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Eastern Europe Today . Obj 1: describe Eastern Europe today. Obj 2: Analyze reasons for the Balkan conflict. Obj 3: Explain the impact Communism had on Eastern Europe. Poland. Poland – with the Solidarity (1980s) movement became first nation in Eastern Europe to transition to democracy.
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Eastern Europe Today Obj 1: describe Eastern Europe today. Obj 2: Analyze reasons for the Balkan conflict. Obj 3: Explain the impact Communism had on Eastern Europe.
Poland • Poland – with the Solidarity (1980s) movement became first nation in Eastern Europe to transition to democracy. • Created market economy, encouraged private businesses • Many Poles became entrepreneurs • Lech Walesa became president
Baltic Nations • Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania moved away from the USSR • formed democratic governments in 1990s • All are members of the EU • Recent investments of capital have helped • Main trade partners are Germany, Finland and Sweden
Central Europe • Czech Republic and Slovakia • 1989, gained independence from USSR • Split peacefully in 1993 along ethnic lines • Czech Rep. experienced quicker economic growth • Slovakia lowered taxes in 1998 for foreign companies • Both in EU and have expanded trade
Central Europe • Hungary has had some success since the fall of communism • Heavy debt from foreign countries has slowed econ growth • Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia • 1990, 90% of Slovenians voted for independence • Became first Balkan nation to join EU and NATO(2004)
The Balkans • WWI – Yugoslavia created from 6 territories • Each territory was a different ethnic group • After WWII, Josip Broz Tito avoided total communist takeover • Union began to weaken after his death in 1980 • Serbian power n gov’t was TOO strong • 1991, Slovenia and Croatia broke away followed by Macedonia • 1992, Bosnia seceded
The Balkans – Ethnic Cleansing • Serbs attack Muslims in Bosnia then moved into vacant areas • Ethnic cleansing in violation of intn’l law • UN and NATO sent troops to enforce treaties • Slow to shift from government control to private enterprise • Conflict has disrupted their economies • Relocation has hurt them too
Romania, Albania and Bulgaria • Dominated by the USSR • Late 1980s, shifted to market economies • Plagued by corruption • 2007, Bulgaria and Romania accepted into EU • Albania still plagued by poverty
Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova • 1991, all gained independence • Ukraine is democratic • Struggles with corruption • Belarus is a dictatorship • Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 • Must import from Russia which makes it vulnerable
Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova • Moldova is the weakest • Has border issues with Transdniestria