Europe in the 20Europe in the 20thth Century Century

Prof. Steven WolinetzProf. Steven Wolinetz

Europe in the 20Europe in the 20thth Century Century

What is Europe?What is Europe?– The meanings of EuropeThe meanings of Europe

Europe in the 20Europe in the 20thth Century CenturyWhat is Europe?What is Europe? GeographyGeography

– The ContinentThe Continent– Changing internal (and external) boundaries Changing internal (and external) boundaries

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/europe/02/euro_borders/html/2.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/europe/02/euro_borders/html/2.stm

– Demise of nationalism and erosion of boundaries?Demise of nationalism and erosion of boundaries?– From the center of the world to a part to emulate?From the center of the world to a part to emulate?

Religious heritageReligious heritage– Christianity (Catholic and Protestant branches and Christianity (Catholic and Protestant branches and

Roman and Eastern Orthodox traditions)Roman and Eastern Orthodox traditions)– Jewish heritage and growing Muslim populationJewish heritage and growing Muslim population

Common political evolutionCommon political evolution– from feudalism and absolute monarchy, to liberal from feudalism and absolute monarchy, to liberal

democracydemocracy

Europe in the 20Europe in the 20thth Century Century

The governments (the democratic trajectory)The governments (the democratic trajectory) The expansion of the stateThe expansion of the state The changing economic (industrial) structureThe changing economic (industrial) structure The changing social structureThe changing social structure From emigration to immigrationFrom emigration to immigration

Fin de siFin de siècleècle Europe Europe

Caps off period of rapid social & economic Caps off period of rapid social & economic change in some parts of Europe – Victorian change in some parts of Europe – Victorian England, France, GermanyEngland, France, Germany

Other parts of Europe – Russia, Southern Other parts of Europe – Russia, Southern Italy – barely removed from feudalismItaly – barely removed from feudalism

Spread of the industrial revolution Spread of the industrial revolution – improves standards of livingimproves standards of living– Accentuates class and religious divisionsAccentuates class and religious divisions

Political dimensionsPolitical dimensions

Monarchs still rule, multinational empires Monarchs still rule, multinational empires hold swayhold sway

Liberalization and democratization Liberalization and democratization incomplete --if they have begun at allincomplete --if they have begun at all

Mobilization along class, religious, and Mobilization along class, religious, and ethno-nationalist dimensionsethno-nationalist dimensions

Intense arguments about who should Intense arguments about who should participate, on what basis, and what the participate, on what basis, and what the units of government should beunits of government should be

Some examples - ISome examples - I

UKUK– Most working men but no women voteMost working men but no women vote– Parliamentary government but the House of Parliamentary government but the House of

Lords is co-equal with the House of Commons, Lords is co-equal with the House of Commons, often blocking reformsoften blocking reforms

– The Irish question festersThe Irish question festers FranceFrance

– Parliamentary government but deep-seated Parliamentary government but deep-seated division about the role of the Churchdivision about the role of the Church

Some examples - IISome examples - II

Imperial Germany:Imperial Germany:– An unbalanced federation dominated by its An unbalanced federation dominated by its

largest state, Prussialargest state, Prussia– ‘‘Monarchial constitutionalism’ as the dominant Monarchial constitutionalism’ as the dominant

mode of governancemode of governance– Universal but unequal manhood suffrageUniversal but unequal manhood suffrage– Deep-seated class and religious conflictsDeep-seated class and religious conflicts

The multinational empiresThe multinational empires

Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary– a liberal empire, but a patchwork of nationalities a liberal empire, but a patchwork of nationalities

and nationalist movements, festering demandsand nationalist movements, festering demands Russia:Russia:

– An autocratic empire grappling with pressures An autocratic empire grappling with pressures for liberalization, democratization, fundamental for liberalization, democratization, fundamental reorganizationreorganization

The Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire – decaying and crumblingdecaying and crumbling

Interwar EuropeInterwar Europe

Map is redrawnMap is redrawn Multinational empires broken upMultinational empires broken up

– new ‘new ‘successor’successor’ states created states created In several instances, new liberal democracies are In several instances, new liberal democracies are

establishedestablished But, a period of But, a period of democratic decaydemocratic decay

– ItalyItaly– PortugalPortugal– GermanyGermany– Spain….Spain….

The Great Depression and the dirty thirtiesThe Great Depression and the dirty thirties

Postwar Europe:Postwar Europe:

Many political leaders, political forces, countries, Many political leaders, political forces, countries, come out of World War II determined to create come out of World War II determined to create something different or better something different or better – not to repeat either the dirty thirties or the warnot to repeat either the dirty thirties or the war

Astoundingly, they manage to do so, despite -- or Astoundingly, they manage to do so, despite -- or perhaps because of -- the Cold Warperhaps because of -- the Cold War– United NationsUnited Nations– OECDOECD– European Union…European Union…– Postwar welfare statePostwar welfare state

But not without wartsBut not without warts

Cold War: Cold War: – Iron CurtainIron Curtain– Division of Europe into ‘free’ and ‘communist Division of Europe into ‘free’ and ‘communist

blocsblocs

Diminished international positionDiminished international position– Loss of overseas empiresLoss of overseas empires– Less central in world politics:Less central in world politics:– Second fiddle to US?Second fiddle to US?

From 1989From 1989

Fall of Communism & end of cold warFall of Communism & end of cold war Broader, if not necessarily deeper European UnionBroader, if not necessarily deeper European Union Large swatch of territory in which war, at least in Large swatch of territory in which war, at least in

the core, is unthinkablethe core, is unthinkable Decreased and diminished nationalism: war & Decreased and diminished nationalism: war &

aggression banished to fringesaggression banished to fringes Prosperity, sense of well-being Prosperity, sense of well-being

– but not everywherebut not everywhere– And not necessarily everyoneAnd not necessarily everyone