Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Borneman, John

Titel

AFTER THE WALL: EAST MEETS WEST IN THE NEW BERLIN

Ist Teil von

• New York, NY: BasicBooks, 1991. x+258 pp, 1991, p.x+258-x+258

Erscheinungsjahr

1991

Quelle

Sociological Abstracts

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Interviews conducted 1986-1990 with East & West Berliners are used to examine the impact of the transition from socialism to capitalism in the East on the everyday life experiences of Germans, in this book presented in 10 Chpts with a Preface. (1) The Many and the One: Berlin -- describes the public euphoria on 9 Nov 1989, when it was announced that the German border would be opened, & reviews the post-WWII history of Berlin, including the social dynamics leading to reunification. (2) The Autumn Revolution of 1989 -- summarizes the events of the Autumn revolution, which began in Aug 1989 when East Germans began fleeing to Austria across the newly dismantled border between Austria & Hungary, & escalated into mass demonstrations that eventually led to the collapse of the Erich Honecker regime. (3) One Night in Jericho: The Wall Comes Down -- offers case studies illustrating the various reactions of East & West Berliners after their initial contact with each other, & considers their views on what an open border would mean to their daily lives. (4) Becoming Socialist -- examines the lives of two loyal East Germans, tracing how they acquired their socialist identities, determining how they viewed themselves as citizens of East Germany, & exploring their fears of being consumed by the capitalist West Germany. (5) Walled In without a Home: Exile of the Spirit in the GDR State -- reviews the biography of one woman to demonstrate how East Germany failed to create a community identity among its people, even among its supporters. (6) Fantasy and Desire: Images of the West beyond the Wall -- explores the ambiguous attitudes that East Germans held of West Germans before reunification, finding that even supporters of the Communist party were frustrated that opportunities available in the West were inaccessible to them. (7) Fear, Guilt, and Revenge -- explains that, after being released from the East German rule by fear designed to achieve social control, former East Berliners felt guilt for having not stood up to the indignities they had suffered; some felt a desire for revenge against the perpetrators of the regime of fear, while others were able to make peace with old adversaries. (8) Becoming Capitalist -- examines the reflections of former East Germans on the forthcoming changes as their culture, state, & economy are reconstructed on a capitalist model. (9) Transitions: Crossing the Wall -- considers the problem of creating a coherent sense of self experienced by East Germans attempting to live in the much different West Germany, implying that the German nation will experience the same problems as it tries to unite two radically unassimilable countries. (10) The Election and the End of the Revolution -- reports on the first free elections held in East Germany in Mar 1990, & argues that, although East Germans will be able to vote from now on, they will not be able to radically change the power structure of their society; rather, elections will only be a ritual legitimation of capitalist, liberal-democratic systems of hegemony. 10 Figures. R. Logsdon