The proposal to demolish the Palace of the Republic has fed suspicions among eastern Germans that the West is attempting to erase all signs of their past identity.
Communism
A New Germany; A New Berlin
The largest city between Paris and Moscow, Berlin still exudes a certain air of self-conscious provinciality incongruous to its population of 3.5 million.The roots lie in the island mentality of West Berlin and the isolation of East Berlin from outside influences.
New Afghan Generation at War
“When we were fighting the Russians, it was to the Americans’ advantage to help us,” says Commander Masood. “But when the Soviets were destroyed, they forgot about us.”
Wall of Fear
I was 17 years old when I first saw the Berlin Wall. I clambered up an observation platform in West Berlin to peer over to the Brandenburg Gate. Two summers later, I was back. Everything had changed.
Conversation with a Contrarian
Robert Shlegel, the rising star of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, is both the total outsider and the consummate insider.
Putin’s Willing Helpers: The Apparatchik
Gennady Zyuganov was once seen as the greatest threat to Russia’s fledgling democracy. The fact he’s still around is more a testament to the Communist Party’s inertia than to any leadership traits such as intelligence, eloquence or charisma.
Putin’s Willing Helpers: The Buffoon
I distinctly remember when Vladimir Zhirinovsky appeared in my parents’ living room 20 years ago. There was nothing soft and cuddly about this liberal democrat.
Putin vs. Russia’s New Nationalists
Vladimir Putin isn’t a man who usually acknowledges his mistakes, but on Monday he confessed that his government had failed to propagate tolerance and understanding among Russia’s more than 100 ethnic groups.
Perestroika’s Children Come of Age
The iPhone, the ultimate consumer attribute of an open society, clashed with Vladimir Putin’s closed political system. It was the contradiction between free global citizen and disenfranchised Russian subject that drove young Muscovites to take to the street.
Inside the Brain of Vladimir Putin (Part I)
Vladimir Putin’s greatest fear is a people’s revolt that will depose his government. This phobia has its origin 22 years ago, when he was working for the KGB in communist East Germany.
