The ‘Return of History’ as an opportunity, for Europeans?
16 Jun 2025
Two new interviews are published in the ‘Project ’89’ series by the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics in collaboration with the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). As you might recall this series revisits the widely accepted narratives of 1989 and what followed, therewith challenging the famous ‘End of History’ myth. “Is it possible to experience the ‘Return of History’ as an opportunity, a trigger to redefine our relations with the rest of the world and to reposition ourselves in time, as Europeans?” Here at the European Cultural Foundation we believe this is a moral obligation, hence our support for the series.
The newly published interviews feature Hubert Védrine and Joachim Bitterlich.
Hubert Védrine is a French diplomat and political advisor who was the diplomatic advisor and spokesperson for President François Mitterrand in 1989. He was at the heart of France’s response to the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the question of German reunification.
Joachim Bitterlich is a German diplomat and foreign policy expert. In 1989, he served as foreign and security policy advisor to Chancellor Helmut Kohl. During the historic months leading to and following the fall of the Berlin Wall, Bitterlich played a crucial, behind-the-scenes role in shaping West Germany’s strategic response.
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