The Twentieth Anniversary of the Fall of the Wall

Chances are if you’re currently in college, you don’t remember the collapse of the Berlin Wall, but you know about it. Or should. (Stop skipping class!)

Well today, November 9th, marks the twentieth anniversary of the wall coming down; leading to the end of the Cold War.

In honor of this monumental event, artists around the world have created musical performances and art installations. There is even a Berlin Twitter Wall for people to share their thoughts on the fall of the wall and how our world has changed since then.

In case you aren’t totally familiar with the history, let me give you the Cliff’s Notes (or Leah’s Notes) version:

Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, the victors of the war decided to split up Germany.  On top of splitting up the country as a whole, they also decided to split Berlin into quadrants: the Americans, British, French and Soviet Union each gained control of one portion.  The communist Soviet Union separated its portion, creating East and West Berlin.  Initially barbed wire and armed guards divided only the borders of East and West Germany, with citizens throughout Berlin being able to move freely around the city.

In 1961, the Berlin Wall was built, separating the sides of the city and preventing those in East Berlin from moving to West Berlin.  For over 20 years the wall remained intact, the people’s freedom non-existent. When the East German government resigned in November 1989, people began to tear down the wall.

But the fall of that wall did more than open up a city and allow its people to move freely; the dismantling of the Berlin Wall has had significant impacts on our world, both good and bad. Changes that we should realize and consider on this important anniversary:

- Within two years of the wall coming down the Cold War was officially over.
- The fall of the wall represented the collapse of the communist Soviet Union.
- There was an emergence of pro-democracy attitudes around the world.
- It led to European democratization and the creation of the European Union.
- China switched gears to pursue capitalist policies, thus changing the world economy.
- There was an increase in political and religious freedom in Eastern Europe.
- Capitalism began to dominate the world.
- The United States emerged as a global superpower.
- The entire idea of globalization emerged, and with it a strong anti-globalization movement.
- Governments started to put more money into science and technology, thus propelling the popularity of the computer and personal technology.
- Religious extremism spread around the world.
- Countries signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, though it has yet to be ratified by the United States.

The world would not be the same if the Berlin Wall were still standing. Many of the things we enjoy and take advantage of in the United States (and, yes, some that aren’t so positive) stem from this pivotal moment in history. There are still some who believe not much has changed in the past 20 years – that what we fought against has only morphed into something new and more dangerous - but today, the rest of the world celebrates.

What do you think?