When the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, the world watched as the "Us vs. Them" of the past 40 years of Cold War fears fell with it. Communism was dead, and Europe was wholly democratic.
But what changed as a result of "unification"? Is East Germany still struggling with the residue of communism?
PART 1 - PHYSICAL CHANGE
- What are the psychological effects of having a wall divide "us from them"? How do you feel if you're a "them"?
Emile Durkheim, a famed thinker and the "Father of Sociology", said the following:
“Punishment in modern society becomes typically a deprivation of liberty.”
- In what ways does our modern society create "punishment" by forcing a "lack of liberty" on certain people?
Examine the image below:
- The cars on the right are going INTO West Germany. Obviously, security is tighter at the West German gate, resulting in quite the traffic jam. Does this picture remind you of any present-day issues in the United States?
- So, after examining this and reading Durkheim's quote, finish the sentence: "East Germany had such a "lack of liberty" that living in it felt like a __________."
PART 2 - POLITICAL CHANGE
Examine the "pre-" and "post-communism" maps below:
- What is the biggest change that you can see? (NOTE: The red is communism...)
- To smaller countries like Bosnia and Macedonia, why would you be THRILLED to see communism fall?
PART 3 - SOCIAL CHANGE
- The map above shows migration (movement) of people, both with current data and projections for 2030. Yes, the graph is in German, but you can tell that the blue is negative growth and the red is positive growth. What conclusions can you draw?
- The graph above shows degrees earned in higher education West and East Germany. Why did the number of degrees flat-line in 1990? (HINT: Remember that the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.)
- Lastly, examine graph above based on 2009 data of the "Eastern and Western regions" of Germany, now unified. What main conclusions can you draw?
- CONCLUSION: 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall (and the fall of communism), how is communism still a part of life in Eastern Germany?
Apartment buildings like these in East Germany are still a symbol of the lifeless nature of communism now past.
