The Berlin Wall was a symbol of division for the city of Berlin, Germany, and much of the world from 1961 to 1989. It was not only a significant factor for a Germans’ daily life, but also was a symbol for the global political situation and the reason for the peaceful German revolution of ’89. Let’s take a look at the rise and fall of such a controversial monument and how it still impacts life today.
max. 18 participants
Participants will receive 5 ECTS credit points and a certificate if they attend regularly (at least 80% attendance) and participate actively. Additionally, six weeks after the end of the course a Transcript of Records is issued by Humboldt-Universität.
For almost 30 years, the Berlin Wall was a symbol of the division of the city of Berlin, of Germany and of Europe during the era of the Cold War between the two superpowers, the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Consequently, the fall of the Wall in 1989 was a hugely symbolic turning point in world history.
But how can we explain the building of such a dividing monument? How can we account for its fall in 1989? And how does the Wall influence our lives today?
The course will provide answers to such questions via readings of texts from political science, sociology and history, in order to further investigate the ground on which the events between 1961 and 1989 took place.
Academic lessons
The courses are grouped into different time tracks.Your course will take place in "Track B".
Cultural activitiesHUWISU offers a fine selection of interesting extra-curricular activities and aims to give all participants an unforgettable stay in Berlin. Your program includes excursions, sport activities and social gatherings providing you the opportunity to get to know the city, the university and to meet students from all parts of the world. The costs for these offers are included in the course fees.
Activities and tours we offer regularly: Federal Chancellery, German Parliament, House of Representatives, Topography of Terror, Political Archive, Museum Island, Kreuzberg Tour, Daytrip to Potsdam, Exhibitions…
Undergraduate students of all subjects with a strong interest in contemporary history, social sciences, politics, European studies.
This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.
Participating students need to be at least 18 years old.
Prof. Dr. Jochen Hille, born 1972, is a political scientist and professor for social work at iba University of Cooperative Education in Hamburg. His main interests are welfare studies (mainly health and labor market policies), European Integration and the construction of national identity. His regional focus lies on Germany and Norway. He studied and carried out research at Freie Universität Berlin, Philipps University Marburg, Universities of Bergen and Oslo (Norway), ETH Zurich and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Beside the scientific work he is professionally working as a consultant for social policies and as a project manager/social worker in diverse governmental labor market programs. He gained a wide range of teaching skills in governmental programs, in civic education, public schools and by teaching high ranked governmental professionals.
In academia he regularly teaches political sciences and economics on the welfare state at „Berlin School of Economics“, the „University of Cooperative Education Plauen“ and the „University of Applied Sciences for Media, Communication and Management“ and occasionally at Best-Sabel University, HTW and Business School Berlin.
In the HUWISU program he has been teaching since 2013 the courses on:
The Berlin WallNazi-Germany – Rise and FallGerman: Social Market Economy – a better Capitalism?
Stefka Wiese is a social scientist and urban planner. Her main interests are economic sociology (with a focus on socio-ecological transition and comparative capitalism) and transition processes within urban systems and regions. Her regional focus lies on Germany and Europe, including the transition in Eastern Europe. She studied at Technical University Berlin and Humboldt University Berlin. Beside her scientific work she is professionally working as a consultant in the field of ecological transition of economic and urban systems.
She regularly teaches in the fields of political sciences and economics at Humboldt University and at International School of Management Berlin.
