Historians frame 1989 as the foundation of modern multipolar politics

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Posted Sep 30, 2026, 01:30 AM UTC · In the digest of 2026-09-30-0130
Historians frame 1989 as the foundation of modern multipolar politics
Photo: Die Presse

Historians are increasingly pointing to 1989 as the origin of today's multipolar global order, highlighting events in Berlin, Beijing, and Afghanistan.

Historians and political analysts are increasingly pointing to the events of 1989 as the origin of today's multipolar global order. While European history often centers on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent disintegration of Soviet power, concurrent developments outside Europe set fundamental trajectories for the twenty-first century.

In Asia, the Chinese government's crackdown in Tiananmen Square consolidated autocratic rule alongside state-managed economic growth. Simultaneously, the Soviet exit from Afghanistan created lasting security instability. Together, these global shifts marked a transition toward current international rivalries.

Sources: Die Presse

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