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Cultural and geopolitical transformations of Europe after the fall of Berlin Wall
Major geopolitical restructuring of Europe began in the early 90s following the collapse of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. Did these processes coincide with a cultural transformation of Europe? Using survey data from the European Values Survey and the World Values Study from 1990 to 2014, I assess in what direction European nations have changed their cultural values, in terms of Welzel’s (2013) emancipative and secular value indices. The former Iron Curtain has faded away as a cultural boundary in Europe as the former communist states that joined the European Union have converged culturally with the West. A new, and steeply growing, cultural gap has emerged between the EU and its eastern neighbors. In particular, the two competing geopolitical formations at the west and east of Europe—the European and the Eurasian Unions respectively—have polarized in their fundamental values in recent decades. This may be explained by clashing supranational identities and distinctive roles of political actors and mass media as their tools for influencing public opinion.
Plamen Akaliyski
Alex English
Dr. English has presented at international conferences in France, U.S, Japan, Norway, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines and has published several articles in international journals. His dissertation was entitled “Cultural Adaptation and Coping Strategies: Applying the Cultural Fit Hypothesis,” where in his dissertation he conducted five research studies examining the cultural fit hypothesis in intercultural and intracultural adaptation.
Mr. English also has several hobbies including running, hiking, traveling. He speaks three languages, English, Spanish and Chinese and has been to over forty countries in Europe, South America, and Asia. He is an intercultural trainer and leads workshops for expats pre-departure and post arrival.
