30 Years After the Fall of the Iron Curtain – Europe’s Pasts and Futures

Talk location: Pankhurst Building Room G.01, Clement’s Inn, LSE

1989 was a moment of hope and democracy for Europe. In June, nearly 30 million Italians voted for a united Europe – some 88 per cent of voters on an 81 per cent turnout. From the summer onwards in Hungary and Poland decisive steps were taken towards multiparty democracy. By the end of the year, in the most iconic events of 1989, the Peaceful Revolution erupted in East Germany.

The end of communism had come into view and the dawn of a politically united Europe had arrived.Thirty years on the hopes of ’89 have met their difficult realities. Nationalism often appears to trump unity. Technocratic integration has still not had its ‘Monnet moment’ and led to real political unity. Yet the need for Europe is also stronger than ever. From climate change to globalisation cooperation is a necessity not a luxury.

The panel will bring together the ‘1989’ and ‘Millennial’ generations to build a unique dialogue about Europe’s past and future.

• Barbara Einhorn is Emeritus Professor of Gender Studies at the University of Sussex and author of Cinderella Goes to Market Citizenship; Gender and Women’s Movements in East Central Europe (Verso, 1993).
• Alena Ivanova grew up in Bulgaria in the 1990s and is today an anti-Brexit campaigner in London with the Another Europe Is Possible campaign.
• Mary Kaldor is a professor of Global Governance at the LSE and was a leading figure in the European peace and human rights movement of the 1980s.
• Ana Oppenheim grew up in Poland in the 1990s and today is an anti-Brexit campaigner in London with Another Europe Is Possible.
• Gert Weisskirchen is a former member of the German Bundestag and was active in European Nuclear Disarmament in the 1980s.

*** With welcome and introductory remarks from Christos Katsioulis, Director of the London office of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

The event will be followed by drinks and refreshments in the ground floor of the LSE Centre Building on Houghton Street.