"Heimat im Umbruch". Die Transformation des ländlichen Raumes in Thüringen von 1945 bis heute

About the event

We invite academics and practitioners from various disciplines to present their perspectives and research work on the transformation experiences of Thuringia since the Second World War. In particular, the aim is to analyse how the political and economic upheavals from the GDR era to the present have affected the lives of people in rural areas. The guiding theme of the event is interdisciplinary communication between the participants.

"Heimat in upheaval". The transformation of rural areas in Thuringia from 1945 to the present day

Thuringia is a state characterised by profound historical upheavals. From the economic, social and cultural changes during the GDR era to the economic and social challenges following reunification, the region has had to reinvent itself time and again. These processes of change were embedded in supra-regional and global transformations, so that the interweaving of local, regional and supra-regional dynamics must also be analysed. In Thuringia, a 'state without metropolises', there are hardly any large cities and few industrial centres. Here, political, economic and social change processes manifest themselves in a specific way, namely in a rural constellation. In this sense, the rural area of Thuringia, which has gone through various phases of destruction, reorganisation and transformation, represents a unique field of research.

A comprehensive study on the effects of these long-term changes on rural areas in Thuringia since the Second World War has been lacking to date, although the experiences of transformation are of crucial importance for the political landscape and the understanding of today's identity and homeland. The conference aims to bring together and discuss existing knowledge for the first time.

We link the view of the transformation processes of rural areas with the question of "homeland". For a long time, positions that speak of "homeland" were considered to be rather uncritically glorifying and tended to be "ostalgic", so "homeland" is also associated with system-critical and negative memories with regard to the GDR and transformation period. Last but not least, "Heimat" was also a propaganda term used by the GDR government.

The conference is also about the politicisation of experiences in rural areas: To what extent do the specific worlds of experience in rural areas have an impact on people's political attitudes? To what extent were these experiences used as a starting point for political initiatives or politically instrumentalised at different times?

Thematic areas:

• Transformation in the GDR: In many places, the consequences of the state's transformation of agriculture, cities and the social conditions of society in general in the GDR deliberately destroyed traditionally established structures, for example through forced expropriations, political repression, industrialisation and the associated architectural changes. It is also worth asking what impact events such as the closing of the border in 1952, 17 June 1953 and the building of the Wall had on the lives of people in rural Thuringia.

• The Peaceful Revolution of 1989/90: What role did the Peaceful Revolution play in Thuringia, especially in rural areas? How did the events of 1989/90 affect people's political identity and what were the long-term consequences of reunification?

• Economic upheavals before and after 1990: What impact did socialist and neoliberal reforms have on rural areas? How did people experience the transition from a planned economy to a market economy? Has the perception and handling of property changed from 1945 to the present day?

• Social upheavals and their consequences: How has the social structure in rural regions of Thuringia changed since 1945? What cultural and social adaptations did people have to make in their own time in order to cope with the changing (new) political and economic conditions?

• Political acceptance and resistance: How are these historical experiences reflected in today's political landscape? What upheavals and challenges exist in today's Thuringian society and how do they influence political decisions and actions?