In the Shadow of the Yalta Conference: A Personal Recollection from Eastern EuropeOn February 11, the Yalta Conference concluded, which not only shaped the post-World War II world order but also directly determined the fate of Eastern Europe. The meeting of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin was not just about ending the war but also about how the victorious powers would divide their spheres of influence. The decisions made at this conference left a deep mark on the continent's history, and many countries, including my homeland, fell into the Soviet sphere of influence. This political decision not only changed maps but also permanently sealed the fate of millions of lives.
Based on the decisions of the Yalta Conference, Eastern Europe came under the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, marking the beginning of an era characterized by the socialist system, political oppression, and economic difficulties. In my country, as in other Eastern European countries, the introduction of socialism brought about significant social and economic changes. People's lives came under the strict control of the party state, freedoms were restricted, and the economy was directed by central plans. Therefore, the decisions of the Yalta Conference were not just political agreements but events that directly influenced people's daily lives, dreams, and opportunities.
During the years of socialism, most people struggled for daily survival while the political system exercised comprehensive control over all areas. The lack of freedom, censorship, and political oppression left deep scars on society. At the same time, it cannot be denied that the socialist system brought advancements in certain areas, such as education and healthcare, although these often came at the expense of freedoms. Thus, the Yalta Conference not only represented the post-war division but also the beginning of an era in which people had to learn to live and survive in a new system.
Today, more than seven decades later, we live in a world where the geopolitical games of great powers once again determine the fate of smaller countries. Since the end of the Cold War, the world has changed significantly, but power games and struggles for spheres of influence are still present. The conflict in Ukraine, the tensions between NATO and Russia, and the global power competition bring the question back to the forefront: are the fates of smaller countries once again dependent only on the decisions of great powers? Since the Yalta Conference, we have learned much from the mistakes of the past, but it seems that history sometimes repeats itself in peculiar ways.
Therefore, the Yalta Conference is not just a historical event but a moment that determined the fate of my homeland and all of Eastern Europe. The years of socialism left deep marks on society, and we still feel the effects of this era today. The lessons of the past remind us that the decisions of great powers not only change maps but also shape human lives. The challenges of the present urge us not to forget that freedom and independence are not gifts but the results of continuous struggle. Thus, in the shadow of the Yalta Conference, we must not only recall the past but also take responsibility for the future.