The European Renaissance Since 1945

At the end of the Second World War, Europe presented a spectacle of almost total devastation, and yet, within a short period, it has not only regained its strength but also enjoys a prosperity greater than ever before. In analyzing the resiience of post-war Ruropean society, M.Crouzet shows how enormous the problems were at the moment of the Allied victory: the millions of lives lost, the dislocation of industry and communications, the lack of capital, the disruption of traditional boundaries, the division of Europe into two blocs. He give due weight to the role played by American aid in the recovery of western Europe, but also examines the different means by which the USSR and the People's Democracies of eastern Europe have overcome even greater problems and created a higher standard of living for populations which were backward before the war. The author explains how this renaissance has affected the social fabric and the ideas which are current in Europe today. He also draws attention to the weaknesses which remain a threat and a challenge.