The European integration process, from 1945 to the 21st century

Résumé ou Introduction

The Second World War was an utterly brutal episode in the history of Europe which would leave its marks for the next half century that followed. It had altered the ethnic structure of Europe through population movements and mass murder, transforming pre-war Europe into a completely different continent. In 1945 the European countries were weakened and divided by two super-powers, the USA on the Western side, and the USSR in the East. In the following decades Europe will slowly regain confidence: the experienced defeat of war brought many countries to place their hope in a unified Europe in which civil wars like the previous two would become impossible. The wish to pacify the continent gained in strength and this was the backdrop for the idea of forming a European Community.
This paper will demonstrate through chronological phases how the integration process of the EU took place, while focusing on the various driving forces/actors that spurred the community's growth, without forgetting to look at the different concerns that darkened the bright horizon of the Union.

From 1945 to 1959: Common strife towards pacifism and beginnings of cooperation

With the common aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars that have shattered most european countries and which were at its highest during the Second World War (1939-1945), the European Union seemed like a bright and promising project, even if European leaders were facing heavy challenges: since the Yalta summit in 1945, Europe was divided between the United States and the USSR, both retaining control over the Western and the Eastern part of the continent respectively. This brought about several conditions and changes for the European countries: they were bound to be dominated by the US economically as well as militarily, the loss of their status as a 'Great Power' was very painful especially for Britain and France who also gradually lost most of their colonies. In spite of a certain number of draw-backs, the US tutelage also had its good points. In the year 1947 for instance, the Marshall Plan was set up by the US in order to help Europe recover after the war. This strategy was also meant to encourage cooperation between the recipient nation, and that was very important so as to bond the two bitter enemies, France and Germany, and avoid another outbreak of violence in the future (Warleigh, 2004).