

Persistence of division: after the Berlin Wall
Nov 8, 2019
Anne McElvoy, a Senior editor at The Economist who reported from East Germany, and Tom Nuttall, the Berlin bureau chief, discuss the lingering divides between East and West three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall. They explore the emotional aftermath of reunification and the identity struggles faced by younger generations. The conversation also touches on the political transformations in Ethiopia's Somali state, shedding light on past abuses and ongoing reforms, along with China’s efforts to boost its national football team through naturalization of foreign players.
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The Fall of the Berlin Wall
- Anne McElvoy witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall firsthand.
- She describes the scene at a press conference with Günter Schabowski, whose announcement inadvertently opened the border.
Mixed Impact of Reunification
- German reunification has had a mixed impact on East Germans.
- While some view it positively, others feel it has been a negative experience, leading to ongoing debate.
Economic Fallout of Reunification
- Rapid economic change in East Germany led to mass layoffs and deindustrialization.
- Privatization and currency union made Eastern firms uncompetitive, resulting in widespread job losses.