Intelligence Squared The Sunday Debate: Reflections on the Collapse of the Soviet Union, with Timothy Garton Ash and Ivan Krastev
Sep 4, 2022
Ivan Krastev, an opinion writer for the New York Times, and Timothy Garton Ash, a European Studies professor at Oxford, share insights on the Soviet Union's collapse and Gorbachev's legacy. They discuss the fall of the Berlin Wall, the misinterpretations of history, and the rise of alternative governance in Eastern Europe. The duo also examines the roots of populism and economic disparities, and reflects on the future of liberalism amidst rising local movements and the challenges posed by contemporary politics.
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The Fall of Certainty
- The certainty of the Berlin Wall's existence was shattered in 1989, highlighting the unpredictable nature of history.
- The mistake was assuming liberal democracy's triumph was a new historical norm, rather than acknowledging continued uncertainty.
Experiencing the Fall
- Timothy Garton Ash was in Oxford when the wall fell and flew to Berlin the next day.
- He emphasizes the East German perspective of liberation, contrasting it with the graffiti-covered western side.
A Lost Event
- Ivan Krastev was in Sofia when the Berlin Wall fell, but the Bulgarian communist leader's resignation overshadowed the event.
- The fall of the Berlin Wall was more readily understood in the West due to the East's focus on internal changes.
