The event is part of the State of Democracy series at the Hertie School.
The panel delves into the complexities of German identity, exploring the cultural, social and political divides between East and West Germany. It examines how East German identity has been shaped – and sometimes constrained – by Western perspectives. The discussion also explores the persistence of these East-West narratives, even more than 30 years after reunification, and how they continue to influence German society, politics and collective memory today.
Building on this, the conversation considers how and why "the East" has been culturally and politically constructed through Western viewpoints. The panellists will explore lingering stereotypes and systemic inequalities that continue to shape East German experiences, along with their broader societal and political implications. The discussion will also highlight potential paths forward, exploring ways to embrace diversity while fostering unity within Germany.
Panellists:
- Prof. Dr Dirk Oschmann, Author of Der Osten: eine westdeutsche Erfindung (in English: The East: A West German invention)
- Merle Spellerberg, Member of the German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens
- Prof. Dr Michaela Kreyenfeld, Professor of Sociology, Hertie School
Moderator: Gabriel Rinaldi, Journalist at Süddeutsche Zeitung Dossier and Master of International Affairs graduate
Event registration and photography notice:
Please register to attend the event. A brief reception will follow.
Please note that the event will be photographed and recorded. If you prefer not to appear in photos or footage, kindly pick up a "no photography or recording" sticker at the registration desk.
Speakers
Prof. Dr Dirk Oschmann
Dirk Oschmann Dirk Oschmann, born in 1967 in Gotha, is a Professor of Modern German Literature at Leipzig University. He studied German, English and American Studies in Jena and Buffalo, earning his PhD in 1998. Following a Feodor Lynen Fellowship at the University of Madison (2001–2002), he habilitated in Jena in 2006. Oschmann was a Junior Professor at Jena University (2005–2011) before joining Leipzig University as a Professor in 2011. He has also held guest positions at UC Davis, Notre Dame and Brown University. His publications include Bewegliche Dichtung (2007), Friedrich Schiller (2009), and Freiheit und Fremdheit. Kafkas Romane (2021). In 2023, his pamphlet Der Osten: eine westdeutsche Erfindung topped the non-fiction bestseller list of the newspaper Der Spiegel and sparked a debate on East German identity.
Merle Spellerberg
Merle Spellerberg (she/her) has been a Member of the German Parliament for Alliance 90/The Greens since 2021. She serves as the deputy spokesperson on foreign affairs and is a member of both the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees. Additionally, she is the spokesperson for Alliance 90/The Greens on the Subcommittee on Disarmament, Arms Control, and Non-Proliferation. Her work focusses on security, disarmament, and feminist foreign policy. She represents the constituency of Dresden and Bautzen in Saxony.
Prof. Dr Michaela Kreyenfeld
Michaela Kreyenfeld is Professor of Sociology at the Hertie School. Her research focusses on family sociology and family demography. She is a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, curatorium board member at the German Institute for Population Research (BiB) and advisory board member at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) as well as member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Family Issues of the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. She has headed the 10th commission of the German Family Report.
Moderator: Gabriel Rinaldi
Gabriel Rinaldi is a journalist for Süddeutsche Zeitung Dossier, where he covers German politics and co-authors the “Platz der Republik” briefing. Previously, he was a reporter at POLITICO’s Berlin office and has also worked for The Washington Post, SPIEGEL, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Tagesspiegel, and taz. He studied politics, sociology and economics in Berlin, London and Milan, while receiving training at the ifp journalism school in Munich. He holds a master's degree in International Affairs from the Hertie School and was named one of the Top 30 Under 30 in journalism by medium magazin.
Contact person
- Nena Grceva, Director Alumni Affairs