A HISTORY IN FRAGMENTS: Europe in the Twentieth Century

Europe's history in the past century has been marred by incredible brutality and constant ideological struggle, including the rise and fall of Nazism on the right and Communism on the left. In the decades after WWII, Europe has moved toward economic and political integration. Yet even today there seems to be as much that separates Europe as unites it. Vinen, who lectures in history at King's College in London, explores the diversity of European history by focusing on larger social, economic and cultural issues. He examines, among other things, the shifting roles of women, the impact of technological change, the relationship of labor unions to the overall economy, the power of the church and the emergence of popular culture. Vinen also describes in detail the birth of a new kind of political extremism in the interwar years: "The threat of communism in turn stimulated support for radical right counter-offensives [i.e., fascism], which further exacerbated conflict." WWII resulted in the separation of Europe into two opposing blocs, East and West. Vinen argues that a postwar consensus developed in Western Europe based on anticommunism, managed economies and a mass culture dominated by consumerism. In postwar Eastern Europe, communism ossified and, by the late 1980s, collapsed. Yet the absence of communism didn't lead inexorably to European unity: "The fall of the Berlin Wall did not unite Europe. Rather, it replaced a single, simple division of East and West with several more subtle divisions." Those interested in a more traditional history of events and politics may be put off by Vinen's focus on culture, social history and economics. But those with an open mind will find this book an ample source of new insight on 20th-century Europe. B&w photos and maps. (Oct.)