German-Polish discussion as part of the Polish Culture Days polenmARkT 2025

The German-Polish Speech traditionally marks the end of the polenmARkT festival in Greifswald. This year, the tried and tested format will take on a new form: instead of a classic lecture, the audience can expect a discussion between two outstanding voices who will bring German-Polish perspectives on the topic of "Eastern identity" into dialog with each other.
In many places, the fall of the "Iron Curtain" was associated with the hope of a triumph of democracy. However, this expectation was disappointed in many cases. In the countries of former real socialism, authoritarian governments have increasingly established themselves, sometimes even taking on totalitarian traits. In Poland, too, a national-populist government shaped the political landscape for a long time, while in Germany - particularly in the east - the AfD achieved record results. As a result, the "East" has a negative image today. But how much of this is mere fabrication? And what are the real causes of this political development, which is now also being felt in the West? The German-Polish discussion with Dirk Oschmann and Justyna Schulz is dedicated to these questions. In his much-discussed book, German scholar Oschmann has shown that three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the West continues to see itself as the norm - while the East is perceived as a deviation. According to Oschmann, this "othering" shapes the media, politics, business and science and deepens social divides. From a Polish perspective, Justyna Schulz, a member of staff at the Instytut Zachodni in Poznan, will shed light on how ideas of the "East" are developing in German-Polish perceptions and what consequences this has for the neighborhood between the two countries.
After short opening statements (approx. 10 minutes each), the two speakers will enter into a moderated discussion led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Ohme (University of Greifswald). The discussion will then be opened up to the audience.