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Context of Europe and the US 1983

Social context of Europe and the US 1983

Europe

Europe had developed a shift to free market politics and a more Neoliberal capitalist system, it had a deep economic turmoil alongside the heightening of the Cold War.

The economy was highly severe with high unemployment and a decline in big industries like coal and shipbuilding.

There were widespread labour strikes, and a surge in peace/anti nuclear activism.

The Iron Curtain was a great physical divide in the globe and the start of the ‘second Cold War’ began after NATO's deployment of Pershing missiles and the Soviet boycott of arms talks.

Society was on the cusp of the digital age and technology was greatly improving.

Sharp economic shifts to ‘Reganomics’ and deep Cold War nuclear anxieties as well as a sharp surge in technology occurred.

The US was in a recession recovery during this year.

Service, tech and finance industry prospered as traditional industry waned.

Young Urban professionals (‘Yuppies’) rose in society with a big consumerist and corporate ambition as well as obsession with fitness and designer brands as a status symbol.

Poverty increased to 15.2% living below the poverty line.

Public fear of nuclear annihilation deeply rooted itself in society and the media.

Much more technology and media was released by the US during this time.

Cultural context of Europe and the US 1983

Europe

Europe sat at the forefront of superpower tensions, this sparking massive anti-nuclear movements across Western Europe (particularly in West Germany and the UK).

The continent remained divided by the Iron Curtain ( a split between West Europe and East Europe).

The West embraced commercialism whilst the East experienced deep economic stagnation.

In the UK the rise of Thatcherism and the cut of the Welfare state deeply affected the country.

It lead to heavy labour strikes and social friction which was also seen in the eras rebellious art forms.

A sharp turn to career and economic status occurred.

Post punk and electronic pop dominated music.

Bands like Depeche, New Order and Kraftwerk brought synthesized and futuristic music to the period.

Cold war fears and nuclear threat sparked severe paranoia And pop culture reflected this.

Us launched Operation Urgent Fury, invading Grenada showing a new assertive foreign policy adapted by the US.

MTV launched 2 years before and completely reshaped US fashion and music.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video was released in 1983 completely changing the music industry. The birth of the modern internet occurred and cellular networks were created in this time.

Sally Ride became the first American woman to go to space.

Martin Luther King Jr day came to be after legislation was passed in the senate marking it a national holiday in his honor.

Conservative values and progressive movements collided in this era.

Political context of Europe and the US 1983

Europe

Europe remained divided by the Cold War and the split between West Europe (EEC and democratic countries) and East Europe (Soviet Union and the Satellite states) was deeply entrenched.

The US was a political superpower of the time with a democratic, right wing agenda, focused on keeping it’s stance on the world stage and combating/decreasing the power of the Soviet Union.

Key words:

The Cold war- a tense geopolitical/economic dispute lasting from 1945-1991 involving the US/ the West and the Soviet Union/ Satellite states. Only indirect conflict occurred and at its most intense period, nearly resulted in nuclear war.

DEFCON 1- the most severe state of military preparedness in the US, signalling that nuclear war may be or is occurring. It allows for the deployment of their nuclear weapons.

MK Ultra- project MK Ultra was an illegal CIA program that attempted to discover how to mind control people. It ran from the 1950's-70's and conducted experiments on unaware subjects to develop way to control human minds. It was in retaliation to the fear that the Soviets had already discovered how to do this.

Ronald Reagan- the former 40th US president who served from 1981-1989. He formatted the idea of the ‘Evil Empire’ and dramatically increased US defense spending and supported anti-communist resistance. He came up with the SDI, a space defense system (theoretical) that forced the Soviets into a technological arms race. He also managed relations with Gorbachev (Russian leader) which played a big part in decreasing tensions between the East and West.

Berlin Wall- a physical barrier built between East and West Berlin to stop East Berliners fleeing to the West. It was built in 1961 and lasted until 1989 where after travel to the West became free, citizens tore it down. It was a physical embodiment of the separation and tension between the West and East and when it was torn down, a symbol of reunification.

Steven Spielberg films (1980's)- Spielberg released many major blockbusters across this period (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T the Extra-Terrestrial, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Colour Purple, Empire of the Sun, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Always). This era of films played majorly on the sci-fi or adventure genres of films. Some of these films drew heavily on Cold War anxieties of the time, specifically fear of the East and nuclear anxiety.

99 Red Balloons- a famous anti- war protest song written in 1983 by West German band Nena. The song follows the story where a couple release 99 balloons into the sky which are mistaken for enemy missiles , causing an escalation and eventually global war. It was written after the guitarist of the band saw balloons being released in West Berlin and thought about what would happen if the balloons floated over to Soviet controlled Berlin and triggered military paranoia.

Blue Monday- a 1983 synth-pop track by the band New Order which is heavily associated with the Cold War era. It gets this association also from being used in Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War.