Matthew Longo

Matthew Longo, author and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Leiden University, dives into a historic picnic that sparked the fall of the Iron Curtain. He recounts the courageous moment in 1989 when 700 East Germans fled to freedom, capturing the youthful spirit of activism against oppressive regimes. The discussion highlights the complexities of political change in Eastern Europe and the subsequent disillusionment with democracy. Longo also examines how historical narratives are manipulated by political groups today, showing the evolving nature of history.