Straddling the Cold War’s frontline, Berlin has stood at the forefront of not only German history but of European and global developments as well. The divided city symbolized and represented the global conflict between capitalism and socialism; the division of the world, Europe and Germany into East and West; and also the nature, structure and goals of their supporting, antagonistic world political systems. This course will provide insights into the key political developments in Berlin’s recent history from the fall of the Third Reich, through the decades of political and physical division, to the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and Germany’s subsequent reunification. The course will also explore post-war Berlin’s social and cultural history, paying special attention to common themes, experiences and concerns that transcended the city’s physical division, affecting Berliners on both sides of the Wall. The course is composed of 11 seminars, 3 excursions and 3 optional film evenings. Students are provided with suggested reading to prepare themselves for each session. For week 12, Peter Schneider’s novella, Wall Jumper, is required reading and will be discussed in class. |
