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Challenging the Postwar Order

Explore the dynamic political landscape of the 1960s and 70s, including the rise of the New Left, the challenges to the Old Left, the collapse of communism, and the emergence of conservative and liberal movements. Learn about significant events, movements, and leaders that shaped this transformative period.

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Challenging the Postwar Order

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  1. 1960-1991 Challenging the Postwar Order

  2. Politics of 1960s and 70s • Dominated by Old Left • Emphasized workers, party building and parliamentary action • Labour Party and Social Democrat (welfare state) • Detente • Willy Brandt • Signs treaty of Reconciliation with Poland • Ostpolitik

  3. Politics of 1960s and 70s • Helsinki Conference in 1975 • Existing political frontiers couldn’t be changed by force • Guaranteed human rights and political freedoms • Main goal was international peace • Helsinki Watch Groups • Charter 77 • Czechoslovakia asked to live up to Helsinki Conference

  4. Challenges to the Old Left • 1968: growth in protests against Vietnam • New Left students in Paris • Promote marginal groups, attacks on authority, complete freedom and socialism without oppression • Worked alongside workers on strike

  5. Challenges to the Old Left • Radical New Left Groups • Red Army Faction in West Germany • Red Brigades in Italy • Used sabotage, kidnapping and murder to unsuccessfully achieve their goals of change

  6. “Really Existing Socialism” • Economic successes under Communist leadership • Collectivized agriculture • Nationalized industry • Increased social class mobility • Welfare benefits

  7. Downfalls of Communism • People calling for decentralization of gov’t, provisions for consumer goods, cultural freedom • Movements for change • “Socialism with a face” and “Prague Spring” • Ended by Warsaw Pact with Brezhnev Doctrine • Stagflation • Inflation and stagnation, rising unemployment • Caused by increase in price of oil and uncertainty of global market

  8. Conservative Politics • Neoliberal • People upset with liberal gov’ts so they turn to conservatives • Cut spending, lower taxes, privatize industry, modify welfare state • Margaret Thatcher: replaced welfare system • Ronald Reagan • Helmut Kohl

  9. Liberal Groups • Offset conservative trend • Environmentalists • Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring • Feminists • Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan • Youth Subculture • Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll

  10. Collapse of Communism • Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Soviet Premier amidst terrible economy • Glasnost • Increase in availability of samizdat • Perestroika • Renounces Brezhnev doctrine • Removes Russian troops from Afghanistan • Arms limitations agreement with US • Leads to people demanding free election

  11. Call for Reform • Dockworkers in Poland who organized a national labor union • Lech Walesa, Solidarity, Polish Pope John Paul II • Hungary • Doors are opened for East Berliners • Czechoslovakia • Velvet Revolution: So Smooth • Romania • Violent revolution…Nicolae Ceausescu executed

  12. Losing Eastern Europe • Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3

  13. The 1990s • Germany is reunited • Most powerful continental European states • Paris Accord • Affirms existing borders • Scales down armed forces • Political Instability • Boris Yeltsin > Gorbachev • Baltic Republics and Ukraine become independent

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