The Fall of Communism and the Creation of the EU

Prague Spring

• Aleksander Dubcek –• 1968 Soviet Invasion• A Czech Way of

Resistance• Jan Palach• Temporarily Crushing the

Revolution

Prague Spring

Neoliberalism• Margaret Thatcher: 19th

century liberal high taxes to help industry, alienation of the poor

• Reaganomics: Reagan’s Thatcherism + social values of Reagan’s reign

• Failure of the USSR: victory for neoliberalism?

Solidarity

• A shipyard in Gdansk/Danzig

• Lech Walesa and Solidarity

• Papal influence• Workers turn on

Communism

Velvet Revolution

Fall of the USSR• Gorbachev: Glasnost and

Perestroika• Perestroika : Restructuring • Boris Yeltsin• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-z9wfueMAw&feature=related• Putin• Triumph for Democracy?

The Demise of Yugoslavia• Most

democratic/capitalist of Communist countries

• Three main factions: Serbs, Croats, Bosniak Muslims

• Kosovo and N.A.T.O. Air-strikes

• Aspirations for the E.U.

The EU and the Future of Europe

Background info• Established by the Treaty

of Maastricht on 1 November 1993,

• Foundations: the pre-existing European Economic Community and the European Steel and Coal Community of 1951.

• single market through a standardized system of laws which apply in all member states

• intergovernmentalism and supranationalism.

• Independent States Anthem: Ode to JoyMotto: United by Diversity

Joining the EU

• The Copenhagen criteria: rules that define whether a country is eligible to join the European Union.

• laid down at the June 1993 European Council in Copenhagen, Denmark

• Criteria: • Institutions to preserve democratic governance and

human rights• Have a functioning market economy, and accept the

obligations and intent of the EU.• Theme/Significance: Infringement of national

independence?

Expansion

• 1973 – Denmark, Ireland, UK• 1980s – Greece, Spain, Portugal• 1990 – East Germany• 1995 – Austria, Sweden, Finland• 2004!!!! - biggest enlargement to date: Malta,

Cyprus, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.

• 2007- Bulgaria and Romania

States Awaiting Expansion• Former Yugoslav states

(Except Slovenia)• Turkey – applied in 1987• Why? Booming economy,

extend stability eastward, member of NATO

• Why Not? internal issues about human rights, democracy, Turkey's open external disputes with its neighbors. Is that ALL?

• Opposition by France and Austria

Euro-Skepticism

• Vaclav Klaus• Reduction of • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEQmJBINYj4• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJAthagbT_A&NR=1• EU = Reduction of

Sovereignty?

Things to Consider

• In between Socialism and Capitalism• The United States of Europe?• Absence of a Military• In between Russia and the USA• Triumph of Democracy?

Reflections

• Transformation of Europe• Modernity• Decline of Religion• McDonaldization