Two Decades Later: Democratic Progress and the Fall of the Berlin Wall —
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Two Decades Later: Democratic Progress and the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Berlin Wallby Michael Svetlik

The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is receiving the attention it deserves:  ceremonies, books, and scholarly conferences acknowledging the historical import of the event which marked the end of communism’s grip on the countries of Central Europe and the beginning of the end of communism in the Soviet Union.  Yet, as the fall of the wall was only part of a decades long struggle to expand democratic processes in Eastern Europe and beyond, this anniversary also compels  us to assess the legacy of the revolutions of 1989 and rededicate our efforts in  support democratic freedom. 

Two decades have now passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The event remains a powerful symbol for those of us dedicated to supporting the expansion of democratic processes to ensure respect for fundamental human rights and enable human development.   The people power which resulted in the destruction of the wall that literally and figuratively divided a nation continues to stand out as a poignant demonstration of the human urge for self-determination and freedom. We recall the exhilarating images of the cheering crowds of Berliners that celebrated as the wall came down around them.  We shared their euphoria then and we are buoyed by the recollections of their triumph.

 For an organization like IFES that is involved in supporting the institutionalization of democracy and political freedom, the fall of the wall provided an impetus for change and reform across the Soviet bloc and beyond. The inevitability of democratization in the absence of a competing system, propelled the expansion of public space, the development of free media, the blossoming of civil society, and the institutional development required for open, democratic societies in country after country.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was clearly just the beginning of a process of social and political change across the former Eastern bloc that continues to this day. The fall of the wall unleashed forces of change that continue, in starts and fits, to provide open democratic societies for citizens of countries ranging from Moldova to Mongolia and from Estonia to Albania.  In hindsight, the reunification of Germany and the expansion of the European Union were, while formidable outcomes, the easy part.  In most instances the raw materials needed to promote change— institutions, aptitude, and political will—were readily at hand.

Not surprisingly, the transition towards more liberal economic and political systems has not been smooth or easy, even for those infused with the euphoria of 1989As a recent public opinion research by the Pew Foundation reveals, two decades of reform have taken a toll on attitudes toward democratic freedom in Central and Eastern Europe.  While majorities of people in most former Soviet republics and Central European countries are pleased with the emergence of multiparty systems and free markets, enthusiasm about these changes has diminished in most of the countries surveyed by Pew.[1] 

 This is especially true in Russia and Ukraine, and other parts of the former Soviet Union, where a longer history of communism have made advancing democracy more challenging.  An uneven and rocky transition to democracy in many former Soviet republics has confronted the promise and potential unleashed by the fall of the Berlin Wall.  The struggle to undertake dual economic and political transitions upon the wreckage of institutions designed to serve a command economy and a one party state has illustrated the complexity of the liberalization process.  The starting point, or the antecedents, for transforming institutions of governance and the relationship of a citizen to the state, were varied and thus results have differed.

 As we marked this important anniversary, its significance as a force for change and the expansion of freedom is undisputed. The occasion also reminds us that the transition to greater democracy is complex and requires constant attention and support in order to succeed.  The democracy movement remains indebted to the events of 1989, but they also mindful of the work that remains before us both within Europe, the former Soviet Union, and beyond. 

 

Michael Svetlik currently serves as IFES’ Vice President of Programs, responsible for IFES’ technical assistance and democracy promotion programs. His areas of expertise include political change, institutional development, election system design, civic awareness and activism, and project management, evaluation and design.

 



[1] Two Decades After the Wall’s Fall: End of communism cheered but now with more reservations, http://pewglobal.org/reports/pdf/267.pdf

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