Postwar EuropePostwar Europe

Europe at war’s endEurope at war’s end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvax5VUvjWQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvax5VUvjWQ

The Department of Political Science The Department of Political Science PresentsPresents

Figuring out what's broke: Assessing the Figuring out what's broke: Assessing the effects of ownership on political news effects of ownership on political news

contentcontent

Dr. Kelly BlidookDr. Kelly BlidookDepartment of Political ScienceDepartment of Political Science

Memorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of Newfoundland

Friday March 13, 2009Friday March 13, 2009SN2033SN20332:30pm2:30pm

Reminders:Reminders:

Net assignment #2 due, Monday, March 16Net assignment #2 due, Monday, March 16 thth at at 5:00 p.m.5:00 p.m.

Book or film reviews due in class on Thursday, Book or film reviews due in class on Thursday, March 19March 19thth • Be sure to consult the hints and suggestions & the Be sure to consult the hints and suggestions & the

directions on format and style in the topic sheetdirections on format and style in the topic sheet

A paradox and a puzzleA paradox and a puzzle

Europe experiences destruction on a Europe experiences destruction on a scale far greater than World War Iscale far greater than World War I

60 million dead60 million dead Large numbers uprooted or displacedLarge numbers uprooted or displaced Huge swaths of the continent ravagedHuge swaths of the continent ravaged

• Cities bombed & destroyedCities bombed & destroyed• Land ruinedLand ruined• Manufacturing and agricultural capacity Manufacturing and agricultural capacity

curtailed…curtailed…

Nevertheless:Nevertheless:

Europe manages to emerge from WWII into Europe manages to emerge from WWII into • a half century of relative peace and a half century of relative peace and • in some places (the west), unprecedented in some places (the west), unprecedented

affluenceaffluence A continent which had been the epicentre of A continent which had been the epicentre of

two world wars ends uptwo world wars ends up• Politically more unifiedPolitically more unified• With large areas in which war is unthinkableWith large areas in which war is unthinkable• A large number of countries, now EU member-A large number of countries, now EU member-

statesstates How and why was this possible?How and why was this possible?

Possible explanations:Possible explanations:

Planning for postwar periodPlanning for postwar period• Construction of new international Construction of new international

institutionsinstitutions New elNew elánán

• Spirit of cooperation among resistance Spirit of cooperation among resistance fightersfighters

• Determination not to go back to dirty ’30sDetermination not to go back to dirty ’30s US involvementUS involvement Cold War & the way in which it defined Cold War & the way in which it defined

& limited choices and options& limited choices and options

However,However,

Not all wartime plans are implemented or Not all wartime plans are implemented or turn out as intendedturn out as intended• Treatment of Germany very different than Treatment of Germany very different than

originally intended in Morganthau Plan or JCS 1047originally intended in Morganthau Plan or JCS 1047• UN does not operate as intendedUN does not operate as intended

New elán & spirit of cooperation often New elán & spirit of cooperation often dissipate – both domestically & in dissipate – both domestically & in international politicsinternational politics

Outbreak of Cold War frames different Outbreak of Cold War frames different choices & opportunities for visionaries and choices & opportunities for visionaries and pragmatics pragmatics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvax5VUvjWQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvax5VUvjWQ

These make a differenceThese make a difference

Planning the peace Planning the peace

Summit negotiations on war aims, postwar Summit negotiations on war aims, postwar disposition of territorydisposition of territory

Casablanca 1943 (Roosevelt + Churchill)Casablanca 1943 (Roosevelt + Churchill)• Agreement on unconditional surrenderAgreement on unconditional surrender

Teheran 1943Teheran 1943• Initial agreement on eastern EuropeInitial agreement on eastern Europe• Plans for occupation of GermanyPlans for occupation of Germany

Yalta 1945Yalta 1945• Plans for United NationsPlans for United Nations• Further agreement on territoryFurther agreement on territory• Concessions to Russia to secure entry into war against Concessions to Russia to secure entry into war against

JapanJapan

Planning the postwar economic Planning the postwar economic orderorder

Bretton Woods conference –1943Bretton Woods conference –1943• Plans for monetary stabilityPlans for monetary stability

Fixed system of exchange ratesFixed system of exchange rates World Bank and International Monetary Fund to World Bank and International Monetary Fund to

stabilizestabilize Agreements on trade (GATT)Agreements on trade (GATT)

Domestic sideDomestic side• UK – plans for welfare state (Beveridge Report)UK – plans for welfare state (Beveridge Report)• Discussions in resistance movements, among Discussions in resistance movements, among

governments in exilegovernments in exile

Dealing with GermanyDealing with Germany Division into Division into

occupation zones, but occupation zones, but no intent to partitionno intent to partition

French & Soviet French & Soviet demands for demands for reparationsreparations

Intent to de-nazifyIntent to de-nazify Immediate problem: Immediate problem:

food & shelter forfood & shelter for• local populationlocal population• people displaced by people displaced by

boundary shifts & ‘ethnic boundary shifts & ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Eastern cleansing’ in Eastern EuropeEurope

Allied powers:Allied powers: Wartime agreements place Germany Wartime agreements place Germany

under joint administrationunder joint administration But, allies increasingly divided: But, allies increasingly divided:

• Americans, British, French v. SovietsAmericans, British, French v. Soviets End up providing aid rather than End up providing aid rather than

extracting reparations extracting reparations Unable to carry out de-Nazification as Unable to carry out de-Nazification as

thoroughly as plannedthoroughly as planned• Nuremberg Trials net some leaders, but not Nuremberg Trials net some leaders, but not

many who were complicitmany who were complicit• Officials needed to run the countryOfficials needed to run the country• Forced to work through existing bureaucracyForced to work through existing bureaucracy

West GermanyWest Germany British, American & French zones mergedBritish, American & French zones merged ProvincesProvinces re-established, with new re-established, with new

boundariesboundaries Parties whose leaders free (or freer) of Nazi Parties whose leaders free (or freer) of Nazi

connections licensed:connections licensed:• Social Democrats (SPD)Social Democrats (SPD)• Christian Democrats (CDU) – built on the base of Christian Democrats (CDU) – built on the base of

the Catholic Party (Zentrum)the Catholic Party (Zentrum)• Free Democrats (FDP)Free Democrats (FDP)

Invited to draw up a new constitutionInvited to draw up a new constitution End up dominating politics in Federal End up dominating politics in Federal

Republic of Germany (FRG) through the Republic of Germany (FRG) through the 1980s1980s

Soviet ZoneSoviet Zone Tri-zonal administration in West Tri-zonal administration in West

triggers: triggers: • Berlin Blockage, Berlin Blockage, Berlin airliftBerlin airlift• formation of separate communist state, formation of separate communist state,

German Democratic Republic (GDR)German Democratic Republic (GDR) But, free movement via Berlin until But, free movement via Berlin until

construction of Berlin Wall in 1961construction of Berlin Wall in 1961

Socialists, Communists unified in Socialists, Communists unified in Socialist Unity Party (SED)Socialist Unity Party (SED)

Central and Eastern Europe:Central and Eastern Europe: Territories occupied by Red ArmyTerritories occupied by Red Army Socialist & Communist Parties encouraged to join Socialist & Communist Parties encouraged to join

in popular front governments –in popular front governments –• Communists in key ministries, e.g.Communists in key ministries, e.g.

Interior – controlling the policeInterior – controlling the police Agriculture – controlling land distributionAgriculture – controlling land distribution

Unification of Socialists & Communists Unification of Socialists & Communists encouraged -- e.g. Poland, E. Germany..encouraged -- e.g. Poland, E. Germany..

Opponents marginalized or arrestedOpponents marginalized or arrested Sometimes elections rigged…Sometimes elections rigged… Communist gov’ts entrenched by 1948Communist gov’ts entrenched by 1948 Soviet-style party-state systems establishedSoviet-style party-state systems established

Western EuropeWestern Europe

Where possible, previous systems re-Where possible, previous systems re-established, governments in exile returnestablished, governments in exile return

politics resumes, albeit with different politics resumes, albeit with different coalitions in officecoalitions in office• e.g. Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway…e.g. Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway…

In France & Italy, new constitutions are In France & Italy, new constitutions are drafteddrafted• In both instances, previous regimes discredited In both instances, previous regimes discredited

and toppledand toppled

FranceFrance 33rdrd Republic terminated with invasion, Republic terminated with invasion,

occupation, establishment of the Vichy occupation, establishment of the Vichy Republic in southRepublic in south

Liberation in summer 1944Liberation in summer 1944• Collaborators punishedCollaborators punished

Constitutional debate amongConstitutional debate among• Resistance forces, especiallyResistance forces, especially

Communists (27%)Communists (27%) Socialists (~25%)Socialists (~25%) MRP (Christian Democrats, also 25%)MRP (Christian Democrats, also 25%)

• General De Gaulle – leader of the Free French General De Gaulle – leader of the Free French Army & head of provisional governmentArmy & head of provisional government

The debate:The debate: De Gaulle favours a presidential republic: De Gaulle favours a presidential republic:

• in his view, the French people need a president who can in his view, the French people need a president who can be above politics & formulate what the people wantbe above politics & formulate what the people want

Parties favour a return to a parliamentary or Parties favour a return to a parliamentary or assembly-dominated regimeassembly-dominated regime

Parties win, at least temporarily: Parties win, at least temporarily: • 44thth Republic established, with some attempt to provide Republic established, with some attempt to provide

stronger cabinetsstronger cabinets• De Gaulle resigns & retires from politicsDe Gaulle resigns & retires from politics• Consensus which made a tripartite coalition possible Consensus which made a tripartite coalition possible

breaks down:breaks down: Communists expelled from government in 1947Communists expelled from government in 1947 Socialists split with MRP over state support for Catholic Socialists split with MRP over state support for Catholic

schools (early 1950s)schools (early 1950s)

ItalyItaly

Mussolini toppled in 1943Mussolini toppled in 1943 Germany occupiesGermany occupies Liberation in slow degrees, 1943-1945Liberation in slow degrees, 1943-1945 At war’s end, a new configuration of At war’s end, a new configuration of

political forces:political forces:• RK Church casts its lot with democracyRK Church casts its lot with democracy• Allows the formation of a Christian Democratic Allows the formation of a Christian Democratic

PartyParty• Initially, tripartite coalition of Communists, Initially, tripartite coalition of Communists,

Socialists, and Christian DemocratsSocialists, and Christian Democrats

1948 Constitution1948 Constitution

Series of compromises Series of compromises • position of the Church recognized, position of the Church recognized, • along with positive goals – full employment – of along with positive goals – full employment – of

Socialists and CommunistsSocialists and Communists• Explicitly anti-FascistExplicitly anti-Fascist• Yet bureaucracy & judiciary were not purgedYet bureaucracy & judiciary were not purged

With outbreak of the Cold WarWith outbreak of the Cold War• Communists and Socialists leave coalitionCommunists and Socialists leave coalition• Italy governed by a series of Christian Italy governed by a series of Christian

Democratic-led multiparty coalitions, average Democratic-led multiparty coalitions, average duration of one yearduration of one year

• Communists excluded at national level until 1990sCommunists excluded at national level until 1990s

Netherlands:Netherlands:

As elsewhere, war experience facilitates As elsewhere, war experience facilitates communication among rivals groups & communication among rivals groups & determination to bring about changedetermination to bring about change• Break down divisions among Catholics, Break down divisions among Catholics,

Calvinists, Socialists -- - historically separateCalvinists, Socialists -- - historically separate Once war over, old divisions re-emergeOnce war over, old divisions re-emerge Greater willingness to cooperate: Greater willingness to cooperate:

• Catholics & Socialists join in postwar Catholics & Socialists join in postwar reconstruction & building a welfare statereconstruction & building a welfare state

Bottom line:Bottom line:

In Western Europe, basis laid for re-In Western Europe, basis laid for re-establishment of liberal democracyestablishment of liberal democracy

In Central & Eastern Europe, imposition of In Central & Eastern Europe, imposition of Communist party-state systems, Communist party-state systems,

Division of Europe (Churchill’s iron curtain) Division of Europe (Churchill’s iron curtain) facilitates reconstruction, institution-facilitates reconstruction, institution-building & politics of affluence which building & politics of affluence which would ensuewould ensue

But economic reconstruction as important But economic reconstruction as important as political reconstruction or restorationas political reconstruction or restoration