Globalization is often used in research as an empirical lens to examine ongoing developments over time, a process that integrates people and nations into larger structures and communities while dissolving traditional barriers. Historians argue that innovations in technology, transportation, and communication have driven globalization over the long term. However, a significant shift occurred with the end of the Cold War, which notably accelerated European political and economic integration. This study examines Europe’s integration processes from a historical perspective and explores the differing development trajectories in Western and Eastern Europe before the collapse of the Soviet Union in terms of their political and economic progress toward the neoliberal democratic framework of the twentieth century. The central hypothesis of this contribution is that the divergent development paths of Eastern and Western Europe are primarily attributable to the Soviet Union’s influence on international relations during the Cold War. However, some common development paths that extend beyond the political and ideological division of Europe can be recognized with respect to the shared need for welfare. This chapter explores the causes, challenges, and effects of European globalization, focusing on the key economic, political, and social factors that have influenced this process.