Image: Getty Images / Sean Gallup / mashable composite 

LONDON On Nov. 9, 1989, the world saw the fall of the Berlin Wall, marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War era.

Twenty-seven years later to the day, the world woke up to discover that a man whose campaign centred on promises of a new wall had been elected to the office of the presidency in a nation that had been instrumental in bringing the one in Berlin down.

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That man is of course Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The irony of his controversial pledge coupled with the historical significance of the date of his election has not been lost on Twitter:

The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of an economically and socially divided Europe heralding a period of enormous growth, but 27 years later, have we reaped what we have sown?

The reality of globalization, for all its benefits, has simultaneously ushered in a world where anti-immigration sentiment and protectionist tendencies have been increasingly mainstreamed, evidenced by the appeal of populist politicians like Trump.

Crashing markets indicate global unease at what a Trump presidency will mean in terms of America’s future relationship with Mexico, Europe, and the rest of the world. Whether Trump follows through on his promise to construct a physical structure or instead opts for a policy design that isolates the U.S. from the world, post-Cold War euphoria has long since subsided and people are thirsting for change.

Where to next? Like it or not, it will be a President Trump that leads the way.

BONUS: Mixed reactions to Trump victory

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