Experiences from the period of transformation meet fresh perspectives
With the Peaceful Revolution in the autumn of 1989, the people of the GDR overthrew the SED dictatorship. With reunification in 1990, they embarked on a journey towards the democratic structures of the Federal Republic.
Image gallery
"Neue Tapeten" für die Volkskammer der DDR.
During those years of upheaval, the GDR civil rights movement in particular debated its ideas on democracy, freedom and co-determination. A draft constitution was presented in 1990. There was no widespread discussion of it, either in the GDR or in the Federal Republic.
➡️ Was an opportunity missed in 1989/90 that could have renewed democratic structures in Germany, anchored them firmly in the population and thus strengthened them?
➡️ Is there a link to the dissatisfaction currently being expressed with the functioning of the political system?
➡️ And how can the legacy of the Peaceful Revolution be harnessed to counter today’s threats to democracy and freedom?
These questions will be discussed together with experts.
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, political activist
- ManuEla Ritz, social education worker, coach and author
Moderator:
Dagmar Hovestädt, journalist, former spokesperson for the Stasi Records Archive
Ticket price: 5 euros / concessions 3 euros.
You can book event tickets in advance or collect them from the box office in the foyer of the Humboldt Forum.
A joint event organised by the Berlin Commissioner for Coming to Terms with the SED Dictatorship and the Berlin Museum as part of Berlin Freedom Week.
Dates
November 2026
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