Postwar Europe Europe at war’s end

The Department of Political Science Presents Figuring out what's broke: Assessing the effects of ownership on political news content Dr. Kelly Blidook Department of Political Science Memorial University of Newfoundland Friday March 13, 2009 SN20332:30pm

Reminders: Net assignment #2 due, Monday, March 16 th at 5:00 p.m. Net assignment #2 due, Monday, March 16 th at 5:00 p.m. Book or film reviews due in class on Thursday, March 19 th Book or film reviews due in class on Thursday, March 19 th Be sure to consult the hints and suggestions & the directions on format and style in the topic sheetBe sure to consult the hints and suggestions & the directions on format and style in the topic sheet

A paradox and a puzzle Europe experiences destruction on a scale far greater than World War I Europe experiences destruction on a scale far greater than World War I 60 million dead 60 million dead Large numbers uprooted or displaced Large numbers uprooted or displaced Huge swaths of the continent ravaged Huge swaths of the continent ravaged Cities bombed & destroyedCities bombed & destroyed Land ruinedLand ruined Manufacturing and agricultural capacity curtailed…Manufacturing and agricultural capacity curtailed…

Nevertheless: Europe manages to emerge from WWII into Europe manages to emerge from WWII into a half century of relative peace anda half century of relative peace and in some places (the west), unprecedented affluencein some places (the west), unprecedented affluence A continent which had been the epicentre of two world wars ends up A continent which had been the epicentre of two world wars ends up Politically more unifiedPolitically more unified With large areas in which war is unthinkableWith large areas in which war is unthinkable A large number of countries, now EU member- statesA large number of countries, now EU member- states How and why was this possible? How and why was this possible?

Possible explanations: Planning for postwar period Planning for postwar period Construction of new international institutionsConstruction of new international institutions New elán New elán Spirit of cooperation among resistance fightersSpirit of cooperation among resistance fighters Determination not to go back to dirty ’30sDetermination not to go back to dirty ’30s US involvement US involvement Cold War & the way in which it defined & limited choices and options Cold War & the way in which it defined & limited choices and options

However, Not all wartime plans are implemented or turn out as intended Not all wartime plans are implemented or turn out as intended Treatment of Germany very different than originally intended in Morganthau Plan or JCS 1047Treatment of Germany very different than originally intended in Morganthau Plan or JCS 1047 UN does not operate as intendedUN does not operate as intended New elán & spirit of cooperation often dissipate – both domestically & in international politics New elán & spirit of cooperation often dissipate – both domestically & in international politics Outbreak of Cold War frames different choices & opportunities for visionaries and pragmatics Outbreak of Cold War frames different choices & opportunities for visionaries and pragmatics These make a difference These make a difference

Planning the peace Summit negotiations on war aims, postwar disposition of territory Casablanca 1943 (Roosevelt + Churchill) Casablanca 1943 (Roosevelt + Churchill) Agreement on unconditional surrenderAgreement on unconditional surrender Teheran 1943 Teheran 1943 Initial agreement on eastern EuropeInitial agreement on eastern Europe Plans for occupation of GermanyPlans for occupation of Germany Yalta 1945 Yalta 1945 Plans for United NationsPlans for United Nations Further agreement on territoryFurther agreement on territory Concessions to Russia to secure entry into war against JapanConcessions to Russia to secure entry into war against Japan

Planning the postwar economic order Bretton Woods conference –1943 Bretton Woods conference –1943 Plans for monetary stabilityPlans for monetary stability Fixed system of exchange rates Fixed system of exchange rates World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stabilize World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stabilize Agreements on trade (GATT) Agreements on trade (GATT) Domestic side Domestic side UK – plans for welfare state (Beveridge Report)UK – plans for welfare state (Beveridge Report) Discussions in resistance movements, among governments in exileDiscussions in resistance movements, among governments in exile

Dealing with Germany Division into occupation zones, but no intent to partition Division into occupation zones, but no intent to partition French & Soviet demands for reparations French & Soviet demands for reparations Intent to de-nazify Intent to de-nazify Immediate problem: food & shelter for Immediate problem: food & shelter for local populationlocal population people displaced by boundary shifts & ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Eastern Europepeople displaced by boundary shifts & ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Eastern Europe

Allied powers: Wartime agreements place Germany under joint administration Wartime agreements place Germany under joint administration But, allies increasingly divided: But, allies increasingly divided: Americans, British, French v. SovietsAmericans, British, French v. Soviets End up providing aid rather than extracting reparations End up providing aid rather than extracting reparations Unable to carry out de-Nazification as thoroughly as planned Unable to carry out de-Nazification as thoroughly as planned Nuremberg Trials net some leaders, but not many who were complicitNuremberg Trials net some leaders, but not many who were complicit Officials needed to run the countryOfficials needed to run the country Forced to work through existing bureaucracyForced to work through existing bureaucracy

West Germany British, American & French zones merged British, American & French zones merged Provinces re-established, with new boundaries Provinces re-established, with new boundaries Parties whose leaders free (or freer) of Nazi connections licensed: Parties whose leaders free (or freer) of Nazi connections licensed: Social Democrats (SPD)Social Democrats (SPD) Christian Democrats (CDU) – built on the base of the Catholic Party (Zentrum)Christian Democrats (CDU) – built on the base of the Catholic Party (Zentrum) Free Democrats (FDP)Free Democrats (FDP) Invited to draw up a new constitution Invited to draw up a new constitution End up dominating politics in Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) through the 1980s End up dominating politics in Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) through the 1980s

Soviet Zone Tri-zonal administration in West triggers: Tri-zonal administration in West triggers: Berlin Blockage, Berlin airliftBerlin Blockage, Berlin airlift formation of separate communist state, German Democratic Republic (GDR)formation of separate communist state, German Democratic Republic (GDR) But, free movement via Berlin until construction of Berlin Wall in 1961 But, free movement via Berlin until construction of Berlin Wall in 1961 Socialists, Communists unified in Socialist Unity Party (SED) Socialists, Communists unified in Socialist Unity Party (SED)

Central and Eastern Europe: Territories occupied by Red Army Territories occupied by Red Army Socialist & Communist Parties encouraged to join in popular front governments – Socialist & Communist Parties encouraged to join in popular front governments – Communists in key ministries, e.g.Communists in key ministries, e.g. Interior – controlling the police Interior – controlling the police Agriculture – controlling land distribution Agriculture – controlling land distribution Unification of Socialists & Communists encouraged -- e.g. Poland, E. Germany.. Unification of Socialists & Communists encouraged -- e.g. Poland, E. Germany.. Opponents marginalized or arrested Opponents marginalized or arrested Sometimes elections rigged… Sometimes elections rigged… Communist gov’ts entrenched by 1948 Communist gov’ts entrenched by 1948 Soviet-style party-state systems established Soviet-style party-state systems established

Western Europe Where possible, previous systems re- established, governments in exile return Where possible, previous systems re- established, governments in exile return politics resumes, albeit with different coalitions in office politics resumes, albeit with different coalitions in office e.g. Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway…e.g. Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway… In France & Italy, new constitutions are drafted In France & Italy, new constitutions are drafted In both instances, previous regimes discredited and toppledIn both instances, previous regimes discredited and toppled

France 3 rd Republic terminated with invasion, occupation, establishment of the Vichy Republic in south 3 rd Republic terminated with invasion, occupation, establishment of the Vichy Republic in south Liberation in summer 1944 Liberation in summer 1944 Collaborators punishedCollaborators punished Constitutional debate among Constitutional debate among Resistance forces, especiallyResistance forces, especially Communists (27%) Communists (27%) Socialists (~25%) Socialists (~25%) MRP (Christian Democrats, also 25%) MRP (Christian Democrats, also 25%) General De Gaulle – leader of the Free French Army & head of provisional governmentGeneral De Gaulle – leader of the Free French Army & head of provisional government

The debate: De Gaulle favours a presidential republic: De Gaulle favours a presidential republic: in his view, the French people need a president who can be above politics & formulate what the people wantin his view, the French people need a president who can be above politics & formulate what the people want Parties favour a return to a parliamentary or assembly-dominated regime Parties favour a return to a parliamentary or assembly-dominated regime Parties win, at least temporarily: Parties win, at least temporarily: 4 th Republic established, with some attempt to provide stronger cabinets4 th Republic established, with some attempt to provide stronger cabinets De Gaulle resigns & retires from politicsDe Gaulle resigns & retires from politics Consensus which made a tripartite coalition possible breaks down:Consensus which made a tripartite coalition possible breaks down: Communists expelled from government in 1947 Communists expelled from government in 1947 Socialists split with MRP over state support for Catholic schools (early 1950s) Socialists split with MRP over state support for Catholic schools (early 1950s)

Italy Mussolini toppled in 1943 Mussolini toppled in 1943 Germany occupies Germany occupies Liberation in slow degrees, Liberation in slow degrees, At war’s end, a new configuration of political forces: At war’s end, a new configuration of political forces: RK Church casts its lot with democracyRK Church casts its lot with democracy Allows the formation of a Christian Democratic PartyAllows the formation of a Christian Democratic Party Initially, tripartite coalition of Communists, Socialists, and Christian DemocratsInitially, tripartite coalition of Communists, Socialists, and Christian Democrats

1948 Constitution Series of compromises Series of compromises position of the Church recognized,position of the Church recognized, along with positive goals – full employment – of Socialists and Communistsalong with positive goals – full employment – of Socialists and Communists Explicitly anti-FascistExplicitly anti-Fascist Yet bureaucracy & judiciary were not purgedYet bureaucracy & judiciary were not purged With outbreak of the Cold War With outbreak of the Cold War Communists and Socialists leave coalitionCommunists and Socialists leave coalition Italy governed by a series of Christian Democratic-led multiparty coalitions, average duration of one yearItaly governed by a series of Christian Democratic-led multiparty coalitions, average duration of one year Communists excluded at national level until 1990sCommunists excluded at national level until 1990s

Netherlands: As elsewhere, war experience facilitates communication among rivals groups & determination to bring about change As elsewhere, war experience facilitates communication among rivals groups & determination to bring about change Break down divisions among Catholics, Calvinists, Socialists -- - historically separateBreak down divisions among Catholics, Calvinists, Socialists -- - historically separate Once war over, old divisions re-emerge Once war over, old divisions re-emerge Greater willingness to cooperate: Greater willingness to cooperate: Catholics & Socialists join in postwar reconstruction & building a welfare stateCatholics & Socialists join in postwar reconstruction & building a welfare state

Bottom line: In Western Europe, basis laid for re- establishment of liberal democracy In Western Europe, basis laid for re- establishment of liberal democracy In Central & Eastern Europe, imposition of Communist party-state systems, In Central & Eastern Europe, imposition of Communist party-state systems, Division of Europe (Churchill’s iron curtain) facilitates reconstruction, institution-building & politics of affluence which would ensue Division of Europe (Churchill’s iron curtain) facilitates reconstruction, institution-building & politics of affluence which would ensue But economic reconstruction as important as political reconstruction or restoration But economic reconstruction as important as political reconstruction or restoration