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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS

Context:

Recently the fall of the Berlin Wall saw 35 years on 10th November.

About the Berlin Wall:

The wall existed from 1961 through 1989 and was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany).

The Berlin Wall came into existence during the Cold War as a barrier between the East (communist) and the West (capitalist) and also a division between West Germany and East Germany.

The East Germany (GDR) officially referred to the wall as the “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart” and West Germany referred to it as the “Wall of Shame”.

Reasons behind its fall:

• Population loss in East Germany due to brain drain towards the West as capitalism was giving more economic opportunities.
• The wall highlighted the ideological differences between the East and the West even more and proved the West to be more liberal as the East was trying to suppress the freedom of the citizens through the wall.
• Protest and public unrest was another reason for the fall.

Consequences of the fall:

• Unification of Germany and the collapse of the Soviet Union
• End of the authoritarian regime in Eastern Europe.
• Many European countries started transforming into democracy and a market economy.
• Liberal, capitalist and democratic system started winning over the world.

Source: INDIAN EXPRESS