Spielvogel- Chapter 29- “The Western World Since 1970”
Focus Questions:
How and why did the Cold War end?
What reforms did Gorbachev institute in the Soviet Union, and what role did he play in
the Soviet Union’s demise?
What changes have occurred in Eastern Europe as a result of the revolutionist of 1989?
What are the major political and social developments in Western Europe and North
America since 1970?
What major cultural and intellectual trends have emerged since 1970?
What are the similarities and differences between the feminist movement of the 18th c.
and the post WWII feminist movement?
Outline:
I. Moving Beyond the Cold War: A New World Order?
A. By the 1970s we had entered detente
B. The Gorbachev years ended the Cold War
C. The US role in the “New World Order” was not always clear
II. Toward a New Western Order
A. Brezhnev years seemed mostly calm, but ended with an ailing USSR
B. Gorbachev Era led to perestroika and glasnost
C. Gorbachev’s freedoms led to his and the USSR’s demise and Yeltsin
in power
D. Ex-KGB agent Vladimir Putin replaced Yeltsin in 1999
E. Lech Walesa led Poland to Independence
F. By 1990 Hungary had moved to a free market
G. Movement away from communism in Czechoslovakia led to Czech R.
and Slovakia
H. Romania’s movement toward freedom was violent
I. Socialist party remained strong in Bulgaria
J. Albania continues to have problems
K. Germany was reunited in 1990
L. Yugoslavia faced separatist movements after Tito’s death
M. NATO got involved in the Bosnian War
N. 1999 saw a bloody war in Kosovo
O. The EC moved toward further integration of their economies and the
EU
P. Reunification of Germany led to problems
Q.
R.
S.
T.
U.
Thatcher and the Conservatives dominated Britain in the 1980s
Socialist policies under Mitterand did not bring huge successes
Italian politics still marked by coalitions and some corruption
US politics were marked with domestic turmoil
Canada faced a separatist movement
III.
New Directions and New Problems in Western Society
A. Many feminists believed women needed to rely on selves for
transformation
B. The 1970s saw the beginning of modern terrorism
C. Attacks on the US led to retaliation
D. Europe faces problems with immigration and guest workers
E. The Green Movement and parties have become very important
IV.
The World of Western Culture
A. Americans dominated the art world after WWII
B. Serialism had dominated modern music
C. Theater of the Absurd reelected post war disillusionment
D. Post modernism in literature often blends fantasy and reality
E. Existentialism was a message of authenticity
F. Many religions saw revivals
G. Theoretical science and technology came together
H. The US was very influential in pop culture
I. With mass media came mass sports
J. Pop culture increasingly global
V.
Toward a Global Civilization
A. More politically and economically interdependent
B. Problems and solutions can be global
VI. Summary