TONY BURMAN
On celebrating the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall,
On Sunday, Germans will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. That event not only led to the reunification of East and West Germany, it also led to the demise of Soviet communism. It was a day that in a profound way changed the direction of world history.
Since we now live in a world that often seems to be crashing all around us — when so many global challenges seem intractable — let us spend at least a moment or two this weekend enjoying that celebration with them. Apart from being therapeutic, it is instructive to remember that not too long ago people believed, however briefly, that anything was possible.
From construction to destruction, the Berlin Wall stood for 28 years as a scar across the historic heart of Germany. It split Europe’s most powerful country, it symbolized the bankruptcy of communism and it was an ugly inspiration to dictators everywhere.
When the wall “fell” on Nov. 9, 1989, with incredulous East Germans flooding through the frontier crossings, it triggered a revolutionary wave that ultimately redrew the map of Europe. Down came the fabled Iron Curtain, setting millions of people free. Within two years, down came the Soviet Union and its empire.
Sunday’s celebration in Berlin will be focused on the city’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, as well as other locations that served as notorious “checkpoints” when the wall was standing.
Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, was a young East German scientist before the country was reunited. She was among the crowds of East Germans who walked into the west that historic night 25 years ago.
In remarks last week about the anniversary, Merkel spoke of the “indescribable feeling” when they heard that the wall had fallen. She praised the bravery of those within East Germany who opposed the communist regime: “They gave courage to others.”
Merkel also pointed to the progress made in rehabilitating the eastern part of the country since 1989, which is an issue of enduring controversy. Many Germans feel that the country is still divided, given the economic disparities that continue. But unemployment in the east is the lowest since 1991 and, according to Merkel, the exodus from the former East Germany has ended.
Beyond the German borders, Europe 25 years after the fall of the wall is still unsettled and unpredictable. An obvious benefit is that there is no question now that electoral democracy, however flawed, is the rule throughout most of Europe. But that can be a doubled-edged sword.
Racist and far-right political parties are gaining traction. Although this was evident in several countries, the most dramatic far-right victories in last May’s European elections were in France and Britain. Both France’s National Front and Britain’s UKIP not only gained significant public support, but they also pushed their country’s mainstream parties to the right.
In global terms, the world is vastly different than it was in 1989, or the early 1990s as the Soviet empire collapsed, but not in ways that were predicted then. Although most Americans were euphoric as their historic Soviet foe disappeared, hopes that a post-Cold War world would lead to a system of flourishing, liberal and capitalist democracies never materialized.
Instead, we have a world where new and powerful forces are influencing events, and major powers are often on the sidelines. The United States is still powerful, but far less than in the past, and key players such as China and Russia are creating a complex global strategic picture that is riddled with uncertainty. In contrast, the days of the Cold War, where the respective “sides” were more visible, seemed somewhat easier to follow.
The existence of the Berlin Wall for so many years stood as a reminder that evil forces in the world are always among us. But the destruction of that wall 25 years ago teaches a more hopeful lesson, which is useful to remember in this threatening 21st century. Once confronted, these forces can be defeated.
Tony Burman, former head of CBC News and Al-Jazeera English, teaches journalism at Ryerson University. Reach him @TonyBurman, tony.burman@gmail.com