Between Marginalization and Emancipation: Negotiations of Belonging and “Being East German” in the Transformations of Southern Saxony-Anhalt

Since German reunification, southern Saxony-Anhalt has been shaped by recurring and profound upheavals and transformation processes. In current debates on transformation, deficit-oriented perspectives on “East Germany” and “the East” frequently dominate, while the emotions, practices, and narratives of many people living in the region are far more diverse. At the same time, emancipatory potentials can be observed that articulate alternative images of “being East German” and renegotiate forms of belonging in the context of structural change.

The aim of this dissertation is to place local perspectives on “being East German” and belonging at the center of analysis. Based on qualitative field research conducted in southern Saxony-Anhalt, the project explores the lived experiences of people in peripheralized regions. In doing so, the dissertation seeks to contribute to a more differentiated understanding of the region’s transformation processes. Particular attention is paid to narratives and emotions, as well as to the practices of local civil society actors—such as Heimatvereine (local heritage associations) —which illustrate how people actively develop their own interpretations of their region through civic engagement.