1. Changes in Western Europe, the US and the Soviet Union: A Post-WWII Analysis
EQ: What are the major changes and continuities in the US, Western Europe and the Soviet Union in the Post-War era?

2. Political Changes – Western Europe
Decolonization
Cold War – Russia is now our enemy! Germany becomes focal point of so-called Cold War as Allies and USSR “fight” to spread their ideology in this divided territory
Europe becomes more comfortable upon relying on the US for protection
Liberal Democracy and democratic constitutions with universal (including female) suffrage
Christian Democrats come to power seeking democracy for all and moderate (NOT RADICAL) reform
The Welfare state emerges thanks to a shift to the left (ugh), though the improving of economic inequality was minimal at best (still large divisions in class)

3. Political Continuity – Western Europe
Alliances – between western nations, just like in WWI and WWII – NATO. Forming alliances with the US to uphold the containment of Communism “behind the Iron Curtain”
NO SINGLE GOVERNMENT in Europe, continued political allegiances to the nationalist state (ie. no complete European unity politically or “they still don’t really like each other”)

4. Economic Changes – Western Europe
Welfare state
Common Market/European Union – unify economic policies across European boundaries (one currency, reduced tariffs, free labor movement) (minus Great Britain)
Increased agricultural productivity, retooled industry
Rapid GDP growth in 50s and 60s, greater than US
Shift to technology production
VERY low unemployment, little labor unrest
Increase in “guest workers” from foreign, decolonized nations and the Middle East

5. Economic Continuity – Western Europe and the US
Inflation, as it was pre-war, was still a problem (increased value of goods, higher fuel prices, etc.)
Continued economic inequalities (poverty, low wages)

6. Political/Economic Changes in the US
Switch from isolationist policies to containment/engagement policies
The “spread of liberty and democracy” approach to diplomacy. As quoted by Truman, “free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”
A definite anti-communist climate emerged in the US (McCarthy/HUAC)
( ) Massive increases in per capita DI in the US (117%) and purchases of consumer goods (shopping malls and supermarkets), coupled with a “baby boom” of population in the post-war era
Continuities
Very few political continuities other than increased militarization/mobilization of US forces after WWII to support diplomatic policies
Very few continuities in economics aside from inflation and continued massive immigration into the US to fill undesired jobs, this time from newer areas of the globe (Asia and Latin America)

7. Social Changes –Western Europe and US
WOMEN !
The traditional Victorian homemaker role still exists, however…
Women become more educated
Women work more (“Rosie the Riveter”/service jobs)
Women began to protest the economic (lower pay) social (fewer rights) divide
Birth Control, women decreasingly had large sums of kids
Divorce rates increased
New Feminism (Beauvoir – Second Sex and Friedan – The Feminine Mystique) reaction to traditional role imposed by men on women while at the same time creating support organizations

8. Other Social Changes –Western Europe and US
The US went to the forefront in intellectual/scientific development, though some Europeans sought recognition in certain fields
The “pop culture” emerged, the “Coca-cola-nization” of Europe, the impact of US television, the “British invasion”
The “Sexual Revolution”

9. Social/Cultural Continuities in Western World
Art continued with earlier 20th century themes (though some changes are highlighted) such as cubism, surrealism, realism…only POP art was new
Europeans maintained a clear advantage in the expression of the arts, particularly in films (art films) due to more social freedoms

10. Politics in the USSR Continuity Change
Expansion policies. Get communism into other countries (Comintern)
Continue diplomatic and political party authoritarianism in response to Western aggressiveness, military build up from end of WWII through Cold War (increased spying, Cuban Missile Crisis)
Competition with the West (Space Race)
Change
De-Stalinization: loosen cultural restrictions, loosen political opposition persecution (Khrushchev)
Diplomatic issues 1) Chinese rift 2) Muslim minorities prompting Afghan invasion
Glasnost (public openness) and perestroika (restructuring) under Gorbachev

11. Economics in the USSR Change Continuity
Became fully industrial, supporting military sector in general
Industrial work pace was sped up and incentives increased
Extensive state support in leisure activities and sporting competitions
Despite so-called unity under Communism, distinct class divides still emerged between workers and intelligentsia
Environmental devastation
Glasnost (public openness) and perestroika (restructuring)
Continuity
Continued de-emphasis on/lack of consumer goods
Continued to seek economic independence from the Western capitalist model (self-sufficiency)
Continued issues with agricultural production as capital was diverted to industrial progress, maintaining food supply issues
Continued massive urbanization and construction efforts in cities

12. Society/Culture in the USSR
Change
Expansion of Socialist Realism in the arts (murals)
Suppression of organized religion and increased teachings of secular scientific doctrine (some religious latitude given to Muslims)
In the late 70s/early 80s, western musical influences crept into the USSR (jazz, rock music/heavy metal) but not without official state suspicion (Chorny Kofe, Chorny Obelisk, Gorky Park)
Censorship eased and literary authors towed the lines, sometimes defying state control…most wrote about war glories, patriotism…others wrote critical reviews of the state which caused them to be exiled (Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Boris Pasternak, Michail Sholokhov)
Birth rate decline
Increased alcoholism (VODKA) and agitation among the youth population
Continuity
Continued emphasis on science and sociology (expansions in physics, chemistry, mathematics, socialist theory) with continued rejection of Western ideology in each filed
BALLET and some western classical music still permitted