What do you think Europe would be like today without the Marshall plan after WW2?

Question

During the quarter-century after 1948, Western Europe recorded its highest economic growth ever, due to the influx of money, food, and other aid given to Europe to rebuild after the war. Yet this has been forgotten by most Europeans today in their rush to condemn Americans for their culture among other things. After all, everyone knows that Americans are greedy. The US gave billions to European aid and rebuilding efforts in the 1940s and 50s. Would Europe being doing as well as it is now?

Erik - I am sooooo not right wing it's funny. Really, you made me laugh there. And I do know something of Europe; part of my family is there. I visit from time t o time as do they. I also have worked for foreign companies and have lived in several larger cities in the US that are multinational in makeup. I just get a bit peeved every now and then that "American" seems to be a curse word these days in some people’s minds. You do have to admit, that although there were political strings attached (in regard to the coming cold war) that it was a noble thing, and unprecedented in its vision and scope. (the Marshall plan that is) And I do find it is forgotten by people of my generation/ European contemporaries of my age. It has come up in conversation and most have no idea...they just think that we all have guns and love war etc....

And you didn't actually answer the question as to what you think would have happened. I am serious abut that actually, in a non jingoistic sense.

Answer 1

What with everything that has happened to Communism in the last few years, it's hard to say. At the time, however, powerful Communist parties at least in France and Italy would have taken advantage of the misery and desperation to make a concerted drive for power, and might well have succeeded. Did you know that there actually was a Communist state in Western Europe for a decade? No one notices, because it was San Marino (24 square miles), at the time (1957) the only country ever to rid itself of a Communist government.

Answer 2

> Yet this has been forgotten by most Europeans today

That is simply not true. Just a myth, peddled by people who don't know or don't want to know about Europe.

> in their rush to condemn Americans for their culture among other things.

And that has nothing to do with this argument, maybe except in the eyes of some rightwing paranoid American chauvinists. It comes from the same school as "Without us you'd be speaking German" and other John Birch crap. Just another example of a "Straw Man Argument".

Answer 3

there replaced into no danger of the united kingdom turning out to be communist - u.s. had actually no impression in this, regardless of you have been informed. u.s. did not even enter WW2 till close to the top while Pearl harbor replaced into attacked. Their sparkling troops have been then able to bypass to the help of our exhausted ones for which we've been very grateful. you have an idealistic view of u.s. desirous to unfold democracy international. some persons ask your self what ultimate you're able to desire to bypass around imposing your concepts on different countries. You gave help to the Irish devoid of having plenty sensible expertise of what the genuine concern replaced into , to cite a minor occasion, giving them hands which made the conflict extra unfavorable and longer lasting. u.s. could be seen from the exterior as questioning it incredibly is king of the international with a ultimate to tell all human beings else how they'd desire to act. that is not seen in this type by utilising the the remainder of the international.

Answer 4

"In the news: Europe is still in a halting recovery mode after the recently signed armistice ending World War IV...

"...and the limited exchange of short-range nuclear weapons has, by conservative estimates, contaminated roughly 20% of the available farmland and forests - as well as putting radioactive material into the atmosphere. Most of the major European capitols are either in a state of ruin or have been abandoned entirely...

"Meanwhile, the United States, Japan, and several other Pacific Rim nations are jointly filing suit in the World Court to recover damages over war crimes against their citizens, as well as clean-up costs for ecological damages due to radioactive fallout..."


I could go on - but it's TOO depressing...

Granted, the US ain't perfect, but we're NOT demons either...!

Answer 5

I think that same spirt that we saw in Great Britain during the Blitz would have been renewed across Europe. People would have pulled together and have done whatever it took to rebuild, forget, and thrive.



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Answer 6

remember the league of nations after WW1? america wasn't part of it and look what happen.

Answer 7

Europe would be nothing ..kind of like the path they are on now!!!