1988

1988 was a year marked by the continuing Cold War and a wave of political and social change. In the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev pursued reforms—perestroika and glasnost—that would reshape Eastern Europe and beyond. The year featured rising diplomacy, new arms-control discussions, and disasters and cultural milestones that left lasting impressions in sports, science, and politics.

Key events included the end of the Iran-Iraq War with a ceasefire in August 1988, and the Spitak earthquake in Armenia in December, which killed tens of thousands and caused widespread devastation. On December 21, Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. In November, the Palestinian National Council proclaimed the State of Palestine, and the Summer Olympics opened in Seoul, drawing global attention to athletic achievement and controversy alike.

In the United States, George H. W. Bush won the presidential election in November, defeating Michael Dukakis. The Seoul Games were accompanied by notable performances and a doping scandal in which Ben Johnson was stripped of his 100 meters gold. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Oakland Athletics in the World Series, four games to one, and the 1988 Winter Olympics were held in Calgary, Canada.

In culture, 1988 saw the release of influential films such as Rain Man, Die Hard, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Music and television reflected late-1980s trends, while advances in computing and telecommunications continued to push toward the broader information-age landscape shaping subsequent decades.