan, but is repeatedly
disillusioned by a corrupted and ineffective Nationalist regime. By 1947, the
increasing unpopularity of the N. regime and the rising size of the CCP Red army
led to the USA suspending all weapons shipments and combat support. At that
time, Stalin did give some weapons to the CCP in 1945 after Japans surrender,
but he feared US intervention and therefore, didnt play a major role.
The Communists had the massive support of peasants and workers. The CCP
encouraged them to overturn landlords and seize land. It had its volunteered army
which was well disciplined and well treating. There were no atrocities and no
looting.
On the other side, the KMT was divided and Chiangs authority disputed. There
was rivalry, corruption and nepotism and it only had a narrow base of support
among rich industrialists and bankers. It had a conscript army that was badly
treated.
By 1949, there was an economic collapse as the cost of army reached 80% of the
governments income. The currency was worthless and even middle classes gave
up on Nationalism. The Communist leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of
the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). The announcement ended the full-scale civil
war between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party
(Kuomintang, KMT), which broke out immediately after World War II
Why did the CCP come to power? The Communist had the support of peasants
and workers which were the vast majority of the Chinese population. They were
well treated and the Communists never committed atrocities or looting. On the
other side, the Nationalist movement was completely corrupted, ineffective and
treated badly its army and people. By 1949, Mao comes to power with the
announcement of the creation of the PRC.
How far did China model itself on the Soviet Union initially?