In August and September 2026, Carsta Langner will be presenting her book Solidarität und Gewalt. Migration, Rassismus und Engagement in der ostdeutschen Umbruchgesellschaft, 1970-2000 2000 and would like to engage in conversation with an interested audience.
Here’s what you can expect at one of the book talks:
Ever since German reunification and the pogrom-like attacks on migrants in the 1990s, phrases like “brauner Osten” have been on everyone’s lips. Since then, people have continually sought to understand the causes of racism and right-wing violence in East Germany.
Historian Carsta Langner traces the history of migration in East Germany from the 1970s through the late 1990s. On each of the evenings, she will discuss the experiences of migrants based on examples from contemporary sources. Racism was a significant part of those experiences.
However, state socialism and its slogans of “Völkerfreundschaft” (“friendship among all people” and “internationale Solidarität” (“international solidarity”) had motivated quite a few East Germans to advocate for the interests of migrants and against racism.
Book Talks Summer 2026 | Dates and Venues:
Book Talk #1 | 24.08.2026 · 18:00 – 20:00 | Schloss und Stadtmuseum Hoyerswerda, Kaminzimmer · Schloßplatz 1, 02977 Hoyerswerda
Book Talk #2 | 25.08.2026 · 18:00 – 20:00 | Bürger*innenbüro Bautzen · Schülerstraße 10, 02625 Bautzen
Book Talk #3 | 26.08.2026 · 18:00 – 20:00 | Gärtjen · Eisenbahnstraße 1, 01097 Dresden (Bei schlechtem Wetter findet die Veranstaltung in den Räumen der Jüdischen Kultusgemeinde statt.)
Book Talk #4 | 17.09.2026 · 18:00 -20:00 | Gedenk- und Bildungsstätte Andreasstraße · Andreasstraße 37a, 99084 Erfurt
