A new Europe?

Abstract

In this article, Jonathan Eyal argues that the West failed both to end and win the Cold War. Instead, the death of Eastern Bloc Communism, was a result of the drive of these states seeking the ’benefits’ of West European style democracy and market economies. Bom of high hopes, events since 1989 have proved disillusioning for all concerned. The European Community, and its affiliated institutions, have been revealed as unstructured, uncoordinated and insincere in their attempts to help the East adapt to a new way of life, whilst the pressures of the recession have left Eastern economies floundering unaided and with little promise of future assistance. The problems of ethnic divisions in the face of rising nationalism is epitomised by the tragedy of Yugoslavia, and until the question of where the frontiers of Europe actually lie, there will be little chance of structuring a new democratic‐ Europe. Unless Western Europe makes some concrete decisions, it may be destined to repeat the mistakes. of the 1920s and 1930s and the states of the East might well collapse into the turmoil of conflict and war.