Modern European Society Lecture
History M01B – Krister Swanson – Moorpark College
Americanization
- Marshall
Plan/Military occupation
- Increased
presence of U.S. Banks - Businesses from McDonaldÕs to KFC to the Gap
- liquor
& clothing
- English
is common language among many Europeans
Population Changes
- 44%
(less than rest of world)
- Baby
Boom creates demographic bulge
- increased
life expectancy, lower infant mortality
- family
size shrinking
Em/Immigration
- colonizers
and colonial subjects to Europe
- .5m/year
out (city dwellers)
- guest
workers welcome when economy is good, tension & opposition when economy
is bad
urban expansion
Welfare State
- social
insurance programs started to hold off the Communists
- benefits
available to all to create a minimum standard of living
- burden
on the capable to provide for those who canÕt - divisive
Communism outside of USSR
- socs.
vs. comms in west
- to
intellectuals soc is way to escape evils of fascism
- some
reinterpret Marx (more humane)
- eurocommunism-
how to be a functioning commie in west eur. - renounce rev, join
coalitions
- Ô89-fall
of comm, label change to soc.
Existentialism (recent Philos.)
- whatÕs
left after shattered faith (WWI, etc.)
- humans
must make own values, not take those dictated to them
- reason+technolgy+politics=war
- roots
in Nietschze & Kierkegaard
- Kierk-
Xianity found in human existence, leap of faith to relationship with God
- Sartre-
absurdity of existence makes you free to make choices, choices give
meaning - meaning in existence
Modern Univs. & Students
- college
education up, masses have what only a few had before
- univ.
is home for 20th Cent. intellectual
- student
rebellion of the Ô60s US, Czech, France (Vietnam, values, etc)
- music
important part of student expression
Environmentalism
- massive
expansion of consumption after WWIIï
- environmental
problems ï
- Green
Movement (enter political process with environmentalism at front of
agenda)
Feminism
- 3rd
major movement (FR, Suff., Now)
- away
from politics & toward social equality & equality in workplace
- independence
from forced traditional roles
- control
of own life (Birth control, etc.)
Christian Heritage
- Barth-return
to reformation, extreme
moments demonstrate need for God
- Tillich-
God is ultimate truth, religion is human invention
- Major
RC changes (Vatican II) No more mass in Latin, Cardinals from 3rd World;
JP II: social equality not political activity for priests
Problems in Wake of Communism
- transform
economy to deal with capitalist marketplace
- unemployment
& obsolete technology & environmental problems
- migration
to west for work & better life
- transition
to democracy
- Czech
Republic & Slovakia
- War in
Yugoslavia
- changing
role of NATO (absorb East)
European Union
- Starts
with European Coals and Steel Community in 1950Õs
- Gradually
more economic and political cooperation
- Collapse
of Communism makes stronger union possible
- Common
currency