What political changes swept through Europe during the second half of twentieth century?

Decolonization and the rise of new nations: World War II led to the decline of European empires, accelerated the process of decolonization and gave rise to several newly independent nations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Post-War Reconstruction and rebuilding: Countries in Europe dealt with the aftermath of World War II, leading to the Marshall Plan and extensive rebuilding efforts to restore their economies and infrastructure.

Cold War and Division of Europe: The ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in the division of Europe into two blocs-the Western Bloc and Eastern Bloc, marking the beginning of the "Iron Curtain".

European Economic Community (EEC) to European Union (EU): The establishment of the EEC in 1957 marked the beginning of economic integration among Western European countries. Over the years, it expanded and evolved into the European Union, fostering political, economic and social cooperation among member states.

Reunification of Germany: 1990 witnessed the reunification of West and East Germany, following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and end of the Cold War. This marked a major milestone in European history.

Fall of Communism and democratization: The collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to the democratization in former Eastern bloc nations.

European integration and enlargement: The EU continued to expand its membership adding new member states, particularly from Eastern Europe, fostering closer political and economic ties.

These significant political changes transformed Europe's political landscape, creating new alliances, fostering cooperation, and shaping the political and geopolitical dynamics of the continent in the second half of the 20th century.