Changes in Western Europe, Changes in Western Europe, the US and the Soviet Union: A the US and the Soviet Union: A

Post-WWII AnalysisPost-WWII AnalysisC 31C 31

EQ: What are the major changes and EQ: What are the major changes and continuities in the US, Western Europe and continuities in the US, Western Europe and

the Soviet Union in the Post-War era?the Soviet Union in the Post-War era?

Political Changes – Western Political Changes – Western EuropeEurope

DecolonizationDecolonizationCold War – Russia is now our enemy! Germany Cold War – Russia is now our enemy! Germany becomes focal point of so-called Cold War as Allies and becomes focal point of so-called Cold War as Allies and USSR “fight” to spread their ideology in this divided USSR “fight” to spread their ideology in this divided territoryterritory– Europe becomes more comfortable upon relying on the US for Europe becomes more comfortable upon relying on the US for

protectionprotection

Liberal Democracy and democratic constitutions with Liberal Democracy and democratic constitutions with universal (including female) suffrageuniversal (including female) suffrage– Christian Democrats come to power seeking democracy for all Christian Democrats come to power seeking democracy for all

and moderate (NOT RADICAL) reformand moderate (NOT RADICAL) reform

The Welfare state emerges thanks to a shift to the left The Welfare state emerges thanks to a shift to the left (ugh), though the improving of economic inequality was (ugh), though the improving of economic inequality was minimal at best (still large divisions in class)minimal at best (still large divisions in class)

Political Continuity – Western Political Continuity – Western EuropeEurope

Alliances – between western nations, just Alliances – between western nations, just like in WWI and WWII – NATO. Forming like in WWI and WWII – NATO. Forming alliances with the US to uphold the alliances with the US to uphold the containment of Communism “behind the containment of Communism “behind the Iron Curtain”Iron Curtain”NO SINGLE GOVERNMENT in Europe, NO SINGLE GOVERNMENT in Europe, continued political allegiances to the continued political allegiances to the nationalist state (ie. no complete European nationalist state (ie. no complete European unity politically or “they still don’t really like unity politically or “they still don’t really like each other”)each other”)

Economic Changes – Western Economic Changes – Western EuropeEurope

Welfare stateWelfare stateCommon Market/European Union – unify economic Common Market/European Union – unify economic policies across European boundaries (one currency, policies across European boundaries (one currency, reduced tariffs, free labor movement) (minus Great reduced tariffs, free labor movement) (minus Great Britain)Britain)Increased agricultural productivity, retooled industryIncreased agricultural productivity, retooled industryRapid GDP growth in 50s and 60s, greater than US Rapid GDP growth in 50s and 60s, greater than US Shift to technology production Shift to technology production VERY low unemployment, little labor unrestVERY low unemployment, little labor unrestIncrease in “guest workers” from foreign, decolonized Increase in “guest workers” from foreign, decolonized nations and the Middle Eastnations and the Middle East

Economic Continuity – Western Economic Continuity – Western Europe and the USEurope and the US

Inflation, as it was pre-war, was still a Inflation, as it was pre-war, was still a problem (increased value of goods, higher problem (increased value of goods, higher fuel prices, etc.)fuel prices, etc.)

Continued economic inequalities (poverty, Continued economic inequalities (poverty, low wages)low wages)

Political/Economic Changes in the USPolitical/Economic Changes in the US

ChangesChanges– Switch from isolationist policies to containment/engagement policiesSwitch from isolationist policies to containment/engagement policies– The “spread of liberty and democracy” approach to diplomacy. As The “spread of liberty and democracy” approach to diplomacy. As

quoted by Truman, “free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed quoted by Truman, “free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”minorities or by outside pressures”

– A definite anti-communist climate emerged in the US (McCarthy/HUAC)A definite anti-communist climate emerged in the US (McCarthy/HUAC)– (788-790) Massive increases in per capita DI in the US (117%) and (788-790) Massive increases in per capita DI in the US (117%) and

purchases of consumer goods (shopping malls and supermarkets), purchases of consumer goods (shopping malls and supermarkets), coupled with a “baby boom” of population in the post-war era coupled with a “baby boom” of population in the post-war era

ContinuitiesContinuities– Very few political continuities other than increased Very few political continuities other than increased

militarization/mobilization of US forces after WWII to support diplomatic militarization/mobilization of US forces after WWII to support diplomatic policiespolicies

– Very few continuities in economics aside from inflation and continued Very few continuities in economics aside from inflation and continued massive immigration into the US to fill undesired jobs, this time from massive immigration into the US to fill undesired jobs, this time from newer areas of the globe (Asia and Latin America)newer areas of the globe (Asia and Latin America)

Social Changes –Western Europe Social Changes –Western Europe and USand US

WOMEN !WOMEN !– The traditional Victorian homemaker role still exists, The traditional Victorian homemaker role still exists,

however…however…– Women become more educatedWomen become more educated– Women work more (“Rosie the Riveter”/service jobs)Women work more (“Rosie the Riveter”/service jobs)– Women began to protest the economic (lower pay) Women began to protest the economic (lower pay)

social (fewer rights) dividesocial (fewer rights) divide– Birth Control, women decreasingly had large sums of Birth Control, women decreasingly had large sums of

kidskids– Divorce rates increasedDivorce rates increased– New Feminism (Beauvoir – New Feminism (Beauvoir – Second SexSecond Sex and Friedan and Friedan

– – The Feminine MystiqueThe Feminine Mystique) reaction to traditional role ) reaction to traditional role imposed by men on women while at the same time imposed by men on women while at the same time creating support organizationscreating support organizations

Other Social Changes –Western Other Social Changes –Western Europe and USEurope and US

The US went to the forefront in The US went to the forefront in intellectual/scientific development, though intellectual/scientific development, though some Europeans sought recognition in some Europeans sought recognition in certain fieldscertain fields

The “pop culture” emerged, the “Coca-The “pop culture” emerged, the “Coca-cola-nization” of Europe, the impact of US cola-nization” of Europe, the impact of US television, the “British invasion”television, the “British invasion”

The “Sexual Revolution”The “Sexual Revolution”

Social/Cultural Continuities in Social/Cultural Continuities in Western WorldWestern World

Art continued with earlier 20Art continued with earlier 20thth century century themes (though some changes are themes (though some changes are highlighted) such as cubism, surrealism, highlighted) such as cubism, surrealism, realism…only POP art was newrealism…only POP art was new

Europeans maintained a clear advantage Europeans maintained a clear advantage in the expression of the arts, particularly in in the expression of the arts, particularly in films (art films) due to more social films (art films) due to more social freedomsfreedoms

Politics in the USSRPolitics in the USSR

ContinuityContinuity– Expansion policies. Get communism into other countries Expansion policies. Get communism into other countries

(Comintern)(Comintern)– Continue diplomatic and political party authoritarianism in Continue diplomatic and political party authoritarianism in

response to Western aggressiveness, military build up from end response to Western aggressiveness, military build up from end of WWII through Cold War (increased spying, Cuban Missile of WWII through Cold War (increased spying, Cuban Missile Crisis)Crisis)

– Competition with the West (Space Race)Competition with the West (Space Race)

ChangeChange– De-Stalinization: loosen cultural restrictions, loosen political De-Stalinization: loosen cultural restrictions, loosen political

opposition persecution (Khrushchev)opposition persecution (Khrushchev)– Diplomatic issues 1) Chinese rift 2) Muslim minorities prompting Diplomatic issues 1) Chinese rift 2) Muslim minorities prompting

Afghan invasionAfghan invasion

– Glasnost (public openness) and perestroika (restructuring) Glasnost (public openness) and perestroika (restructuring) under Gorbachevunder Gorbachev

Economics in the USSREconomics in the USSRChangeChange– Became fully industrial, supporting military sector in generalBecame fully industrial, supporting military sector in general– Industrial work pace was sped up and incentives increasedIndustrial work pace was sped up and incentives increased– Extensive state support in leisure activities and sporting Extensive state support in leisure activities and sporting

competitionscompetitions– Despite so-called unity under Communism, distinct class divides Despite so-called unity under Communism, distinct class divides

still emerged between workers and intelligentsiastill emerged between workers and intelligentsia– Environmental devastationEnvironmental devastation– Glasnost (public openness) and perestroika (restructuring)Glasnost (public openness) and perestroika (restructuring)

ContinuityContinuity– Continued de-emphasis on/lack of consumer goodsContinued de-emphasis on/lack of consumer goods– Continued to seek economic independence from the Western Continued to seek economic independence from the Western

capitalist model (self-sufficiency) capitalist model (self-sufficiency) – Continued issues with agricultural production as capital was Continued issues with agricultural production as capital was

diverted to industrial progress, maintaining food supply issuesdiverted to industrial progress, maintaining food supply issues– Continued massive urbanization and construction efforts in citiesContinued massive urbanization and construction efforts in cities

Society/Culture in the USSRSociety/Culture in the USSRChangeChange– Expansion of Socialist Realism in the arts (murals) Expansion of Socialist Realism in the arts (murals) – Suppression of organized religion and increased teachings of secular Suppression of organized religion and increased teachings of secular

scientific doctrine (some religious latitude given to Muslims)scientific doctrine (some religious latitude given to Muslims)– In the late 70s/early 80s, western musical influences crept into the USSR In the late 70s/early 80s, western musical influences crept into the USSR

(jazz, rock music/heavy metal) but not without official state suspicion (jazz, rock music/heavy metal) but not without official state suspicion (Chorny Kofe, Chorny Obelisk, Gorky Park)(Chorny Kofe, Chorny Obelisk, Gorky Park)

– Censorship eased and literary authors towed the lines, sometimes Censorship eased and literary authors towed the lines, sometimes defying state control…most wrote about war glories, patriotism…others defying state control…most wrote about war glories, patriotism…others wrote critical reviews of the state which caused them to be exiled wrote critical reviews of the state which caused them to be exiled (Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Boris Pasternak, Michail Sholokhov)(Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Boris Pasternak, Michail Sholokhov)

– Birth rate declineBirth rate decline– Increased alcoholism (VODKA) and agitation among the youth Increased alcoholism (VODKA) and agitation among the youth

populationpopulation

ContinuityContinuity– Continued emphasis on science and sociology (expansions in physics, Continued emphasis on science and sociology (expansions in physics,

chemistry, mathematics, socialist theory) with continued rejection of chemistry, mathematics, socialist theory) with continued rejection of Western ideology in each filedWestern ideology in each filed

– BALLET and some western classical music still permittedBALLET and some western classical music still permitted