Critical Analysis of a Geopolitical Text: “Ich Bin Ein Berliner�? by John F. Kennedy Essay Example
“Ich bin ein Berliner,” or “I am a Berliner” is the unforgettable speech that was delivered by John F. Kennedy in front of hundreds of Berliners on the balcony of the Schoeneberg Rathaus (city hall) in West Berlin on June 26, 1963. It is considered one of the best rhetorical speeches ever given. My aim here is to provide a deep analysis of its significance and influence on the local and global political arena of that time in the context of the Cold War. For better understanding of significance of the speech we will firstly introduce events proceeding it and briefly explain the Cold War. Germany no longer existed as a sovereign state once it surrendered at the end of the Second World War because the Allies wanted to avoid another post-war resolution that would once again allow Germany to become a global threat. Instead, military and political representatives of the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France ruled there and policy was coordinated in the Allied Control Council. The Four Powers established four zones of military occupation in Germany and also in Berlin. Britain, France and the United States’ zones of the country were later consolidated into one zone for reconstruction. Democracy and capitalism were encouraged in the Western zones of Germany with multi political parties’ system whereas socialism took over all aspects of life in the Soviet zone. Both, West and East sought to make their part of Berlin a ‘show window’ for their system and aimed to make it alluring to people on the other side.
The Powers wanted to maintain the status quo in Berlin but….Berlin was located at the front line of the Cold War between USA and USSR and it became a focus of Cold War tensions between communism and democracy in the 1960’s.
Since Berlin, the capital, was located deep in the Soviet Zone and divided into four parts, it was a big threat for the East because democratic West Berlin was a way more attractive for people due to the freedoms and
The Powers wanted to maintain the status quo in Berlin but….Berlin was located at the front line of the Cold War between USA and USSR and it became a focus of Cold War tensions between communism and democracy in the 1960’s.
Since Berlin, the capital, was located deep in the Soviet Zone and divided into four parts, it was a big threat for the East because democratic West Berlin was a way more attractive for people due to the freedoms and