Chapter 31, Sections 2,3,4 Economic and Social Change and Regional and Global issues and Literature and the Arts

Western Europe had greater industrial output than anywhere else in the world. They had access to the latest technology while rebuilding. The Marshall Plan encouraged cooperation. Trade flourished. They had diversified economies. By the 1950’s, West Germany’s factories were booming (due to, in part, the Marshall Plan).

Postwar, many Western European nations nationalized industries like railroads, electric companies, airlines, and banks. They had mixed economies, which included private industries. These nations provide programs for citizens’ well- being- imposing taxes to pay for low-income housing, and low-cost (or free!) medical care.

The EU (European Union) Encourages free movement of goods, capital and people among member nations. It promotes common economic and social policies and seeks political unity.

The US and Western Europe formed NATO to provide security against the USSR in the Cold War. When NATO decided to put nuclear missiles in Europe to combat the threat of Soviet Union, European cities felt very nervous and trapped between two superpowers. Peace movements gained support.

After the Cold War, NATO had to redefine its role. It reduced its forces, but still helped deal with emergency situations. NATO peacekeepers were sent into the former provinces of Yugoslavia once tensions erupted into conflict there.

During the 70’s West German environmentalists started the Green Party, and other nations followed suit. European nations have passed strict air pollution laws. Some nations no longer build nuclear power plants. The EU does research on global warming.

Britain and France are becoming multiracial for the first time in their histories. 13 million immigrants have moved to Western Europe for work. The largest number are from Turkey, former Yugoslavia, Morocco, and Pakistan. Some in these nations want to expel foreign workers and restrict immigration.

In the 1850’s folks rebelled against romanticism and turned to realism (to describe life as it really is). Charles Dickens wrote “David Copperfield” and ”Oliver Twist”, exposing social ills in the city.

Spanish painter Pablo Picasso was the most influential modern painter- he studied other cultures’ arts (like Africa). He pioneered new art forms like cubism. “Guernica” combined modern styles to comment on the confusion and terror of war.