Peaceful change is possible

Germany's reunification is an enduring inspiration for the rest of the world. The destruction of the Berlin Wall was one ifts in global politics, as the world moved forward without a shot being fired in anger, after decades of divide between Communist Eastern Europe and capitalist Western Europe. The obvious failure of communism was finally admitted by the communist leaders and their lack of direction forced them to sit on one side as the people of Eastern Europe took their future into their own hands.

It was also a very moving moment as it was filmed on TV and shared around the world, giving inspiration to millions of people who still lived in totalitarian regimes and saw that change was possible. The wall was ended by the people of Berlin, who rose up and literally pulled it apart. The grim symbol of the divide vanished as men and women climbed onto the wall and the East German soldiers looked on and did nothing.

Of course, the reality of reuniting two very different halves of Germany was not easy. Chancellor Helmut Kohl had the courage to set the tone to welcome the East with open arms, but East Germany had suffered from lack of investment for decades. Even now, 20 years later, people from the territories of former East Germany have problems fitting in.

But such difficulties are subsumed into the glory of the bigger picture, which is that it was possible to end a totalitarian regime and find a way forward. This carries a huge message to the ground-down people of North Korea, Myanmar or any other country which is suffering. They all know that peaceful change is possible, thanks to the example of the Germans.