Denmark
France
Germany
Netherlands
Poland
United States1989 Regime Changes in Europe
When: March 2009
Where: Berlin, Germany
HIA Germany organized a workshop in Berlin entitled, The Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy: "Peaceful Revolution" as a simulation game. The international participants engaged in discussions with experts and eyewitnesses, and developed a simulation for further use in adult and youth education, addressing the following questions:
- What were the social and political causes for the Peaceful Revolution in East Germany prior to 1989 (GDR)?
- What consequences did the Peaceful Revolution have for the people of unified Germany?
- What strategies are used to come to terms with the past and with what results?
- How can these changes be placed in the context of other political movements and regime changes in Central and Eastern Europe during the late 1980’s?
The program was made possible thanks to a grant of the German Foundation, Stiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur.
A general climate of discontent and economic depression has emerged in "Allonia," a fictitious communist country. Due to recent food shortages, public demonstrations have begun and are quickly gaining power. If the status quo is maintained, the demonstrations threaten to erupt into full-scale revolution. Each of the simulation participants is assigned to one of seven distinct interest-groups representing key players in the country's stability and governance. Each with its own set of priorities, the interest groups must negotiate in order to arrive at a common statement, accepted unanimously by all.
Download the simulation manual:
Feel free to alter and adapt the exercise, and please share your experiences and alterations with us!
Background information to the simulation
In spring 2009 HIA Germany organized a workshop in Berlin entitled The Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy: "Peaceful Revolution" as a simulation game. The international participants engaged in discussions with experts and eyewitnesses, and developed a simulation for further use in adult and youth education, addressing the following questions:
- What were the social and political causes for the Peaceful Revolution in East Germany prior to 1989 (GDR)?
- What consequences did the Peaceful Revolution have for the people of unified Germany?
- What strategies are used to come to terms with the past and with what results?
- How can these changes be placed in the context of other political movements and regime changes in Central and Eastern Europe during the late 1980’s?
The program was made possible thanks to a grant of the German Foundation, Stiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur.
Download detailed program schedule and participant list
Follow-up and dissemination of this simulation:
The simulation is currently presented and tested at several international conferences:
- Geschichtsforum 09 in Berlin, May 29-30, 2009
- Humanity in Action Senior Fellows Reunion in Poznan (Poland), Sept 6-9, 2009
- Active Citizenship in Europe conference in Gothenburg/Sweden, Sept 29-30, 2009
1989 Regime Changes in Europe was made possible by the support of:
Contact:
Anne Stalfort
a.stalfort@humanityinaction.org
+49 (0)30 44 30 82 71
