THE EUROPEAN-COMMUNITY, 1978-93

The European Community underwent a remarkable transformation in the mi d-1980s. The Single Market Program (1992) became synonymous with a rev italized Community moving rapidly toward greater political and economi c integration. The end of the Cold War, to which the Single Market Pro gram undoubtedly contributed, posed enormous internal and external cha llenges. The most common concern was that Germany's preoccupation with unification, and the Community's preoccupation with Germany, would de rail the Single Market Program and the most recent initiative for econ omic and monetary union. Instead, German unification spurred renewed i nterest in European integration, culminating in the Maastricht Treaty of February 1992. Yet growing popular concern about the Community's de velopment sparked the Maastricht Treaty ratification crisis. In the pa st, crises have acted as a catalyst for deeper European integration. T he Maastricht ratification crisis could have a similar impact, especia lly by focusing attention on the Community's democratic deficit.