The Fall of the Berlin Wall and The Rise of Western Triumphalism

The Berlin Wall was a symbol of Cold War conflict and division. From 1961 to 1989 it separated East and West Berlin. East Germany constructed the wall to prevent its citizens from defecting to West Germany. By the 1980s  the Soviet Union was facing a stagnant economy, decline in the standard of living, and was on the verge of full collapse. This meant that it could no longer support Eastern European Communist states. Long time leaders of Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia  were removed. The fall of the Berlin Wall demonstrated that the Cold War had come to an end. However, the West believed that this meant their values had triumphed over a less stable political and economic system.  Western Triumphalism is the idea that values from Europe and North America are superior to other political, cultural, and, economic systems. This racist and delusional idea does not represent political or historical  realities. 

         The Berlin Wall's destruction is often used as an example of the victory of liberal democracy as a dominant political system. This idea has mostly been promoted by political scientist and economist Francis Fukuyama in The End of History and The Last Man.  One major flaw is that alternative political systems have not been experimented with. Different political systems could emerge in the future. To make such a claim that liberal democracy will remain dominant is purely speculative. Also, many countries that are classified as liberal democracies are not democratic. African and Asian nations still in practice function on a form of authoritarianism. The former Soviet Republics still use the same police state tactics of the  past. Kazakhstan is a presidential republic, but one man dominates the entire system.Nursultan Nazarbayev has been president since 1991 and political opposition is suppressed. The world has not become more free only more prison structured. 

           The fall of the Berlin Wall has another meaning for economists. To the faction of pro-free market supporters it means the superiority of Capitalism over Communism. This is another myth. More people now live in poverty. The gap between rich and poor is expanding at rapid levels. Eastern European nations were put through economic shock therapy, so they could make the transition to Capitalism. This did not create prosperity, but a host of sociological issues. Unemployment, poverty, and the resurgence of far-right extremism swept across Eastern Europe. Europe is now in a major debt crisis, which makes many question the system. Globalization another component of neoliberal Capitalism has been devastating to developing countries. IMF and World Bank programs have put poorer countries in a cycle of debt that they will never be able to escape. Capitalism has not worked for everyone. 

            When examining the fall of the Berlin Wall, there is little to celebrate. When Germany reunited in 1990, there were unforeseen  consequences. Unemployment increased and far-right activity emerged in the former East Germany. East Germans today feel as if they are not even part of the country. Industry has declined in the eastern part of the country causing young people to move and look elsewhere for a future. The other issue besides economic hardship is Neo-Nazi groups. Political extremism is a threat to a stable country and should be confronted. The celebration is too early, because there is still much to be done. 

November 9, 1989

The Berlin Wall 

East German Neo-Nazis 

circa 2011