The year of swift and crucial changes, 1989, in Central and Eastern Europe led not only to local alterations in society, politics and economy but greatly influenced the restructuring of international relations and world politics as well. The events – partially started by Hungary opening its border with Austria in what is called the Pan European Picnic

• resulted in the collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War period, and therefore in a need for the major redefinition of European and United States foreign policy as well. The lens through which international relations had been considered since the end of World War II was broken abruptly. The familiar setting of the bipolar world, characterized by an East-West division, the Iron Curtain, proxy wars and clearly set spheres of influence could not be applied any longer. The search for a new interpretation and new context required a longer period. With the end of the Cold War, the United States of America emerged as the only major world power as a result of which governments had to find new goals, new policies and in a way new enemies as well. (Introduction)