The following Europe PowerPoint slides were submitted by Col Penny (NC-939)

EUROPE

Europe Cultural Awareness SCIS Documentaries and Student Presentations Guided Discussion Addressing U.S. Interests

Europe Overview Background Culture and Religion Economic and Social Issues Politics and Government

EUROPE An Overview

Cultural Mosaic Shared Experiences Roman Empire Napoleon History of Violence WW I and WW II Cold War Longstanding ethnic/religious feuds Leads to Shared Perspectives

Social Perspectives Generous Social Welfare System –State Health Care –Unemployment –Extremely High Taxes

Vacation & Leisure Vacation –France: 5/6 Weeks –Germany: 6+ Weeks –U.S: 2 Weeks Leisure –Europeans enjoy their social life More relaxed view of alcohol use Another Area they all agree on is …

Education 2,500 Years of Formal Education –World’s oldest universities University of Bologna est 1150 –Literacy +90% –View on Higher Education –Language requirement

European People Many countries have one dominant ethnic group Swedes in Sweden Hungarians in Hungary, etc Most countries also have at least one minority group Basques in Spain Kurds in Turkey Roma (Gypsies)

European People Migration –Fall of Communism –Rise of EU and open borders –Promotes cross cultural interaction Sometimes Good…

European People Historical Hatred Ethnic Cleansing –Former Yugoslavia Current Ethnic Violence For every different ethnic group, there is also a different language

European People Immigration and Integration and Negative Population Growth. With a population growth rate of near zero and death rates exceeding birth rates, Europe must turn to immigrants to sustain its growing economy By 2025, the population of Europe is expected to fall by more than 25 million people

European People Languages –60+ languages –Large % are multi-lingual English is common go between language Thankfully, there aren’t 60 main religions

European People Religion 3 Dominant Religions –Christianity –Judaism –Islam

European People Religion Christianity –Dominant religion Roman Catholic Protestant Eastern Orthodox –Church attendance down significantly in recent years

European People Religion Judaism –Practiced in Europe since Roman Times –Large part of the Jewish population wiped out by Nazis –Small communities still exist in urban centers

European People Religion Islam –Practiced in Europe since the 8th Century –Fueled recently by immigration from Africa and the Middle East –Fastest growing religion in Europe today Religion has played a significant role in European History

European People Religion Positive –Cultural blending/bonding Negative –Religious persecution/warfare Northern Ireland Balkans

Economic and Social Issues European Economics A tale of two cities –Central Europe –Western Europe

Economic and Social Issues Central Europe Communist Legacy –No basic freedom –Poor economies –Corruption

Economic and Social Issues Central Europe Lack of Incentive –Under Communism no need to excel –Blindly Follow Orders –No initiative –40 Years of failure

Economic and Social Issues Central Europe Absence of Free-Market Financial Institutions and Laws –State run banks, manufacturers –No private ownership Communist rot ran to the core of everything

Economic and Social Issues Central Europe Decayed Infrastructure –Most Communist construction was shoddy –Poor roads, bridges –Antiquated telecommunication systems Thankfully things were better in the West

Economic and Social Issues The European Union –The Single European Union Act –Maastricht Treaty –Euro

Politics and Government EU Growth –10 new members added in 2004 (25) –2 more set for 2007 –2 more in talks Coincides with NATO expansion –7 new members added in 2004 (26)

NATO Foundation –Post Cold War evolution of NATO –NATO in Afghanistan (ISAF) –NATO and consensus based decisions

EU Military Foundation –Battle Groups US Role in EU Military Force

Europe Summary Background Culture and Religion Economic and Social Issues Politics and Government

EUROPE Questions

EUROPE SCIS Videos and Student Presentations

Europe Social and Cultural Issues –SCIS Video –Student Presentations

Europe Social and Cultural Issues –SCIS Video –Student Presentations

Europe Economics and the Environment –SCIS Video –Student Presentations

Europe Economics and the Environment –SCIS Video –Student Presentations

Europe Politics and Government –SCIS Video –Student Presentations

Europe Politics and Government –SCIS Video –Student Presentations

Europe Europe in World Affairs –SCIS Video –Student Presentations

Europe Europe in World Affairs –SCIS Video –Student Presentations

Europe Cultural Awareness SCIS Documentaries and Student Presentations Guided Discussion Addressing U.S. Interests