1989: A Mission. Missed Opportunities? New Perspectives.

With the Peaceful Revolution in the fall of 1989, the people of the GDR overthrew the SED dictatorship. With reunification in 1990, they began to integrate into the democratic structures of the Federal Republic. During those years of upheaval, the GDR civil rights movement, in particular, debated its ideas about democracy, freedom, and participatory decision-making. In 1990, a draft constitution was presented. There was no broad public discussion of it, neither in the GDR nor in the Federal Republic.

Did we miss an opportunity in 1989–90 that could have renewed democratic structures in Germany, anchored them firmly in the population, and thus strengthened them? Is there a connection to the dissatisfaction currently being expressed with the functioning of our political system? And how can we harness the legacy of the Peaceful Revolution to counter today’s threats to democracy and freedom?

Together with experts, we want to discuss these questions. 

Guests:
Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, former President of the first freely elected People’s Chamber
Paulina Fröhlich, Senior Expert on Democracy and Cohesion at the Bertelsmann Foundation
Max Schneller (@maximal.demokratisch), political activist
T.B.A.

Moderator: Dagmar Hovestädt

An event organized by the Berlin Commissioner for the Reappraisal of the Communist Dictatorship in Eastern Germany in cooperation with the Berlin Museum.

Location:
Humboldt Forum, Berlin Raum, hall 5, 1st floor. Schloßpl., 10178 Berlin.
Barrier-free.