*Europe from Division to Reunification (1947-2004). The Story and the Sub-text*, Gérard-François Dumont

Europe from Division to Reunification (1947-2004). The Story and the Sub-text


 
Gérard-François DUMONT, Professor at Paris-Sorbonne University ; Pierre VERLUISE, Director of Diploweb.com 

 
 
What have been the major stages in the unification of part of geographical Europe ? After four decades of division, the opening of the iron curtain in the second half of 1989 marked a break in the strategic order. In fifteen years, NATO, and then the EU, took in three former Soviet Republics and USSR satellites. The USA won the Cold War and the post-Cold War, leaving the EU to carry part of the burden from the victory by taking on board countries impoverished by communism.