Unit 9 Review: The Reshaping of Modern Europe (1989–Present)

Mikhail Gorbachev

General Secretary of the Communist Party who introduced reforms like Glasnost and Perestroika.

Glasnost

Openness; political liberalization allowing public criticism of the government in the Soviet Union.

Perestroika

Restructuring; economic reforms that introduced limited free-market practices in the Soviet Union.

Brezhnev Doctrine

Policy that justified Soviet intervention in Eastern Europe to maintain communist control.

Solidarity

Polish labor union led by Lech Wałęsa, which forced the first free elections in the Eastern Bloc.

Berlin Wall

Barrier that divided East and West Berlin, its fall on November 9, 1989 symbolized the end of communist control.

Velvet Revolution

Peaceful transition of power in Czechoslovakia led by playwright Václav Havel.

Nicolae Ceaușescu

Romanian dictator overthrown and executed during the violent revolution in Romania.

Boris Yeltsin

Leader who resisted the coup against Gorbachev and became the first President of post-Soviet Russia.

Oligarchs

Wealthy elites in Russia who emerged as a result of rapid privatization during Yeltsin's administration.

Yugoslavia

A former country that violently broke apart in the 1990s following the fall of communism.

Slobodan Milošević

Serbian president who sought to unite all Serbs in a 'Greater Serbia' during the Yugoslav Wars.

Ethnic Cleansing

Systematic forced removal or extermination of ethnic groups, notably against Bosnian Muslims.

Dayton Accords

Peace agreement mediated by the U.S. that ended the war in Bosnia.

Maastricht Treaty

Pivotal agreement that transformed the European Community into the EU and established the Euro.

Euro (€)

The currency introduced in 1999 as part of the European Union, replacing national currencies.

Supranationalism

The concept of member states yielding some sovereignty to a higher authority, particularly in the EU context.

Brexit

The United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU, driven by concerns over sovereignty and migration.

Populism

Political approach characterized by anti-immigrant sentiment and emphasis on national identity.

Inverted Population Pyramid

Demographic trend where fewer young workers support a growing number of retirees.

2015 Refugee Crisis

The influx of over 1 million refugees into Europe, primarily due to civil war in Syria.

Cradle-to-Grave

Welfare state model providing comprehensive social services throughout a citizen's life in Europe.

Angela Merkel

Chancellor of Germany known for accepting large numbers of refugees during the 2015 crisis.

East Germany

The German Democratic Republic that was unified with West Germany following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

European Economic Community (EEC)

Established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 as a precursor to the European Union.

European Union (EU)

Political and economic union of European countries established by the Maastricht Treaty.

Common Market

Economic concept promoting free trade among member states, leading to the formation of the EEC.