Research on the Origins of European Integration after World War II

Author: Yan Shuangwu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: The Second World War against fascism was the turning point in the 20th-century world history, marking the transition from a period of war and turbulence to one of peace and development. The outcome of WWII completely transformed the world, particularly Europe. It was the specific environment created by this war— the convergence of multiple factors and the actions of various forces—that provided a historical opportunity for European integration in an unified manner within a certain scope. WWII promoted the spread and popularization of the idea of European unity; it altered the traditional concept of the nation-state among Europeans; it nurtured the political forces in favor of Europe; and the bipolar forged by WWII created extremely favorable external conditions for the launch of European integration.