1946-2000s+(D)+Post-Cold+War

=** 1946-2000s Post-Cold War (Modern) East and West Europe **= Nick Muccio & Owen Martin

[[image:http://tudorhistory.org/maps/europe.jpg width="551" height="504"]]
= Chronology of Notable Events 1946-2000s =

2004: European Union membership grows to 25 nations.
= Rulers: = ======

[[image:http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1992/gallery/1024/yeltsin.jpg width="257" height="213" caption="Boris Yeltsin (1931-2007) President of the Russian Federation"]]
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= Political/Military = === The Cold War ended when the two presidents agreed to remove the intermediate-range missils that had been installed in Europe Gorbachev also agreed to to the reduction of short ranged missiles. In 1991 USSR dissolved and Russia reemerged as an independent nation state. In 1990 Gorbachev pulls back on his promised reform efforts. Anti-Gorbachev citizens rally around Yeltsin and in 1991 Yelsin is elected president. There takes place, a failed coup against Yeltsin and Gorbachev, During this Yeltsin supports the Russian legislature that stood in support of Gorbachev. During the coup the the military remained univolvedcauseing the coup attempt to fail. After the coup Yeltsin declares the communist party of taking over the state, and he transfers all soviet property over to Russia Yeltsin calls for a new constitution that brought the president an increased the amount of power. === === Along with the political and economical hardships of eastern Europe but western Europe also experianced what was an unanticipated burden of economic and political troubles. When Western Germany and Eastern Germany reunited it caused economic troubles.In Western Europe that was widespread dissatisfaction with the governing political parties of the center and center left because they all lacked the ability of providing of fresh vision of the future. The increasing dissatisfaction with european political cultures was most relevant in in Italy In 1989 when communism collapsed the Communist party of Italy renamed itself the democratic Party of the left and began to search for a new quest of participation in the national governmnent. Over the years the Christian democrats maintained a tight grip of power over in western Europe.In the elections of 1994 both the former christian democratic party and the socialist party were routed and three new parties won and formed the Center-right Coalition. Western Europe reached out to central Europe and Eastern Europe in the interst of working towards a united Europe. === = = = Social/Economic = === Germany's economy weakens upon reunification of the East and West. Conversion of East Mark to be equal with that of West Germany made inflation a threat. Lack of flexible funds in Germany slows economic recovery, and keeps the German economy sluggish for years after 1989. Unemployment rates are very high around the 1990's. Old Laborers don't have skills to operate new techonology that employers require knowledge of. Europe combats this by lowering the welfare state. Corporations outsource to areas where employee pay can be cheaper, along with benefits. Blair sets up a market economy in Britain as a New Labour Party Member. in 2002, twelve EU nations adopt the **EURO**, a common currency system in Europe. Britain, Sweden and Denmark refuse to adopt Euro. GATT is replaced by the World Trade Organization. (WTO) The WTO was a more formal union the US thought necessary. It had the ability to oversee agreements, enforce trade rules, and settle disputes. === = Cultural/Intellectual =

=== Contemporary art accelerates in the years after 1945. This art style reflects the unconscious mind, and shows uncertainties about nature of matter, space and time. Contemporary paintings are deformed and imperfect geometric shapes and patterns.The style often served as a means for the artist to express themselves and their ideas and views of society through there work. It was very innovative, and welcomed in most democratic societies, but not taken kindly to in the Soviet Union or NAzi Germany. Artists worthy of mention pertaining to this period are Jackson Pollock, Picasso, Roberto Sebastion Matta Echaurren, James Joyce, and Marcel Proust. === ===

"The Moon Woman"-Jackson Pollock
=== Post Modernism arises sometime in the early 1970's. Post Modernism is unique in that it is a blend of earlier art forms. It emphasized repetition in it's visual works, and rejected traditional methods of writing and theartre. At the same time, it also differed from Contemporary art in that it often did not reflect the views of the artist as an individual, but rather the ideas and values of an entire culture. Painters such as Andy Warhol paint picture of coca-cola bottles and Marilyn Monroe. === ===