Download Eastern Europe: Struggling Transition and Geopolitical Challenges - Prof. H. Mokeba and more Study notes Political Science in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Monday November 16 EASTERN EUROPE NORTH VS. SOUTH Although North is often blamed for problems of the South, countries of the South usually account for the problems they face on a regular basis. Ex: North Korea and South Korea, Zimbabwe and Zambia, Venezuela and Colombia, Thailand and Cambodia. In Int’l relations, Eastern Europe used to be an exceptional case among the countries of the world. Its standards were largely tied to the influence or role played by the Soviet Union. For that reason when Eastern Europe was talked about it was largely discussed in terms of dependency or in terms of Russia’s occupation of that part of the world. Since the end of the cold war, Eastern Europe still makes headlines and you could argue its still finding it’s place in the world. The question is whether Eastern Europe belongs to the west or should those countries grouped along the poorer countries of the south. In reality Eastern Euro countries should be seen as transitional societies in the sense that they are still in the process of determining whether they move forward toward the west or decline into the 3rd world status. Eastern Euro countries are trying to find their own area. The trend is that many countries are being accepted into the European Union and NATO (26). The US now has an obligation to the countries of that nation. In recent times the U.S. has visited the Eastern Euro countries to show their continued support of security. This is happening at a time when Obama administration gave up on Bush plan for nuclear shield. It is argued that when the US has good relations with Russia, Eastern Euro countries pay the price for that. Although he seems to be popular everywhere else in the world, his popularity in Eastern Euro falls. Many of the eastern euro countries have joined the Euro Union under a long process of membership unlike membership into NATO which is speedy. The long process is known as Restructuring. Much of this began with a program known as PHARE (Poland Hungary Assistance Recovery Program) many of these countries are forced to go thru this process before membership. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, head quartered in London meant to play the same role the world bank. However this bank hasn’t been helpful and recently last year the new director of bank was from Eastern Euro country. Upset the system. Eastern Euro countries have to compete with 3rd world for Int’l aid from monetary fund. Int’l Monetary Fund has been involved exclusively with 3rd world repair since 1980’s. For all these reasons Eastern Euro countries not only struggle but recent economic crisis also affected them. Some countries affected: Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Hungary, and Poland
