Berlin is a city. Like all other cities, there are things in Berlin that are quite standard: more people, more buildings, more attractions. However, Berlin stands out in that its status as a city is tied to many different social and political contexts. Berlin is a city of walls, a global city, a city of the European Union, and a city of immigrants.
Berlin as a City of Walls: Berlin is defined by the Berlin Wall. Most people, however, simply call it “the Wall”—it is known to be a uniquely Berlin attraction. The Wall symbolizes the clash of two ideologies—Communism and democracy. It has been the site of highly politicized rhetoric (Reagan’s comment to Gorbachev: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” Kennedy’s famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech). As Winston Churchill famously summarized, the Wall was an “iron curtain” that had “descended upon Europe.” The dichotomy between the East and the West was physically embodied in the Wall. However, the Berlin Wall is not the only significant wall in Berlin. As the capitol of many successive German regimes and governments, the walls of Berlin’s old buildings stand as a testament to the history of the city. In particular, the lack of walls in the area that used to be the royal palace for a significant period of time (for year and a half, the palace was represented by painted canvas) (Ladd 42).
Berlin as a Global City: Berlin is global not only in the fact that it is a cosmopolitan, demographically diverse city, but also global in the sense that it has been the site of many interesting turns in history. From medieval kingdom to the Prussian empire to the Third Reich to a divided German government to a modern, democratic republic, Berlin has seen history unfold at an astonishing pace. The succession of historic event that have occurred in Berlin have left interesting mark, both within the Berlin psyche and also in the architecture of the city (Ladd). Berlin serves as a global reminder that history is really never just in the past—it continues to shape reality every day.
Berlin as a City of the European Union: Germany is confronted with maintaining its national independence in a Europe that is characterized by interdependence within the EU. Berlin can therefore be viewed as a city of Germany and a city of the European Union, and Germany’s geographic position may contribute heavily to this dual function. Germany is at the heart of the European mainland; it is possible that in the future of the European Union, other EU countries will look to Germany for guidance because it has that central location. Berlin-as-a-city-of-the-EU and Berlin-as-a-city-in-Germany are two roles that may conflict, leading to a sense of stagnation between Germany’s goals as an individual country and Germany’s goals within the supranational EU.
Berlin as a City of Immigrants: Germany is an attractive destination for immigrants due to its strong economy; in particular, Germany’s guest worker policy has resulted in a large influx of Turkish immigrants, many of whom settle in Berlin. As with any other nation, the question of immigrant status is significant. Are immigrants expected to assimilate (completely cast off the cultural values of their homeland)? Or do they integrate into society, maintaining certain cultural practices and adopting others from their new nation? Somewhere in between? Immigration in Germany has been the subject of racist violence, especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 (“New Ethnic Minorities and Society” 239). A backlash against immigration in Berlin, and the rest of Germany, could be a product of social, economic, and political tensions. First and foremost, there is the matter of culture and nationalism: immigrants obviously are different from the rest of society. Racism, suspicion, and hostility can all be factors contributing to the lack of integration of immigrants in society. Furthermore, immigrants typically have a higher reproductive rate than the rest of society; Germany is currently experiencing negative population growth rate (-0.18 % in 2014), and its birth rate places it at number 219 (out of 224), according to the CIA World Factbook. A perception that Turkish immigrants are rapidly taking over due to higher fertility rates may serve as a catalyst for anti-immigration policies and attitudes. Downturns in the economy could also potentially place Turkish immigrants in the position of scape-goat. Politically, there is an interesting dynamic between Germany attempting to balance its own German nationalism in the midst of European Union participation: there is also the question of Turkish entry into the European Union. If Turkey is successful, there may be an even greater influx of Turkish immigrants into Germany (due to the EU’s open-border policy), exacerbating the issue of immigration.
After this week’s readings, I am interested in grounding my research in the question of immigration. My grandfather was a migrant worker in Germany for a period of twenty years; he lived in Cologne, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, and a few other cities. Integrating into German society was difficult for my grandfather, but relatively easy when compared to other Arab immigrants. My grandfather had blue eyes and blond hair, and he picked up German very quickly—from the outside, he looked and acted quite German. However, there were recurring periods where his Arab heritage would become known, leading to backlash from other individuals. My grandfather’s life in Germany illustrates how immigrant status is highly contextual: an individual can be considered an immigrant in certain situations, and a ‘native’ in others.
Berlin as a City of Walls: Berlin is defined by the Berlin Wall. Most people, however, simply call it “the Wall”—it is known to be a uniquely Berlin attraction. The Wall symbolizes the clash of two ideologies—Communism and democracy. It has been the site of highly politicized rhetoric (Reagan’s comment to Gorbachev: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” Kennedy’s famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech). As Winston Churchill famously summarized, the Wall was an “iron curtain” that had “descended upon Europe.” The dichotomy between the East and the West was physically embodied in the Wall. However, the Berlin Wall is not the only significant wall in Berlin. As the capitol of many successive German regimes and governments, the walls of Berlin’s old buildings stand as a testament to the history of the city. In particular, the lack of walls in the area that used to be the royal palace for a significant period of time (for year and a half, the palace was represented by painted canvas) (Ladd 42).
Berlin as a Global City: Berlin is global not only in the fact that it is a cosmopolitan, demographically diverse city, but also global in the sense that it has been the site of many interesting turns in history. From medieval kingdom to the Prussian empire to the Third Reich to a divided German government to a modern, democratic republic, Berlin has seen history unfold at an astonishing pace. The succession of historic event that have occurred in Berlin have left interesting mark, both within the Berlin psyche and also in the architecture of the city (Ladd). Berlin serves as a global reminder that history is really never just in the past—it continues to shape reality every day.
Berlin as a City of the European Union: Germany is confronted with maintaining its national independence in a Europe that is characterized by interdependence within the EU. Berlin can therefore be viewed as a city of Germany and a city of the European Union, and Germany’s geographic position may contribute heavily to this dual function. Germany is at the heart of the European mainland; it is possible that in the future of the European Union, other EU countries will look to Germany for guidance because it has that central location. Berlin-as-a-city-of-the-EU and Berlin-as-a-city-in-Germany are two roles that may conflict, leading to a sense of stagnation between Germany’s goals as an individual country and Germany’s goals within the supranational EU.
Berlin as a City of Immigrants: Germany is an attractive destination for immigrants due to its strong economy; in particular, Germany’s guest worker policy has resulted in a large influx of Turkish immigrants, many of whom settle in Berlin. As with any other nation, the question of immigrant status is significant. Are immigrants expected to assimilate (completely cast off the cultural values of their homeland)? Or do they integrate into society, maintaining certain cultural practices and adopting others from their new nation? Somewhere in between? Immigration in Germany has been the subject of racist violence, especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 (“New Ethnic Minorities and Society” 239). A backlash against immigration in Berlin, and the rest of Germany, could be a product of social, economic, and political tensions. First and foremost, there is the matter of culture and nationalism: immigrants obviously are different from the rest of society. Racism, suspicion, and hostility can all be factors contributing to the lack of integration of immigrants in society. Furthermore, immigrants typically have a higher reproductive rate than the rest of society; Germany is currently experiencing negative population growth rate (-0.18 % in 2014), and its birth rate places it at number 219 (out of 224), according to the CIA World Factbook. A perception that Turkish immigrants are rapidly taking over due to higher fertility rates may serve as a catalyst for anti-immigration policies and attitudes. Downturns in the economy could also potentially place Turkish immigrants in the position of scape-goat. Politically, there is an interesting dynamic between Germany attempting to balance its own German nationalism in the midst of European Union participation: there is also the question of Turkish entry into the European Union. If Turkey is successful, there may be an even greater influx of Turkish immigrants into Germany (due to the EU’s open-border policy), exacerbating the issue of immigration.
After this week’s readings, I am interested in grounding my research in the question of immigration. My grandfather was a migrant worker in Germany for a period of twenty years; he lived in Cologne, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, and a few other cities. Integrating into German society was difficult for my grandfather, but relatively easy when compared to other Arab immigrants. My grandfather had blue eyes and blond hair, and he picked up German very quickly—from the outside, he looked and acted quite German. However, there were recurring periods where his Arab heritage would become known, leading to backlash from other individuals. My grandfather’s life in Germany illustrates how immigrant status is highly contextual: an individual can be considered an immigrant in certain situations, and a ‘native’ in others.