The year 1989 is associated with the end of the Cold War and a succession of regime changes leading to the democratization of Central and Eastern Europe, which entailed the end of Communist domination in the region and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Because of the scale and impact of these political changes, 1989 is used as a metaphor designating the triumph of liberal democratic ideology in Europe or referring to spectacular events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall. However, more than a single event or series of events, 1989 encompasses a number of socially meaningful evolutions with a broader context and significance.