The Cold War united Europe against Russia and subsequently was a catalyst in European integration during the period of the 1940’s until the early 1990’s. At the end of World War II there was a call for a united, peaceful Europe which aligned itself with neither the United States nor the totalitarian USSR. Europe started to become more integrated with the desire for peace, evident in the Stockholm Appeal which called for a ban on nuclear weapons worldwide. This was only one movement within Europe that signified that the threat of the USSR was propelling Europe towards a more integrated society. 1.
The United States drew up the Marshall Plan in 1947 as part of an effort to reunite Europe following WW11. The Marshall Plan removed trade barriers in Europe and aimed to coordinate the economy of Europe as a continent. This played a large role in European integration; however it was largely a goal of the U.S. to encourage the unity of Europe in order to combat the threat of communism. American security was a strong impetus in the construction of The Marshall Plan, although it still resulted in an increased level of European integration. 2.
The difference between the USSR and the founding members of the EC in terms of communism versus capitalism accelerated European integration because the founding members were determined to open up the European market. In order for this to happen, the founding countries had to improve their relations with one another in order for trade to be successful. The German steel companies in particular wanted access to the Western European market so it was necessary for Germany to integrate with these countries as opposed to turning to the USSR. 3.
Cold War politics slowed European integration, or at least put it to the back of the agenda when NATO was formed in 1949. However, the overall result of this agreement was changed when West Germany joined NATO in 1955 and Germany and France were finally united on a certain issue. This coming...
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