Anyone would consider the topic of the Cold War incomplete without the fall of the Berlin Wall being recounted. The wall which divided East and West Berlin was constructed three decades ago by East Germany (the German Democratic RepublicGDR) at the backdrop of the Cold War. Its collapse in 1989 not only signified a major part of German history but also spearheaded the change of political map in the globe. In this article the author will analyze the manner in which the fall of the Berlin Wall impacted the Cold War.
The Conference – The Symbolic End of Soviet Union’s Hegemony
The collapse of the Berlin Wall marked the Zh regime’s control of Eastern Europe for the Soviet Union. It portrayed the triumph of people’s spirit to rise against the communists. Peoplequake images depicted East and West Germans kissing each other on top of the Wall – they reflected the world’s desire for freedom and decline of Soviet impact.
German Reunification
The most telling effect of the event of the falling of the Berlin Wall is that Germany came back into one again. It also became symbolic of the concrete barrier which separated East and West Berlin and indeed East and West Germany. Removing the wall paved the way to negotiations that led to the two Germany state reunions in October of 1990. This was the end of the Cold War in Europe as well as the creation of new political economy structures.
The end of communism in the Eastern Europe
The collapse of the Berlin wall was also the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. The events in Berlin paved the way to protest and revolution in such countries of Eastern Bloc descent as Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. These nations saw an emotional need for change and democracy however brief it was. In the process, communism was dismantled, moving different governments out of power and with it bringing democracy that released many individuals from unbearable dictatorships. The German Berlin Wall collapse brought forth freedom and the authority over the Southeastern nations.
New Global Relations of Power
The fall of the Berlin Wall had arguably a huge impact on the geopolitics of the world today. The super powers shifted slightly with the disintegration of the USSR in 1991 and the remaining world remained thrust in the hands of America as the sole superpower. As the power slowly transferred to the new world, there were various shifts in global politics and geopolitical strategies. The Cold war which informed the bipolar nature of the world was done and a new world politics was born.
Implications Which Affect the Economic as well as Social Lives
The following are the social and economical impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall to both sides of Berlin. It was a window through which West Germany could invest in building and reconstructing East Germany. But one must remember it was not smooth sailing towards unification; there were minor hitch on the way. The replacement of the centrally planned economy system with a market-oriented one put a lot of pressure on the East German economy; available data reveals the decline of industrial outputs, plus the increasing unemployment. However, the goal of a reunified Germany has eventually led to the economic rise of this country towards this pillar as a European power.
Conclusion
The call of the Berlin Wall marked an important intellectual transition in the cold war and vigour affected its course. Besides symbolizing the break with Soviet influence in Eastern Europe it also led to reunification of Germany and the fall of communism in that region. Also, it changed global power and introduced another epoch in international relations as a whole. By establishing the importance of this event one can comprehend many aspects of the Cold War and value the lessons that were produced as a result.