Eastern Europe Today

Obj 1: describe Eastern Europe today. Obj 2: Analyze reasons for the Balkan conflict.Obj 3: Explain the impact Communism had on Eastern Europe.

Poland

• Poland – with the Solidarity (1980s) movement became first nation in Eastern Europe to transition to democracy.

• Created market economy, encouraged private businesses

• Many Poles became entrepreneurs

• Lech Walesa became president

Baltic Nations

• Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania moved away from the USSR– formed democratic governments in 1990s

• All are members of the EU• Recent investments of capital have helped– Main trade partners areGermany, Finland and Sweden

Central Europe

Central Europe

• Czech Republic and Slovakia– 1989, gained independence from USSR– Split peacefully in 1993 along ethnic lines• Czech Rep. experienced quicker economic growth• Slovakia lowered taxes in 1998 for foreign companies

– Both in EU and have expanded trade

Central Europe

• Hungary has had some success since the fall of communism– Heavy debt from foreign countries has slowed

econ growth• Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia– 1990, 90% of Slovenians voted for independence– Became first Balkan nation to join EU and NATO

(2004)

The Balkan NationsYugoslavia splits

The Balkans

• WWI – Yugoslavia created from 6 territories– Each territory was a different ethnic group– After WWII, Josip Broz Tito avoided total

communist takeover• Union began to weaken after his death in 1980

– Serbian power n gov’t was TOO strong• 1991, Slovenia and Croatia broke away followed by

Macedonia• 1992, Bosnia seceded

The Balkans – Ethnic Cleansing

• Serbs attack Muslims in Bosnia then moved into vacant areas– Ethnic cleansing in violation of intn’l law– UN and NATO sent troops to enforce treaties

• Slow to shift from government control to private enterprise– Conflict has disrupted their economies– Relocation has hurt them too

Romania, Albania and Bulgaria

• Dominated by the USSR• Late 1980s, shifted to market economies• Plagued by corruption• 2007, Bulgaria and Romania accepted into EU– Albania still plagued by poverty

Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova

Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova

• 1991, all gained independence– Ukraine is democratic• Struggles with corruption

– Belarus is a dictatorship• Lukashenko has been in power since 1994• Must import from Russia which makes it vulnerable

Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova

• Moldova is the weakest– Has border issues with Transdniestria