1968- Present 1968- Present Political and Political and

Social History Social History of Europeof Europe

Mrs. CraigMrs. Craig

Economic Crisis!!!Economic Crisis!!!• Early 1970’s • Oil!!! • OPEC• Reaction to Middle East Wars

between Egypt and Israel• Inflation- mid- 1970’s• Stagflation= unexpected economic

slow down +high inflation

Economic Crisis- Economic Crisis- (continued)(continued)

• A direct result of high oil process and spiraling prices for other goods (sound familiar????)

• Iran Islamic Revolution ended Iran’s oil production and helped to create high prices worldwide

Results of Economic CrisisResults of Economic Crisis• Social change– women began to work

outside the home out of necessity• Students in 1980’s became

“conservative”– jobs became the major concern in contrast to 1960’s students as liberal thinkers.

Germany –split after WWIIGermany –split after WWII– West Germany– Willy Brandt president

1969– Instituted firm 2 party system– Instituted liberalism and political

tolerance– Made W. Germany a true world power

again– Helped create friendly economic climate– Established relations with E Germany

““Détente”Détente”

•Gradual easing of Cold War tensions

•Foreign policy of the Brezhnev years

Helsinki Accord- 1973Helsinki Accord- 1973• Between Nixon and Brezhnev• To relax nuclear arms race– set limits• Nixon’s withdrawal from Vietnam

paved was for better US-USSR relations• Included a Human rights clause-which

Brezhnev ignores• Will form basis for unrest in Eastern

Bloc when they want Helsinki Accord enforced.

Late 1970’s-Tensions Late 1970’s-Tensions IncreaseIncrease

• Soviet invasion of Afghanistan- refutes “Détente” policy

• “Solidarity” uprising in Gdansk, Poland

• Lech Walesa- electrician in shipyard• Martial law imposed in Poland

Strain develops in NATOStrain develops in NATO• Members can’t agree on

condemnation/action on Afghanistan or Poland

• 1981- NATO gets revitalized after Iran Hostage Crisis

• Reagan gets support to strengthen mid-range missile capabilities

• NATO survives 70’s ad 80’s to emerge a formidable organization & helps encourage Fall of Berlin Wall 1989

Soviet Bloc:1968-presentSoviet Bloc:1968-present• Krushchev’s small de-stalinization

encouraged several Eastern Bloc Satellites

• Czechoslovakia- 1968- voted Alex. Dubcek president- a reformer

• Called ”Prague Spring”• Reform program popular! Censorship

relaxed Communist Party uses democracy within party-economic reform welcome.

Brezhnev dies in 1982!Brezhnev dies in 1982!• Had re-Stalinized but used coercion

instead of terror• Standard of living had improved

during Brezhnev years• Dissenters had been severely

punished– yet westerners saw social changes occurring in USSR “while Brezhnev Slept”

““WHILE BREZHNEV SLEPT”WHILE BREZHNEV SLEPT”• Growth of urban population• More education, better job skills,

increased sophistication• # of highly trained scientists,

managers, specialists increase 4-fold from 1960-1985

• Education fostered public opinion-people read! Then wanted change!!! (triumph of the intelligensia!!!)

Prague Spring put down!Prague Spring put down!• USSR afraid would encourage other

liberal gov’t reforms in Eastern Bloc• After Dubcek refuses to stop

liberalization– flown to Moscow– publicly force to “knuckle under”

• Prague Spring led to “Brezhnev Doctrine”- Soviets and allies have right to intervene in any socialist country whenever they see cause.

Brezhnev dies 1982!!!Brezhnev dies 1982!!!

• Succession of OLD Soviet leaders- reward the hard liners from the Stalin era who survived those years

• Andropov-former Stalin aide and KGB head

• Chernyenko-lasted only few months• Gorbachev- first non-revolution

leader

Gorbachev- 1985Gorbachev- 1985• Represents new Communist regime• Perestroika- -economic change• Glasnost- openness• Withdrew troops from Afghanistan• Encouraged reform in Poland• Sought to reduce East –West tension• Repudiated Brezhnev Doctrine• Pledged to respect political choices

of Eastern Bloc

Poland- SolidarityPoland- Solidarity• Resurfaces as a political force in mid

1970s Lech Walesa-shipyard Gdansk• “Polish Miracle”- appointment of

Polish Pope- John Paul II 1979• Helped fuel Polish Nationalism that

Communist has failed to extinguish• Membership in Solidarity increases• 9.5 million members in 1981

Poland- Solidarity Poland- Solidarity (continued)(continued)

• Catholic Church supported Solidarity• Soviets could not put down militarily• Poles wanted enforcement of human

rights clause in Helsinki Agreement• Gdansk Agreement-minor government

concessions• Dec 1981-Plish leader Gen. Jaruzelki

struck middle of night– Martial Law!!!• Solidarity goes underground

Velvet Revolutions of 1989Velvet Revolutions of 1989• Poland- led the way with Solidarity;

became legalized party; negotiated sharing of power; free elections

• Hungary next!- tore down Iron Curtain on Austrian border—opened for E German emigres

• West Germany- opens Berlin Wall• Czechoslovakia- Dec.- ousted

Communists in 10 days

Velvet RevolutionsVelvet Revolutions• Romania- only violent revolution• Nicolae Ceausecu ordered forces to

open fire on demonstrators• Ceausecu and wife captured, tried

and executed by military court -Xmas 1989

• Gorbachev’s reforms led to break up of Soviet Union