The Berlin Wall Thirty Years Later: Legacies and Lessons
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 7 PM to 8:30 PM
On November 9, 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall— and subsequent German unity—was a dream come true for Germans. Over the next few years the dream of a larger Europe, whole and free from Cold War divisions, became a tangible goal. Three decades later, Europe is feeling the centrifugal forces of nationalist winds, and Germany is not insulated from them. The forces that caused the Wall to crumble thirty years ago are now confronting equally powerful forces whipping up nationalist sentiment and the desire to recreate divisions. Into play come the changing U.S. policies toward Europe and new parameters of power set by Russia and China. The Berlin Wall was more than a border–once lifted the forces of its legacy are still at play in an era of transformation and uncertainty. – Jackson Janes, Ph.D
