An explosive cultural and social blend: Berlin and its social stress points
Berlin’s population come from a broad
range of cultural and social backgrounds. This is certainly one of its most
enriching and exciting traits (unless we look at downright poverty) but
unfortunately also triggers off a lot of tensions, conflicts and the emergence
of extremist positions.
Both sides of the coin are well worth
looking at: the multi-cultural diversity as well as the - in some districts
already alarming - manifestations of social unrest and cultural conflict and
last not least the often very original projects that try to cope with these
problems.
That is what we will try to show you
during the following district tours:
Beide Seiten können bei
Stadtteilbegehungen erfahren werden:
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Kreuzberg: many traits of social unrest can here be
found – from the times of early industrialization and the post war era until
today. Some developments have found their manifestations in the architecture
of the district. Resistance and revolt have also left their imprint
everywhere. From the early battles on the barricades to the protest of the
1968 generation, the squatters’ fights, and the “Autonomous Faction”:
Kreuzberg has a very multi-cultural tradition and in many respects a
successful one.
-
Prenzlauer Berg: even before the German re-unification
there were quite a few parallels between Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg. Today
many characteristics like the Russian cultural influences can be traced back
to its East German past.
-
Neukölln: cultural integration has here failed
dramatically and Neukölln is today a very conflict ridden district with major
social problems. Attempts are made to develop new and long overdue
integrational strategies and projects.
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Apart from these tours you can also visit a variety
of social projects: for the homeless and vagrant, for addicts, mistreated
children and women…..
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