Comparing Eastern & Western Europe's Political, Social, and Economic Response
Eastern Europe
Political
The countries bordering Russia became Soviet satellites. These included; Poland, Czechoslovakia, Est Germany, Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria. The governments of these countries were modeled after the communist regime designed by Stalin, “they allowed no opposition parties and kept tight control over all aspects of life, including state-controlled economies” (Lyons, 2010).
Three Eastern European countries, Yugoslavia, Albania and Finland, while loyal to Russia and Stalin, were able to maintain their own independence due, in part, to the lack of Red Army presence in these countries at the end of the war.
Russia itself maintained a strong communist government but there were problems beneath the surface. Stalin’s regime was unpopular and, “saddled by an enormous bureaucracy, proved incapable of solving its problems” (Lyons, 2010). After Stalin died his successor, Mikail Gorbachev, attempted to make positive changes but his plans backfired and created a chain reaction of events that led to end of the Soviet Union and the independence of both the Soviet satellites and the non-Russian republics.
Economic
Every nation in Eastern Europe suffered from an unstable economy. Industries attempted to move away from war aims and back to commercial ones but heavy devastation left many industrial areas destroyed. To compensate for the damage it suffered, the USSR demanded extensive reparations from Germany to help rebuild their economy, but the Allies saw the demands as too excessive. Stalin instead decided to wake what he liked from any area within his sphere of influence. “This involved dismantling German factories and shipping machinery to the Soviet Union as well as exploitation of other German resources” (Lyons, 2010). The Soviets refused the help of America’s European Recovery Program due to, what they perceived as, unacceptable requirements. This meant that while the rest of Europe was getting help rebuilding their infrastructure and stabilizing their economies, Eastern Europe was left to fix things on its own.
The countries bordering Russia became Soviet satellites. These included; Poland, Czechoslovakia, Est Germany, Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria. The governments of these countries were modeled after the communist regime designed by Stalin, “they allowed no opposition parties and kept tight control over all aspects of life, including state-controlled economies” (Lyons, 2010).
Three Eastern European countries, Yugoslavia, Albania and Finland, while loyal to Russia and Stalin, were able to maintain their own independence due, in part, to the lack of Red Army presence in these countries at the end of the war.
Russia itself maintained a strong communist government but there were problems beneath the surface. Stalin’s regime was unpopular and, “saddled by an enormous bureaucracy, proved incapable of solving its problems” (Lyons, 2010). After Stalin died his successor, Mikail Gorbachev, attempted to make positive changes but his plans backfired and created a chain reaction of events that led to end of the Soviet Union and the independence of both the Soviet satellites and the non-Russian republics.
Economic
Every nation in Eastern Europe suffered from an unstable economy. Industries attempted to move away from war aims and back to commercial ones but heavy devastation left many industrial areas destroyed. To compensate for the damage it suffered, the USSR demanded extensive reparations from Germany to help rebuild their economy, but the Allies saw the demands as too excessive. Stalin instead decided to wake what he liked from any area within his sphere of influence. “This involved dismantling German factories and shipping machinery to the Soviet Union as well as exploitation of other German resources” (Lyons, 2010). The Soviets refused the help of America’s European Recovery Program due to, what they perceived as, unacceptable requirements. This meant that while the rest of Europe was getting help rebuilding their infrastructure and stabilizing their economies, Eastern Europe was left to fix things on its own.
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Social
With the end of the war many people were displaced due to the fighting and massive destruction of cities. In Eastern Europe, some countries, including Poland, began to kick out people of German heritage out of anger and turned away struggling refugees due to the fear of placing undue strain on their economies. Citizens in the USSR suffered a difficult life as “agricultural failures produced widespread famine, political freedoms were restricted even further, and another huge wave of purges was carried out” (The Soviet Era, 2005). The longer the Cold War lasted the more industry focused on military projects making the quality of life even worse.
With the end of the war many people were displaced due to the fighting and massive destruction of cities. In Eastern Europe, some countries, including Poland, began to kick out people of German heritage out of anger and turned away struggling refugees due to the fear of placing undue strain on their economies. Citizens in the USSR suffered a difficult life as “agricultural failures produced widespread famine, political freedoms were restricted even further, and another huge wave of purges was carried out” (The Soviet Era, 2005). The longer the Cold War lasted the more industry focused on military projects making the quality of life even worse.
Western Europe:
Political
Western Europe faced several reconstructions among the governments of many different nations. In France and Italy large Communist parties flourished which concerned Britain and the US. Both countries attempted a republic but they both suffered from “a multitude of parties and an unstable parliamentary system” (Lyons, 2010). Over time, however, both countries were able to get democratic systems to work.
Concerned about the spread of communism the United States took special interest in nations that boarded Soviet satellites. Developments in Greece and Turkey were watched with a keen eye. While a sizable group of Communist rebels fought against the reactionary Greek government with the aid of several Soviet satellites including Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania; Turkey was having its own problems. Soviets were demanding the return “of border areas that had been Russian before 1918”, as well as “the right to share in the defense of the straits linking the Black Sea with the Mediterranean” (Lyons, 2010).
The United States was concerned about these issues and the possibility of the spread of communism into Western Europe. In a speech, President Truman said that the United States would, “support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures” (Lyons, 2010). He went on to insist on providing bot Greece and Turkey with economic aid “as well as military advisers and equipment” (Lyons, 2010). This speech essentially rewrote Americas approach to foreign policy. The U.S was no longer going to wait for things to happen, this Truman Doctrine was the “official start of the American policy of containment, which attempted to prevent Soviet expansion and the spread of communism” (Lyons, 2010).
Economic
All throughout Europe countries struggled to make the transition from war time to peace time. Industrial areas and infrastructure were demolished and countries just didn’t have the funds and resources to get things up and running again. The United States, more specifically Secretary of State George Marshall, put together the European Recovery Program. Soon referred to as the Marshall Plan, this program offered economic aid to all of Europe, including the USSR.
This program stimulated cooperation between nations as a requirement for aid mandated that countries work together on mutual economic problems. It also stimulated the recovery of industrial production in Western Europe. “Between 1948 and 1951, the United States provided credits and goods to European countries amounting to over $12 billion” (Lyons, 2010), and by the end of 1951 Western Europe had, amazingly, surpassed their prewar industrial production.
Western Europe faced several reconstructions among the governments of many different nations. In France and Italy large Communist parties flourished which concerned Britain and the US. Both countries attempted a republic but they both suffered from “a multitude of parties and an unstable parliamentary system” (Lyons, 2010). Over time, however, both countries were able to get democratic systems to work.
Concerned about the spread of communism the United States took special interest in nations that boarded Soviet satellites. Developments in Greece and Turkey were watched with a keen eye. While a sizable group of Communist rebels fought against the reactionary Greek government with the aid of several Soviet satellites including Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania; Turkey was having its own problems. Soviets were demanding the return “of border areas that had been Russian before 1918”, as well as “the right to share in the defense of the straits linking the Black Sea with the Mediterranean” (Lyons, 2010).
The United States was concerned about these issues and the possibility of the spread of communism into Western Europe. In a speech, President Truman said that the United States would, “support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures” (Lyons, 2010). He went on to insist on providing bot Greece and Turkey with economic aid “as well as military advisers and equipment” (Lyons, 2010). This speech essentially rewrote Americas approach to foreign policy. The U.S was no longer going to wait for things to happen, this Truman Doctrine was the “official start of the American policy of containment, which attempted to prevent Soviet expansion and the spread of communism” (Lyons, 2010).
Economic
All throughout Europe countries struggled to make the transition from war time to peace time. Industrial areas and infrastructure were demolished and countries just didn’t have the funds and resources to get things up and running again. The United States, more specifically Secretary of State George Marshall, put together the European Recovery Program. Soon referred to as the Marshall Plan, this program offered economic aid to all of Europe, including the USSR.
This program stimulated cooperation between nations as a requirement for aid mandated that countries work together on mutual economic problems. It also stimulated the recovery of industrial production in Western Europe. “Between 1948 and 1951, the United States provided credits and goods to European countries amounting to over $12 billion” (Lyons, 2010), and by the end of 1951 Western Europe had, amazingly, surpassed their prewar industrial production.
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Social
With the end of war the patterns of everyday life in European Western society changed. Science and technology led to advancements in everything from more powerful weapons to better consumer products. The changing class structure led to an increase in the middle working class; the standard of living in Western Europe rose. With the stabilization of the economy and the expansion of the middle class led to a high demand in luxury goods. European countries began to initiate universal healthcare reforms and even began to mandate paid time off. In response, the quality of life continued to increase.
With the end of war the patterns of everyday life in European Western society changed. Science and technology led to advancements in everything from more powerful weapons to better consumer products. The changing class structure led to an increase in the middle working class; the standard of living in Western Europe rose. With the stabilization of the economy and the expansion of the middle class led to a high demand in luxury goods. European countries began to initiate universal healthcare reforms and even began to mandate paid time off. In response, the quality of life continued to increase.
References
Images
- Lyons, M. (2010). World War II: A short history (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, (63-66)
- The Soviet Era. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.geographia.com/russia/rushis07.htm
Images
- Google. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search
- Individual Url’s under each image
Credit: Amanda