1989/2009 Shaping Freedom

Marcelo Araujo, Director of the “Estação Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo” and head of the “Memorial da Resistência São Paulo” museum project.
© Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo

“There was Practically Everything here – Except Freedom.”

Interview with Marcelo Araujo, Director of the “Estação Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo” and head of the “Memorial da Resistência São Paulo” museum project.More ...

Raúl Alfonsín, president Argentina 1983-1989; copyright: Public Domain, Archivo de La Nación

Powerlessness and Revolt in Latin America

The new era that dawned around the world in 1989 coincided with specific developments in Latin America. The common denominators were the end of dictatorships and neoliberal crisis.More ...

Reunification – hundreds of thousands were there when the black, red and gold of the German flag was hoisted in front of the Reichstag; Copyright: Deutsches Bundesarchiv / Image 183-1990-1003-400 / Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany License (CC-BY-SA), Foto: Peer Grimm

A Manual for the People

The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany has existed for more than 60 years. Originally intended to be a provisional solution, it survived German reunification and is today regarded as one of the most successful constitutions in the world. Will it remain so?More ...

A rally held by the FDJ – the socialist youth organisation of the GDR. Whether you were there live in the Palast der Republik or you watched it on TV, you simply could not fail to be impressed by the finale of the FDJ peace demonstration. Everybody joined together to sing the American song 'We shall overcome' and Brecht’s song 'Und weil der Mensch ein Mensch ist.'; Copyright: Deutsches Bundesarchiv / Image 183-1983-1025-414 / Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany License (CC-BY-SA),Photo: Hans-Peter Lochmann

The Experience of Freedom

The generation of Wendekinder (Berlin Wall children) has had a dual experience: A childhood in the GDR and a coming-of-age in the Federal Republic. In this interview, Professor Gerd Dietrich talks about his understanding of freedom and what role it plays today in German society.More ...

'World Heritage City Sanaa. Minarets tower above centuries-old clay brick houses. Copyright: Klaus Heymach, freiejournalisten.net

Unity in Arabic

In 1990, four and a half month before Germany, Yemen celebrated its unification. For the first time in the history of the country that the Romans called ‘Arabia Felix’, North and South Yemen were joined in a common state. Yet instead of growing together, the country is today threatened with drifting apart.More ...

Further contributions on the theme of 1989/2009

After the Fall – Europe after 1989

A European theatre project by the Goethe-Institut on the impact of the fall of the Berlin wall

1989 – The Fall of the Wall

Fikrun wa Fann, the Goethe-Institut’s cultural magazine on the ultural dialogue between Germany, Europe and the Islamic world. Special Issue on 1989.

1989 – 20 Years After

Conferences, exhibitions and competitions: the Goethe-Institut Prague commemorates the events of 1989 with a multitude of projects.

1989/2009 – Literature and the Fall of the Wall

Is the distance to the historic event after 20 years making new avenues of approach possible? Selected works and author profiles

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