19881990

1988–1990 refers to the three-year interval at the end of the 1980s, a period of significant geopolitical transition that contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet bloc and the reshaping of international relations.

Political and geopolitical developments during this time included the conclusion of the Soviet military involvement in Afghanistan in 1989, and a wave of reform movements within the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 symbolized the collapse of divided Europe, while the Chinese government’s suppression of protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989 drew international attention and criticism. In 1990, German reunification occurred on October 3, and the Baltic states moved toward independence. Namibia achieved independence in March 1990. In the broader Middle East, Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, triggering an international response that led to the Gulf War era.

Technological and economic trends also shaped the period. The late 1980s and 1990 saw accelerating globalization and foundational developments for the World Wide Web. Tim Berners-Lee proposed the Web in 1989 and, by 1990, had created the first browser and server, laying groundwork for the Internet’s rapid expansion in subsequent years.

Legacy and significance: The events of 1988–1990 contributed to the end of the Cold War framework and set the stage for substantial political, economic, and technological transformations in the 1990s. The period is frequently viewed as a turning point that redefined international relations and opened pathways for democratic transitions in many parts of the world.