| 1980s–1990s | Emergence of globalization |
| 1990s–2010s | New waves of legal and illegal immigration to Europe |
| 1991 | Maastricht Treaty |
| 1991–2001 | Civil war in Yugoslavia |
| 1992–1997 | Decline of Russian economy |
| 1993 | Creation of the European Union |
| 1999 | Protests against WTO in Seattle |
| 2000–2008 | Resurgence of Russian economy under Putin |
| 2001 | September 11 terrorist attack on the United States; war in Afghanistan begins |
| 2002 | Euro replaces national currencies in Eurozone |
| 2003–2011 | Iraq War |
| 2004 | Train bombings in Madrid by Islamic extremists |
| 2005 | Young Muslims riot in France; subway bombing in London by Islamic extremists |
| 2008 | Worldwide financial crisis begins |
| 2009 | Ratification of Treaty of Lisbon; young Muslims riot in France |
| 2011 | Start of Arab Spring |
| 2012–2013 | Mass protests against government austerity plans in Greece and Spain |
| 2013 | France legalizes same-sex marriage |
| 2014 | Russian Federation annexes Crimea; pro-Russian insurrection in eastern Ukraine |
| 2014–2015 | Rise of the Islamic State |
| 2015–2016 | Greek debt crisis; EU immigration emergency |