East Berlin, formerly part of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was under communist rule for over four decades. However, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 brought significant changes to the political landscape of Germany. In this blog post, we will explore whether East Berlin remains a communist city today.

The Reunification of Germany

Post the fall of the Berlin Wall the process of consolidation of east and west Germany was initiated. On 3rd of October, 1990 Germans were reunited, hence the end to socialism in East Berlin. Germany after the unification between the East and the West adopted the capitalist type of democracy system in line with Western world.

The Change in the Eastern Part of Berlin

Under this reunification, East Berlin transformed in many ways as the following discloses. The communications and transportation infrastructures were improved, economic growth became the concern of the country, and democracy was built. Some of Berlin’s most famous buildings – the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag – became emblems of a united Germany population.

Economic Changes

The change from socialism to capitalism peptides that East Berlin received more benefits than threats of this new economic system. And this led to the turning of the city into a commercial center when its economy started receiving investments. Some industries were extended; other industries materialized. Today it is full of start-up ventures, artists, and designers, and is at the heart of Berlin’s cultural revolution.

Political Changes

After the reunification there was a change of political system and democracy and political pluralism. East Berlin is an active part of the German political system, that is, people of East Berlin can vote and have their representatives in the parliament. Horrors such as censorship and secret police have been done away with to guarantee the inhabitants a lot more freedom.

The Legacy of Communism

Even though East Berlin has changed dramatically, in order to join the western part of the city, it still has elements of communism. Memorials, museums and educational projects are present in order to remind people and make them realize how life under communism looked like. East Side Gallery, an actual remnant or a portion of the Berlin Wall painted over in murals, symbolizes separated Germany.

In addition, it is also true that some of the people still feel that they want to have that feeling that for which they do not have to go anywhere else. The impacts of reunification of Germany have introduced such economic divides that might be with the populations for a number of generations together with distinct cultures. But nevertheless, East Berlin is an indisputable part of the democratic system of Germany, it accepts freedom, democracy, and equality.

Conclusion

I said that East Berlin is no longer communist city. Since the German reunification, the former East has under gone a process of mutation and has embraced the liberal democratic model. Despite apparent remnants of communism in some spheres of the city’s life after the unification with the western part of Berlin, East Berlin is open for the new democracy, invariable economic growth, freedom and even relative verbality.

Even today, if one walks through the streets of East Berlin, it feels like we are taking a step back in time and waking up to a face that the new Europe has but never had.