Futures East

In 2020, social scientist Naika Foroutan presented the thesis that children of East German parents born after reunification identified with the GDR as a system in ways similar to those of post-migrant communities. This theoretical assumption seems to have turned into an empirical reality today. German “post-East“-positions range from “ostalgia“ to over-identification with the former GDR (from tinkering with Simson motorcycles to rightwing slogans like: “East! East! East Germany!”). On the other hand, this has led to constructive debates critical of capitalism. So is “the East“ a projection screen for the systemic Other among today‘s post-reunification generation?

Futures East is an attempt to strengthen the function of “the East“ as a catalyst for rethinking society. However, in order to make sense of the German experience, a “de-Germanized ” and possibly “post-European” perspective (Yuk Hui) seems necessary. This implies incorporating migrant and international experiences to widen the focus beyond the unique window of opportunity in late 1989 and the nationalist frenzy that accompanied the fall of the Berlin Wall, triggering a cascade of European nationalisms. Taking the broader view could reveal transnational and transreligious trajectories, linked to forms of self-managed work (e.g., Yugoslavia), which are revived today in the context of art (see documenta fifteen). On a macro level, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) could come into view, which has practiced a different kind of solidarity between the North and the (Global) South. We will attempt to locate the Futures East along these historical, biographical, and geographical axes.

The Futures East Day kicks off at 6 p.m. at Volksbühne’s Roter and Grüner Salon and foyers; from 8 p.m. onwards on the main stage.  Program details will be announced here shortly. An all-inclusive ticket will grant access to all events and discussions. Seating is not guaranteed.