Contemporary Europe

Similarities to the USA Most are democratic political systems –Multi-party systems –Elections –Representative democracy Most are capitalist economic systems –The Euro: the main currency Racism and Ethnic Tensions –The former Yugoslavia –Parts of France and Germany Religious Tensions –Ireland/Northern Ireland –Turkey –The former Yugoslavia

Dissimilarities to the USA Some have monarchies –Belgium, Sweden, and Spain Parliamentary systems of government Single currency officially dominates a continent More potent density Very strong notions about the role of government and social welfare

Major Focal Points Lately Iraq –Major source of contention between the Europeans and the Americans –Germany and France actively opposed military action Euro vs. The US Dollar Turkey and entrance into the EU Greek-Cyprus Issue France: political scandal Germany: human services policy reform Russian Fed: Chechnya, jailing of businessmen opposed to Putin EU Court Battle with Microsoft Ireland/Northern Ireland: IRA moving into organized crime?

European Politics In General EU Parliament National Parliaments/Assemblies Multi-Party Democracies Parliamentary Systems of Government –Majority Party rules –Votes of “no confidence” –“Question Times”

Parliamentary Systems Differ Differences in structure depending on which country we are talking about Some countries have strong, elected Heads of State (France) Most Heads of State are primarily ceremonial Some employ “proportional representation”

Western Europe Typically more “western” –Democratic political systems –Rule of law –Stable political systems –Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Cyprus Capitalist systems either strongly industrial or post-industrial

Eastern Europe Countries that used to be under the “Warsaw Pact” –Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, The Baltics, Ukraine, Russian Fed, Bulgaria Ex-communist countries Weighed down by sclerotic industrial economies Transition to true capitalism (notably, Russian Federation)

Population Trends Aggregate Population –2000: 727 million –2005: 724 million Urbanization –2000: 529 million (72.7%) –2005: 531 million (73.3%) Source: UN Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: The 2002 Revision Population Database (

Population Growth Rate : -0.09%

Emerging Issues Conservatism versus the old “welfare state” –Control of the “commanding heights” –The Thatcherian revolution Immigration given the “borderless” EU College tuition, believe it or not –Great Britain, France, and Germany