Download AP EURO SNAPSHOT CHART: 20th Century Europe Country State

AP EURO SNAPSHOT CHART: 20th Century Europe
Country
State of the Economy
Political Situation
AUSTRIA
Economy struggled with high inflation
and unemployment during Great
Depression but rebounded after WWII
b/c of a prosperous banking and
insurance industries, and a strong
industrial sector that depends on
exports such as machinery, metals,
paper, textiles, food, and livestock.
Became EU member in 1995.
Revolution in 1918 brought an end to 640
years of Hapsburg rule and established
democratic First Republic w/ brief period
of authoritarian dictatorship in the 1930s.
Second Republic established after WWII
and continues to this day.
FRANCE
Rebuilt quickly after WWI. France
handled the Depression better than
France or Germany due to its more
agricultural economy and the buffer of
its global empire. France became a
major industrial producer and exporter
(esp. automobiles and armaments) as
President de Gaulle nationalized
traditional industries and centralized
economic policy causing GNP to grow
substantially. However, these same
policies led to large gov’t deficits and
high cost of living that would continue
to plague France until the turn of the
21st century.
GERMANY
Post WWI economy took a long time to
rebuild due to hyperinflation and
massive reparations. Hit extremely
hard by the Great Depression, it’s
extremely high unemployment only
brought down by Hitler’s rearmament.
West Germany rebounded after WWII
to become the continent’s economic
giant with a combination of potent
export industries, fiscal discipline, and
consensus-driven industrial relations
and welfare policies. The former
Soviet-dominated east has struggled to
catch up with the west since
reunification, while people in the west
have had to pay a higher than
expected financial price for unity.
Third Republic was a volatile situation w/
moderates dominating the government
and battling Communists and Socialists. An
alliance b/t all 3 groups was needed in
1936 to stop the growing French fascists.
Another weak republic followed WWII,
until Charles de Gaulle established the
strong presidency of the 5th Republic. The
Socialist Party controlled the gov’t for
much of the 1970s and 1980s as France
turned to the policies of Francois
Mitterand to improve the economic
situation. The failure of the economic
policies of the Socialists led France to turn
conservative parties and President Jacques
Chirac in the 1990s.
Second German Empire under Kaiser
Wilhelm II gave way to Weimar Republic
via a revolution in 1918. Moderate
businessmen successfully guided Weimar
through the 1920s until pended by the
Great Depression. Totalitarian dictatorship
under Nazi Germany followed. A thriving
democratic gov’t was installed after
reunification in 1991 and has been stable
ever since.
International/
Transnational Issues
Austria’s belligerence toward Serbia after
Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination in 1914
was major cause of WWI. Fought for the
Central Powers in WWI. Nazis invaded and
absorbed Austria via the Anschluss (1938).
A decade of occupation by Allied Powers
after WWII that ended with the signing of
the 1955 state treaty that guaranteed
Austrian unity in the Cold War in return for
neutrality.
Fought on the Allied side in WWI. Support
of the “harsh peace” forced on Germany by
the Versailles Treaty led to a brief
occupation of the Ruhr Valley (1921).
Invaded and conquered by Nazi Germany in
1940. Cold War era witnessed France lose
its colonial empire in a series of bitter wars
(esp. in Algeria and Indochina) .France
attempted to regain its lost status as a
world power under President de Gaulle
who removed France from NATO and
invested heavily in nuclear arms. After
WWII, France became a key player in
European integration as one of the
founding members of the ECSC and
“Common Market”
German uber-nationalism and militarism
was one of the major long-term causes of
WWI, as was the “blank check” given to
Austria-Hungary a major short-term cause.
Ruhr valley briefly occupied after WWI by
France. Hitler’s rearmament and unbridled
expansion was the major short term cause
of WWII. After WWII, Germany was divided
into a democratic West and communist
East. In the 1950s West Germany was one
of the six founding nations of the European
Economic Community from which the
European Union eventually developed and
in which Germany is a key player. FrancoGerman cooperation was central to
European economic integration in the
1980s and 1990s.
Major Social Issue/Problem
Rich cultural heritage in music, the visual arts, and
philosophy
A series of strikes, riots, and demonstrations by
students in 1968 forced President Charles de Gaulle
to resign. Resent against immigrants (esp. from
North Africa) and difficulty integrating its Muslim
population plagued France around the turn of the
21st century
Dealing with the legacy of its Nazi past
(denazification) has been difficult. An ageing
population has led to concern over the continued
viability of Germany's high welfare and health
spending. There is also a debate about how to
improve integration of the many post-war
immigrants whose labor helped fuel the economic
boom.
GREECE
Post-World War II Greece saw rapid
economic and social change, with
tourism and shipping becoming major
contributors to the economy.
Became a republic in 1824 though
monarchy kept as figurehead. Fell victim in
1930s to authoritarian dictatorship. A
republican form was established and
Greece joined NATO in 1952, though this
gov’t fell to military coup in 1967. A
republic was restored in 1973 and has
existed ever since.
Fought alongside Allies during WWI but
promises for territories in Asia Minor not
kept in Versailles Treaty. Conquered by Nazi
Germany in WWII. Greece joined EC (later
EU) in 1981. Has long been at odds with its
close neighbour, Turkey, over territorial
disputes in the Aegean and the divided
island of Cyprus. Has been in dispute since
the early 1990s with the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia. Greece contends
that the use of the name Macedonia by the
neighbouring country implies a territorial
claim over Greece's own region of the same
name. The UN is involved in continuing
mediation efforts.
Student protests and demonstrations against the
military junta in the 1970s. Issues assimilating its
immigrant population.
ITALY
High unemployment and inflation
plagued post-WWI Italy. Mussolini
attempted to revive the economy by
establishing a corporate state.
Experience a post-WWII “economic
miracle” with help from the Marshall
Plan. Production of electrical
appliances, cars, and office machinery
helped boost economic growth. Heavy
industry was controlled partly by
private enterprise and partly by the
gov’t. Severe economic recession hit in
the 1970s due to its dependence on
foreign oil. Remarkable economic
growth followed in the 1980s.
Uprising in 1956 allowed Poland to
follow its own socialist path especially
in regards to the economy. In the
1970s, Poland enjoys relative
economic prosperity based on foreign
loans. After the painful adoption of
“shock therapy” austerity measures in
the early 1990s, Poland made a
successful transition to a market
economy by the 21st century.
Struggles of post-WWI Italy gave rise to
Mussolini’s Fascist dictatorship .
Democratic republic established after
WWII was a weak coalition government
prone to instability and dominated by
Christian Democratic Party. Instability
continued to plague Italian gov’t by the
turn of the 21st century. By 1991, Italy
witnessed the installation of its 50th
postwar gov’t.
Joined Allied side of WWI in 1916 but felt
betrayed by the broken promises of the
Versailles Treaties. Mussolini and Hitler
signed the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936 and
were allies throughout WWII until defeat.
Italy was one of the founding members of
European integration as part of the ECSC
and “Common Market”. In fact, the treaty
that created the EEC or “Common Market”
was signed in Rome (1957).
Student unrest, mass strikes, and terrorist attacks
occurred throughout the postwar period.
Corruptive influence of the Mafia spread from
southern Italy to the north.
Independent Polish state established by
Versailles Treaties. Interwar Poland
dominated by authoritarian dictatorship
under Josef Pilsudski. After Nazi
occupation during WWII, Poland becomes
a Communist People's Republic after
Soviet-run elections, under the Stalinist
leadership of Boleslaw Bierut. Liberal
Communist leader Wladislaw Gomulka
came to power after Polish uprising in
1956 but made deal w/ Soviets to allow
Poland to follow its own socialist path.
Solidarity movement galvanizes Poland in
1981 but is quickly put down. Roundtable
talks b/t Communists, Solidarity,and the
Catholic Church lead to partially free
elections that Solidarity sweeps in 1989.
Stable democratic republic established w/
Solidarity leader Lech Walesa as first
president.
Polish state created in 1918, but was
eventually occupied by Nazi Germany in
WWII. Became an eastern bloc Soviet
puppet state after WWII and signed the
Warsaw Pact (1955). Poland threw off
communist rule in 1989 thanks to the work
of the Solidarity trade union movement and
the work of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church was always a vital institution in
Poland and bulwark against communism. The
election of Pope John Paul II in 1978 really
galvanized the Solidarity movement and anticommunist sentiment.
POLAND
RUSSIA
SPAIN
SWEDEN
The establishment of the USSR after
the Revolution of 1917 established a
communist command economy whose
gradual stagnation eventually brought
down the USSR. In the period of rapid
privatisation in the early 1990s, the
government of President Boris Yeltsin
created a small but powerful group of
magnates, often referred to as
"oligarchs", who acquired vast
interests in the energy and media
sectors, especially in its oil and gas
industries that helped it overcome the
economic collapse of 1998.
El Milagro Espanol - the economic
miracle of the late 1950s - sees Spain's
manufacturing and tourism industries
take off through liberalization of state
controls over the next two decades.
Unemployment is low and the
economy strong. Public-private
partnership is at the core of "the
Swedish model", which was developed
by the Social Democrats, who
governed for most of the last 70 years
until 2006. This mixed economy
traditionally featured centralized wage
negotiations and a heavily taxsubsidized social security network. The
Swedes still enjoy an advanced welfare
system, and their standard of living
and life expectancy are almost second
to none. A major reason why Sweden
as well as other Scandinavian states
were the most effective in combatting
the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Two revolutions in 1917 saw the end of the
Romanov dynasty and the establishment of
the communist Soviet Union. Stalin’s
totalitarian communist dictatorship
followed and established the framework
for future communist leaders of the Soviet
Union. Mikhail Gorbachev instituted
glasnost and perestroika in the mid-1980s
in an attempt to save the Soviet Union but
they facilitated the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991. A new constitution is
written for the Russian Federation. Boris
Yeltsin elected first president and was
replaced by Putin in 1999.
Spain's modern history is marked by the
bitterly fought Spanish Civil War of 193639, and the ensuing 36-year dictatorship of
General Francisco Franco. After Franco's
death in 1975, Spain made the transition
to a democratic state and built a successful
economy, with King Juan Carlos as head of
state.
The constitution of 1978 enshrines respect
for linguistic and cultural diversity within a
united Spain. The country is divided into 17
regions which all have their own directly
elected authorities. The level of autonomy
afforded to each region is far from
uniform. For example, Catalonia, the
Basque Country and Galicia have special
status with their own language and other
rights.
Social Democratic government has been
incredibly stable throughout 20th century.
Horrible losses in WWI was biggest cause of
the Russian Revolution. Took enormous
losses in repelling the Nazis in WWII. Cold
War resulted as USSR competed with the
USA for ideological and geopolitical
dominance post-WWII.
Repression, censorship, and terror under
Communist rule. Wide social inequality resulted
from policies after the end of Communism. Life
expectancy declined rapidly.
Neutral in WWI. Spanish Civil War (19361939) served as warmup for WWII as Hitler
practiced his blitzkrieg tactics while coming
to Franco’s aid. As a result, Spain was
neutral in WWII. As the Cold War deepened
the US gradually improved relations with
Spain, extending loans in return for military
bases. Spain is admitted to the UN in 1955
and the World Bank in 1958, and other
European countries opened up to the
Franco government. In 1986, Spain joined
the European Economic Community, later
to become the European Union.
Separatist movements especially in the Basque
region have resulted in violence.
Sweden is known throughout the world for
its neutrality. This policy has led to a
number of Swedish politicians taking on
international roles, often mediating
between conflicting groups or ideologies.
With the ending of the Cold War, Sweden
felt able to join the European Union in 1995
although it still declines to become a Nato
member. Sweden was one of three EU
countries not to join the single European
currency. In the first referendum on
membership after the euro's introduction in
12 of 15 EU countries, Swedish voters
rejected it by a clear majority in September
2003.
Dealing with immigration. Immigrants make up
TURKEY
Colonel Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk)
introduced a state-run industrial
system and economy. Efforts to reduce
state control over the economy also
faced many obstacles. After years of
mounting difficulties which brought
the country close to economic
collapse, a tough recovery programme
was agreed with the IMF in 2002.
Republic of Turkey created in 1923 under
the leadership of Ataturk. Turkey's
progress towards democracy and a market
economy was halting in the decades
following the death of President Ataturk in
1938. The army saw itself as the guarantor
of the constitution, and ousted
governments on a number of occasions
when it thought they were challenging
secular values.
UNITED KINGDOM
Britain was buffered from the worst of
the Great Depression thanks to its
global empire and the development of
new industries like automobiles in the
1920s. The creation of a “cradle to the
grave” social welfare state in the 1940s
but eventually led to high public debt.
British economy recovered more
slowly from WWII than other W.
European countries b/c demands from
trade unions caused wages to rise
faster
than
productiviey,
the
unwillingness of Britain to update its
industrial system, and the loss of
revenues from abroad due to its loss of
empire despite its continued pledge of
commitment to the Commonwealth.
“Thatcherism” in the 1980s reduced
gov’t bureaucracy, limited social
welfare, broke the power of the labor
unions, and used austerity measures
to control inflation, though was driven
out of office b/c of her tax policies.
Since Thatcher’s reign, the UK’s
economy has increasingly relied on the
service
industries
rather
than
manufacturing ones.
Throughout the 20th century, the UK has
remained a politically stable parliamentary
democracy. Power in Parliament fluctuated
b/t the Conservative and Labour parties
mostly throughout the century. The
election of Margaret Thatcher, the 1st
female prime minister in British history, led
a conservative revolution in the 1980s. The
Labour Party returned to power in the late
1990s led by Tony Blair.
Ottoman Empire collapsed after defeat in
WWI, Turkey was created from its ruins.
Neutral in WWII. Neutral for most of World
War II, Turkey declared war on Germany
and Japan, but did not take part in combat.
Joined United Nations in 1945. Conflicts
emerged with neighbor Greece over Cyprus.
Turkey’s Kurds, a subject nationality, have
long complained that the Turkish
government was trying to destroy their
identity and that they suffer from economic
disadvantage and human rights violations.
The 20th century saw Britain having to
redefine its place in the world. At the
beginning of the century, it commanded a
world-wide empire as the foremost global
power. Two world wars and the end of
empire diminished its role, but the UK
remains an economic and military power,
with considerable political and cultural
influence around the world.
Turkey’s commitment to secular Western values
and reforms have often conflicted with the
worldview of fundamentalist Muslims.
The UK is ethnically diverse, partly as a legacy of
empire. In the postwar period, the country has
been struggling with issues revolving around
multiculturalism, immigration and national identity.