Beyond the Cold War

European Unity vs. Ethnic Rivalry

OVERVIEW

In this lesson we examine:• Factors towards unity• Britain’s dilemma• Towards further unity• Obstacles to unity

Context Question: Why was WWI initially called, “the war to end all wars”? What name might be appropriate for WWII?

Factors towards unity

• 1952: France, West Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg created the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community)

• The ECSC regulated coal and steel production and managed shifts in resources

• 1957: The Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community – free trade and movement

What effect would economic cooperation have on the

possibilities of future conflict?

Context Question: In what ways was Britain traditionally different from the other European states in terms of its society, economy, and international affairs?

Britain’s dilemma

During the 1960s, Britain’s dilemma in terms of joining the EEC was:

If they joined, they would:

Be turning their backs on the

Commonwealth markets

Lose control over domestic policy

No longer be a major world power

If they didn’t joined, they would:

Fall behind the success of the EEC

Lack enough influence over the

superpowers

Why might France be opposed to expansion of the EEC?

Despite French opposition to expansion, the EEC welcomed new members:

•1973: Britain, Ireland (Eire) and Denmark

•1981: Greece•1986: Spain and Portugal

• Between the 1970s and 1980s, increased unemployment and inflation led calls for reform of the EEC.

• Beginning in 1981, the European Parliament began discussions on full economic and political unity

• In 1992, the EEC became the European Union (EU)

What is the likelihood of full European political unity? Why?

Toward further unity

Context Question: What factors became the catalyst that ignited WWI?

Obstacles to unity

After Tito’s death in 1980 and shortly after the dissolution of the USSR in 1989, Yugoslavia broke up into separate states:

• 1991: Slovenia and Croatia separate

• 1992: Serbia and Montenegro form the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Nationalists attempted to expand their influence against minorities in their states:

• 1991-1992: War between Serbia and Croatia

• 1992-1996: Civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina

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The wars of Yugoslavia’s succession were marked by three significant features:

•They happened mainly in highly developed states

•They were highly racist and characterized by “ethnic cleansing” – killing or forcing minorities out of mixed ethnic areas

•They made little distinction between soldiers and citizens

The wars in the former Yugoslavia exposed weaknesses of European unity:

• Germany recognized Croatia and Slovenia without consulting the EU

• US involvement was required to help end the conflicts

• What major reasons existed for Europe to consider political and economic union?

• What type of unity first occurred and which countries were involved?

• Why did Britain not initially join the EEC?• How did nationalism threaten European

unity?

SUMMARY QUESTIONS