Western Europe, 1950s and 1960s

I. rom Class Conflict to the Welfare State

a. Social stability is seen as necessary to maintain political stability, thus we have the.
welIare state: a modicum and minimum level oI wellbeing Ior its citizens
b. You must think in terms oI a spectrum; between a state that provides everything and nothing
II. Great Britain
a. Labour Party (ruled 17 years between 1945-1979)
b. Conservative Party (ruled 16 years between 1945-1979)
c. AIter 1945, Businesses accepted unions, unions accepted capitalism
d. Postwar employmentbig part oI elections, Clement Atlee is elected
e. Demand must be socialized, not production
III. Beveridge Report: produced in 1945, blueprint Ior role oI state in Post-WWII period
i. In the report he condemns unemployment; says it costs the nation political stability
WANTS THE NECESSARY THINGS TO LIVE HUMAN RIGHTS NOT CHARITYS
b. National Health Service (1946) up and running until (1948)
i. Social security also brought about maternity leave, burial stipends, etc.
ii. They got there through progressive taxation
IV. rance: Prosperity through European Unity
a. The French (I say) were also misguided enough to expand their social programs to include
government sponsored healthcare to everyone.
b. Jean Monnet: Wants state intervention in business and to reach out to Germany
c. The European panty-wastes band together Ior joint projects, etc. that lead to the European Union
V. Germany: %he Dynamic Welfare State
a. They are Iorced to rethink politics aIter they caused two world wars.
b. Basic Law: Federal Republic oI Germany (West Germany) sets up a constitution with basic
Ireedoms and the Iramework Ior a democratic process.
c. Christian Democratic Party (CDU) (ruled 17 years between 1949-1982)
d. Social Democratic Party (SPD) (ruled 13 years between 1949-1982) : Banned by the Nazi`s but
reestablished post WWII
e. (1966-1969 was a Grand Coalition that combined the CDU and SPD)
I. Konrad Adenauer (CDU): Serves as Chancellor Irom 1949-1963
g. Ludwig Erhard (CDU) 'Prosperity Ior All 1957
i. The third way is to make the poor consumers so that they can help drive the machine-
work the system well.
ii. Social-marketeconomy was the practice oI this makes sure resources go to the poor
iii. Consumerism It`s all about buying
iv. The state is making the Boards oI Heavy Industry include the working class in their board
meetings, got to help decide Iactory production
v. In 1952 large employees had to have a workers board that was the mediator between the
workers and the owners