Roundtable
Biographical Memory and Political Action in the Transforming East German Society since 1990

This roundtable explores the complex relationship between biographical memory and (anti)democratic action through the lens of East Germany’s postsocialist transformation, focusing on how the long history of 1989 continues to shape political behavior today. Biographical memory refers to the personal, lived experiences of individuals who were directly involved in the various transformation processes that were set in motion with the political transformation in 1989. These memories are often reflective, forming part of personal identity and providing insight into how individuals make sense of democratic resilience or antidemocratic tendencies over time. As antidemocratic tendencies gain momentum not only in East Germany but across Europe, the memory of the 1989 transformation has become a contested space where personal narratives and political ideologies intersect. By examining biographical memory and lived experiences, this roundtable seeks to highlight how memory drives both antidemocratic movements and democratic resilience. Together, the individual contributions promote a nuanced understanding of how biographical memory informed both antidemocratic and democratic action, offering insights into the ongoing negotiation between competing political values in post-1989 Europe.

Contributions to the roundtable seek to initiate discussion on the following topics: Firstly, political biographies of members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and how their personal experiences contributed to their embrace of antidemocratic ideologies in the present. Secondly, the lived experiences of voluntary workers who developed democratic resilience in the years following the system change. Thirdly, older individuals' (democratic) activism in the transformation, which is shaped by intersecting factors like age, gender, and origin.

Further information on registration and the conference fee can be found on the conference website: https://msaprague2025.dryfta.com/86-registration/attendee-registration-tickets