Europe since 1945

Book abstract:

In the second half of the twentieth century Western Europe has known a period of peace and stability unprecedented in its history and virtually unparalleled in the rest of the world. This book attempts to explain the reasons for this state of affairs. Covering both Western and Eastern Europe and featuring extensive analysis of the 1990's the book includes examination of: the Cold War, Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia, the European Union, the issues of nationalism, the end of dictatorships, economic prosperity, the EEC and the Euro and the break-up of the European empires.

The book is split into four parts. Part one, 'Peace at the centre and war at the edges', looks at peace in Europe, the Berlin crises, and war in Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland. Part two, 'The rise and fall of the socialist ideal', considers the end of Eastern European socialism, Marxism, and socialism in Western Europe. Part three, 'The movement towards European Unity', considers European values and the European Union, the establishment of the European Economic Community, the EEC and the oil crises of the 1970's, and the enlargement of the EEC and the creation of the Euro. The final part, 'The ending of the European empires', examines the European empires before 1945, France, Indochina and Algeria, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium, the record of Great Britain and the aftermath of empire.

Thought-provoking and wide-ranging, Europe since 1945 discusses political, economic, social and cultural change in modern Europe. It provides an important introduction to modern European history from the end of the Second World War to the new millennium.

Philip Thody was Emeritus Professor at Leeds University and the author of An Historical Introduction to the European Union (Routledge, 1997) and The Fifth French Republic (Routledge, 1998).

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