The postwar Europe searched for new progressive means of advancing economies. Despite the negative prognoses, the leading Western Europe recovered dramatically from incredible devastation caused by World War II. Due to the division of European territory, social democrats focused on the rapid growth of economies so as to restore the living standards that existed before the wartime, as well create conditions that would help people to adapt to the current situation in the market.
In contrast, radical movements paid closer attention to the Europe’s urgent problems, insisting on the fact that the welfare of Europeans would depend on total improvement of benefits. Such divided views were especially relevant for such countries as Germany, France, and the Great Britain that practiced rapid revival of economic situation.
Creating trade unions, corporate organizations and employer arrangement allowed the labor-market partners to achieve and develop long-term agreements seeking to reduce wage demands and ensure high rates of investments and industrial restructuring. Trade unions in Germany focused on slowing down the labor costs and representing corporate boards. The policy of unions in France had a potent impact over government policy-making and planning.
Powerful states managed to fix the achieved success by providing employees with great benefits to compensate the wage reduction and high unemployment rates caused by industrial restructuring. Finally, British postwar thinking was more oriented on defense policy development premised on collaborating efforts of power states to sustain social and economic security. Foreign policy, therefore, was a priority for the country to compete with other developed economies, including the Unites States and the Soviet Union.
The postwar period created serious challenges for European communities to cooperate as little space was left practicing flexibility and creativity to cope with the fast-growing demands. Nevertheless, the new economic conditions called for establishing mobile and flexible relationships, technological innovation, and investment into risky ventures.
The old practices and structures did not allow the European community to ensure constant progress and revival from the wartime devastation. The division processes also contributed to the difficulties in developing new economic and political strategies.
As a result, Europe was split into two worlds in ideological, physical and symbolical terms: the Western European world was supported by democratic countries whereas the Eastern territory was committed to communist ideology. More importantly, such a division was predetermined by the confrontation between the United Stated and Soviet Union that controlled the divided Europe for their own purposes.
During the Cold War era, German territory suffered most from the division policies. After World War II, the country was split into several parts: the Federal Republic of Germany was controlled by the Western zones whereas the Communist supporters annexed the German Democratic Republic.
The country also had to pay reparations to France and the United Kingdom in the form of workforce, coal and dismantled plants. In particular, the British government sought for intellectual reparations to acquire scientific and technological knowledge.
The economic situation in the United Kingdom was also deplorable. To manage the economic crisis, the UK government forced a general election to promote the majority of seats for the Labor party in the House of Commons. Although the postwar Britain had considerable debts, it withdrew the Lend Lease support on the part of the United States.
Nevertheless, the Anglo-American loan took place and allowed the UK administration to renew the political and economic balance in the country. The loan had negative consequences for the currency fluctuations, which further led to economic recession.
France did not undergo significant shifts in economic and political life. However, it took an active part in development of international alliance and organization. Specific attention requires its participation in founding the United Nations organization aimed at maintaining international peace.
Along with other developed economies, France also supported the idea of global cooperation and expansion of peaceful alliance to prevent the consequences of wartime. Active participation in developing a new political and economic infrastructure improved significantly the overall landscape of postwar Europe and provided new directions for progress and industrial advancement in the future. Overall creation of new intellectual and political movements gave rise to total restructuring of social organization.
In conclusion, such postwar European countries as France, the United Kingdom, and Germany had experienced significant shifts in political, ideological, and economic terms. Germany had been under the most tangible influence on the part of its rivals and was divided into two ideological movements – Western Labor movement and Eastern Communist movement. The newly created ideologies were impregnated by two power states involved into Cold War.
Both the United States and the Soviet Union strived to gain world dominance and control and, as a result, their policy promoted dominance over European countries. Apart from new political influences, the postwar era was also marked by the foundation of intellectual organizations, such as the United Nations that aimed to sustain and develop peaceful relations at the international level. As a result, the European community experienced tangible shifts in economic, social, and political development.