CHAPTER 1: The post - war transformation of Western Europe

1. Historical divisions 1.1. The inheritance

Europe : a divided continent

=> Different factors explain the number of States within Europe

Economic and political divisions

=> Economic division: the consequence of overseas market => Political division : Democracy >< Autocracy

1.2. The background to the second World War

=> Lack of agreements and fragile alliances between the European States => The League of Nations: Security aim 3 problems 1) Too vague 2) Not supranational 3) Different State approaches

2. The post-war transformation 2.1. Unbroken Peace

From suspicion to friendship => Common military policy against USSR: NATO

2.2. A transformed agenda

=> Armed conflicts: low policy issues => Negotiations on important economic and political matters

2.3. New channels and processes

=> Gradual transformation in which States interrelates with one another

3. Explaining the transformation and its nature 3.1. The deep roots of integration?

=>Historical dimension (cfr Hallstein) >< Economic dimension =>Failure of economic alliances: too weak to unify Europe

3.2. The impact of the second world war

2 factors - POLITICAL FACTORS 1) Combating nationalism

=>1949: creation of the council of Europe

2) The new political map of Europe

=> Eastern Europe >< Western Europe - Truman doctrine - Marshall plan - NATO

3) The new international power balance

=>Voice of Western Europe should be heard on the world stage

4) The German problem

=>Federal republic of Germany >< German democratic republic => the Soviet Union was replacing Germany as the perceived principal threat to democracy and stability in Western Europe.

ECONOMIC FACTORS

=> 1944: Bretton wood conference => 1947: GATT => Marshall plan => 1948: establishment of OEEC

3.3. Interdependence

•Economic interdependence 

Trade Western European focussed



From the 1960’s: Monetary power held by Germany

•Advances in communication and travel have increasingly placed new international issues

3.4. National considerations

=> Variation on the level of integration and cooperation among States

THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE EC: Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands

=>Benelux countries: small countries => Italy: Assistance against communism + economic reasons => France: containment of Germany and economic growth

CONCLUSION

=>Transformation in the communication =>Difficult integration