In The Know: Is Germany Still Divided?

Germany was breathtaking! From the tranquility of Stuttgart to the busy streets of Berlin… Everything about Germany will make you fall in love with the country. However, as with anything you love in life, there is still that small detail that is not particularly your favorite, but you decide to turn a blind eye to. In the case of Germany it is a bit hard to ignore it: the socioeconomic disparity between west and east Germany that was left after the reunification.

Even though there is not a wall separating East and West Germany from one another, it is possible to see a certain division by socioeconomic status between both sides. Confronting the disparities resulting from German reunification, historical guest worker migration, and recent refugee migration requires a multifaceted approach addressing systemic issues in labor markets, education, health, and wealth distribution. After understanding more of Germany’s history and present, I do believe that several strategies could be implemented that cover diverse areas, such as education, wealth redistribution, and community integration.

• Education Reform: Implementing education reforms aimed at providing equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of their background is crucial. This includes investing in schools in disadvantaged areas, providing language support for migrants and refugees, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the curriculum. Additionally, the government should implement policies that promote equal access to employment opportunities and address discrimination in the labor market; this can include affirmative action programs, anti-discrimination laws, and measures to encourage diversity in hiring practices. Moreover, develop skills training programs targeted at marginalized communities, including migrants and refugees, to improve their employability and access to higher-paying jobs. These programs should be tailored to the needs of different groups and provide support for language acquisition and cultural integration.
• Wealth Redistribution & Sustainable Financial Growth: Implement policies aimed at reducing wealth inequality, such as progressive taxation, social welfare programs, and targeted financial assistance for marginalized communities. One example of a policy that I found extremely interesting was the Rent Cap presented during the visit of the Housing and Social Sustainability Department of the City of Berlin as it showed that the rent increased 15% in four years instead of 20%, which helps the citizens who are renting apartments to be able to keep up with price increases in a more smooth way. This can help address disparities in wealth accumulation resulting from historical and structural inequalities.
• Community Integration and Social Cohesion: Promote community integration and social cohesion through initiatives that bring together different groups, foster intercultural understanding, and combat discrimination and prejudice. This can include community-based programs, cultural exchange activities, and efforts to promote tolerance and diversity. However, it is important to highlight that the DDR had strategies to promote bonding over soccer teams as it was possible to see in our visit in the DDR Museum, and I thought it was extremely interesting their attempt to create a feeling of community. Also, it is essential to tackle underlying structural issues such as racism and discrimination that perpetuate disparities in society. This may involve implementing anti-racism initiatives, promoting diversity and inclusion in institutions, and addressing systemic barriers to equality. Lastly, fostering partnerships and collaboration between government agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector actors to address the multifaceted nature of disparities and leverage resources and expertise from different sectors can be extremely helpful in closing the disparity paired with developing long-term strategies for addressing disparities and regularly evaluate progress to identify areas for improvement and adjustment.

By implementing these strategies in a coordinated manner, Germany can work towards addressing the disparities resulting from its complex history of reunification, guest worker migration, and refugee migration, and create a more inclusive and equitable society for all its residents.