While the Cold War was meant to have ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall, geopolitics is still influenced by old divisions and has become more complex
The memorial segment of the Berlin Wall along Bernauer Strasse at sunset, which formed part of celebrations on Saturday night. Picture: 123RF/gekaskr
While throughout the Cold War period, despite some tense episodes such as the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, the US and the Soviet Union, mindful of the potential for mutual destruction, managed to avoid a so-called hot war. That change — perceived as a victory for the western model of democracy and free markets — led to some complacency and outlandish theories, such as the ridiculous notion that history had ended. The end of the Cold War was represented by historian Francis Fukuyama as the end of humanity’s ideological evolution and the “universalisation” of western liberal democracy.
The Great Recession followed and the resultant discontent was fuelled by bank rescues, falling wages and a debt crisis that threatened to destroy the EU, the very foundation and symbol of the era of peace and prosperity in the wake of World War 2.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SA women still far from equal to men – Stats SAStats SA: Despite concerted efforts to bridge the gender inequality gap in South Africa, women lag behind their male counterparts in almost every sphere
Read more »
Farmers desperate for help as drought devastates large parts of SA“We are helpless now. There is no grass for our animals to feed on or water to drink”: Small-scale farmers are desperate for help from government to save their herds of cattle as drought ravages large parts of South Africa
Read more »
WATCH: They are surfers without an ocean and they are saving SA'I've heard about these surfers hundreds of kilometres from the ocean and I've decided I just have to meet them.'
Read more »
Expert says spike in diabetes cases in SA is a ‘wake up call’New figures from the International Diabetes Federation paint a shocking picture: South Africa is in the top 10 countries for absolute increase in diabetes prevalence.
Read more »
ANALYSIS: SA must up its game and produce more teachersWhat South Africa needs to do to recruit the number of teachers needed to offer quality education.
Read more »
Nathi Mthethwa in the firing line as group fumes over Burna Boy headlining SA concertDamini Ebunoluwa Ogulu – popularly known by his stage name Burna Boy – is making his way to South Africa.
Read more »