The collapse of the Berlin Wall changed Western Europe as we know it today. The Iron Curtain that had divided Europe was lifted and the once-divided Germans were united under one common nation. The causal factors that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall were internal: communism imploded on itself. Gorbachev attempted to reform communism through Glasnost and Perestroika, which were supposed to incorporate economic reforms and transparency. However, history shows that increased freedom is incompatible with communism. Dr. Schmidtke argued that structural deficiencies resulted in low economic growth that led to the collapse of communism in Europe and, consequently, the collapse of the Berlin Wall. The alienation of intellectuals and the authoritarian nature of communist regimes also contributed to the failure of communism in Europe. However, the collapse of the Berlin Wall would not have happened without Gorbachev's Glasnost, Perestroika and the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine. Alongside German official Schabowski whose actions were the catalyst for the mass exodus of people from the GDR to West Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall would not have happened so quickly if Gorbachev had not attempted to implement reforms of communism. Europe Was Schmidtke further claimed that the alienation of public intellectuals led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was extremely difficult for opposition parties to form in the GDR, as dissidents were expelled or sought asylum in West Germany. Communist ideology is based on the Marxist principle of class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Those in power were supposed to be the representatives of the masses; farmers, laborers and industrial workers. Thus, they believed that they did not need to be elected to power, because they possessed superior wisdom (sic). Communism was supposed to liberate workers, but GDR citizens felt alienated from GDR citizens.