Chapter 29The Contemporary Western World (since 1970)

The New Europe

The New Europe

1. The Soviet Union broke up into its fifteen constituent republics in December 1991. The new states included Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. They are loosely joined in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Independence unleashed many of the people's frustrations which have turned some states such as Georgia and Azerbaijan into war zones. In Russia, Chechnya became involved in a brutal war as it tried to secede and create its own independent republic.

2. The unification of Germany in 1990 became a possibility when the Soviet Union declared it would no longer support the leaders of the East German Communist Party following popular demonstrations opposing the communists.

3. Czechoslovakia peacefully divided itself into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on January 1, 1993, when the Czechs and Slovaks could not agree on the makeup of the new state.

4. Yugoslavia fell into violent civil war in 1991 (see Acetate 96, Map 29.2).

5. In 1988, demonstrations forced the military government in Poland to agree to free parliamentary elections. This was followed in December 1990 with the free election of a president, Lech Walesa, the leader of Solidarity.

6. The people of Hungary rejected communism in March 1990 with elections which committed the nation to democratic government and a free market economy.

7. The iron rule of Nicolae Ceausecu and his wife in Romania was brought to an end in 1989 following his plan for rapid urbanization which featured the bulldozing of entire villages.

8. Although Bulgaria experienced elections in 1991 which brought a new government coalition, the Socialist Party (the former Communists) remains a potent political force.

9. Albania experienced the consequence of the 1989 upheavals when antigovernment demonstrations in 1990 led to promises of reform. In March 1991 free elections were held though unrest still continues.

Questions:

1. Why did the breakup of the Soviet Union have an impact on the restructuring of Europe?2. What is the consequence of the creation of several new nations for Europe, especially the former Soviet states?

The New Europe

1. The Soviet Union broke up into its fifteen constituent republics in December 1991. The new states included Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. They are loosely joined in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Independence unleashed many of the people's frustrations which have turned some states such as Georgia and Azerbaijan into war zones. In Russia, Chechnya became involved in a brutal war as it tried to secede and create its own independent republic.

2. The unification of Germany in 1990 became a possibility when the Soviet Union declared it would no longer support the leaders of the East German Communist Party following popular demonstrations opposing the communists.

3. Czechoslovakia peacefully divided itself into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on January 1, 1993, when the Czechs and Slovaks could not agree on the makeup of the new state.

4. Yugoslavia fell into violent civil war in 1991 (see Acetate 96, Map 29.2).

5. In 1988, demonstrations forced the military government in Poland to agree to free parliamentary elections. This was followed in December 1990 with the free election of a president, Lech Walesa, the leader of Solidarity.

6. The people of Hungary rejected communism in March 1990 with elections which committed the nation to democratic government and a free market economy.

7. The iron rule of Nicolae Ceausecu and his wife in Romania was brought to an end in 1989 following his plan for rapid urbanization which featured the bulldozing of entire villages.

8. Although Bulgaria experienced elections in 1991 which brought a new government coalition, the Socialist Party (the former Communists) remains a potent political force.

9. Albania experienced the consequence of the 1989 upheavals when antigovernment demonstrations in 1990 led to promises of reform. In March 1991 free elections were held though unrest still continues.

Questions:

1. Why did the breakup of the Soviet Union have an impact on the restructuring of Europe?2. What is the consequence of the creation of several new nations for Europe, especially the former Soviet states?

From Cold War to Post-Cold War: Toward a New World Order Détente

Missile treaties Helsinki Agreements Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, 1979

Olympic boycott by the United States, 1980 Ronald Reagan’s “evil empire”

The End of the Cold War Mikhail Gorbachev (b. 1931)

“New thinking” Autonomy for Communist regimes in Eastern Europe

Gulf War

Toward a New Western Order Revolutionary change in the Soviet Union, 1964-1982

Leonid Brezhnev (1906-1982) Brezhnev Doctrine –right to intervene if socialism

threatened Emphasis on heavy industry Agricultural problems

Ruling system based on patronage Gorbachev Era

Perestroika (restructuring) Glasnost Political reforms

Call for a new Soviet parliament, 1988 Congress of People’s Deputies elected 1989

1988-1990 nationalist movements erupt Lithuania declares independence, 1990; rejected by the

Congress Gorbachev arrested, August 19, 1991; coup fails Ukraine votes for independence, December 1991, others

follow December 25, 1991, Gorbachev resigns and turns power over

to Boris Yeltsin, president of Russia

Eastern Europe: The Collapse of the Communist Order Poland

Solidarity General Wojciech Jaruzelski outlaws Solidarity,

December 1981 Free parliamentary elections, 1988 President freely elected by the populace, April 1990

Hungary Elections, March 1990

Czechoslovakia Charter 77 Communist government collapses, December 1989 Czechoslovakia splits into the Czech Republic and

Slovakia, January 1, 1993 Romania

Nicolae Ceausescu (1918-1989) Bulldozing of villages

Bulgaria Albania

The Lands of Former Yugoslavia

The Lands of Former Yugoslavia

1. After World War II Yugoslavia was led by Marshal Tito (Josip Broz) who pulled together by force of personality the various ethnic groups of the nation (see Acetate 79, Map 24.3B). His death in 1980 began a decade of instability that blossomed into full civil war. In 1990 non-Communists won elections in the republics of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia leading to calls for a new federal structure for Yugoslavia. Negotiations failed and in June 1991 Slovenia and Croatia declared independence. Serbia, determined to maintain a united Yugoslavian state that it could dominate, moved against Croatia in September when Croatian Serbs demanded safeguards against discrimination. Serbian forces, including irregulars, soon captured one-third of Croatia's territory.

2. Serbian nationalism was very dangerous because Slobodan Milosevic, leader of the Serbian Communist Party, rejected independence of the republics without new borders to accommodate Serbian minorities who did not wish to live outside the boundaries of a Greater Serbian state. Serbs constituted 11.6 percent of Croatia and 32 percent of the population of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1981.

3. In 1992 Croatia and Serbia decided to divide Bosnia-Herzegovina. Muslims of Bosnia were a particular target as Serbia pursued a policy of "ethnic cleansing." Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, became a war zone. The war has become less for territory and more of religion and ethnicity. By mid-1993, Serbian forces had acquired seventy percent of Bosnia and by 1995 there were about 250,000 Bosnians dead (mostly civilians) while two million were left homeless. NATO agreed to send 60,000 troops (20,000 American) to act as a peace keeping force.

4. A formal peace treaty based upon the peace negotiations at Dayton, Ohio, was signed in Paris on December 14, 1995. The agreement split Bosnia into a loose union of the Serb Republic (with 49 percent of land) and the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (with 51 percent of the land). A force of 60,000 troops from NATO has been assigned to monitor the frontier between the new political entities.

5. In 1999 the ethnic cleansing and destruction was repeated in Kosovo where a Kosovar rebellion had begun. NATO responded to atrocities with a bombing campaign aimed at bringing down Milosevic. The bombing campaign ended in June 1999 with an agreement for NATO troops to act as peace keepers (Russia also sent troops).

Questions:1. How did the collapse of the Soviet Union contribute to the problems of the former Yugoslavia?2. What is the purpose of "ethnic cleansing"?

The Lands of Former Yugoslavia

1. After World War II Yugoslavia was led by Marshal Tito (Josip Broz) who pulled together by force of personality the various ethnic groups of the nation (see Acetate 79, Map 24.3B). His death in 1980 began a decade of instability that blossomed into full civil war. In 1990 non-Communists won elections in the republics of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia leading to calls for a new federal structure for Yugoslavia. Negotiations failed and in June 1991 Slovenia and Croatia declared independence. Serbia, determined to maintain a united Yugoslavian state that it could dominate, moved against Croatia in September when Croatian Serbs demanded safeguards against discrimination. Serbian forces, including irregulars, soon captured one-third of Croatia's territory.

2. Serbian nationalism was very dangerous because Slobodan Milosevic, leader of the Serbian Communist Party, rejected independence of the republics without new borders to accommodate Serbian minorities who did not wish to live outside the boundaries of a Greater Serbian state. Serbs constituted 11.6 percent of Croatia and 32 percent of the population of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1981.

3. In 1992 Croatia and Serbia decided to divide Bosnia-Herzegovina. Muslims of Bosnia were a particular target as Serbia pursued a policy of "ethnic cleansing." Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, became a war zone. The war has become less for territory and more of religion and ethnicity. By mid-1993, Serbian forces had acquired seventy percent of Bosnia and by 1995 there were about 250,000 Bosnians dead (mostly civilians) while two million were left homeless. NATO agreed to send 60,000 troops (20,000 American) to act as a peace keeping force.

4. A formal peace treaty based upon the peace negotiations at Dayton, Ohio, was signed in Paris on December 14, 1995. The agreement split Bosnia into a loose union of the Serb Republic (with 49 percent of land) and the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (with 51 percent of the land). A force of 60,000 troops from NATO has been assigned to monitor the frontier between the new political entities.

5. In 1999 the ethnic cleansing and destruction was repeated in Kosovo where a Kosovar rebellion had begun. NATO responded to atrocities with a bombing campaign aimed at bringing down Milosevic. The bombing campaign ended in June 1999 with an agreement for NATO troops to act as peace keepers (Russia also sent troops).

Questions:1. How did the collapse of the Soviet Union contribute to the problems of the former Yugoslavia?2. What is the purpose of "ethnic cleansing"?

Reunification of Germany Unrest due to economic problems Communist government falls, November 1989 Economies of West and East Germany united, July 1, 1990 Politically unified, October 2, 1990

Yugoslavia Death of Tito in 1980 Divisions between Slovenes and Serbians

Non-communist parties win elections in Slovenia, Coatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia and call for federalist structure, 1990

Slbodan Milosevic rejects these efforts without new border arrangements to accommodate Serb minorities

After the Fall Virtually no experience with democratic systems Rapid conversion to market economies

Western Europe: The Winds of Change Economic recessions, 1973-1974 and 1979-1983 Increase in the price of oil Unemployment Integration of economies –European Economic Community Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty) European Community became the European Union, 1994 Decline of communist parties

From West Germany to Germany Willy Brandt (1913-1992), 1969-1974 Ostpolitik Rise of neo-Nazis Problems of union

Great Britain: Thatcher and Thatcherism Conservatives gain political power, 1979 Political changes of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (b. 1925)

Broke power of the labor unions Austerity to control inflation Hard line toward communism Rebuilds the military Falklands War, 1982

Anti-tax riots force Thatcher to resign, November 1990 Uncertainties in France

François Mitterand (1916-1995) , 1981-1995 Socialistic policies Unemployment Reforms Nationalization Economic weaknesses of the 1990s

Confusion in Italy Economic crisis, 1970s Political problems

United States: Domestic Turmoil Shift to the Right

Richard Nixon (1913-1994) elected in 1968 Visits China, 1972 Ends Vietnam war, 1973 Resignation, August 9, 1974

Jimmy Carter (b. 1924), 1976-1980 Stagflation – high inflation and unemployment Oil embargo, 1973 53 hostages held by Iran

Ronald Reagan (b. 1911), 1981-1989 Reverses the welfare state Military buildup Supply-side economics

George Bush (b. 1924), 1989-1993 Economic downturn

William Clinton elected 1992 The Development of Canada

New Directions and New Problems in Western Society Transformation in Women’s Lives

Decline of the birthrate Women in the workforce Women’s Movement

Abortion Women’s studies Ecology International women’s conferences

The Growth of Terrorism Left and right wing terrorist groups Militant nationalism International terrorism

Guest Workers and Immigrants Need for labor in the 1950s and 1960s Unemployment rises in 1970s Non white foreigners

The Environment and the Green Movements Environmentalism Green parties

The World of Western Culture Recent Trends in Art, Music, and Literature

Abstractionism and Abstract Expressionism Pop Art Postmodern Serialism Theater of the Absurd

Philosophical Dilemma: Existentialism Reflects the anxieties of the twentieth century Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) Albert Camus (1913-1960)

Absence of God Hope in ones self

Revival of Religion Karl Barth (1886-1968) Karl Rahner (1904-1984) Pope John XXIII, 1958-1963 Pope John Paul II, 1978-

The New World of Science and Technology Military-Industrial Complex Space race Transistor Computers E.F. Schumacher (1911-1977), Small is Beautiful

Explosion of Popular Culture Support of the economic system Popular Culture and the Americanization of the World

Motion pictures Television Popular music

Experimentation in rock and role Growth of Mass Sports

Olympics Popular Culture: Toward a New Globalism

Toward a Global Civilization? Problems are global not just national Nongovernmental organizations