Dealing with recent and most recent contemporary history takes up a major part of the educational work done by Weiterdenken, the Heinrich Böll Foundation of Saxony. By dealing with our past we review our own moral and political standards of value, sometimes changing them and re-focussing them again and again.

With respect to the history and end of the GDR, there are two aspects to be covered by Weiterdenken. On the one hand, we need to compile biographical accounts on life in the GDR, on dissident thinking and acting, and on the events of 1989/90, and to discuss them in public. This was one of the priorities of our work reflected in numerous interviews that can be found on the Weiterdenken website. As we see it, differentiated accounting and public evaluation of history can contribute towards to neither idealising or generally condemning GDR reality, nor to making it a projection screen for unfulfilled social and individual dreams and plans. On the other hand, we find that actively dealing with history may be a chance to counter instrumentalisation of history and historical accounts.

It has been a particularly exciting task for Weiterdenken to put a generation, who did not experience the GDR and its fall with full awareness, in a position to approach the events around `89 in their own ways. Therefore our aim has been to provide inspiration, opportunities and assistance.

Last but not least, we found it important to make this work of remembrance happen not just within a regional or national context, but rather to put it in relation to the processes in the Central-Eastern European countries. This level of dealing with the past pays respect to the achievements and particularities of the manifold movements and integrates our own experiences and memories with the—also historical—House of Europe.

‘Vastly Equal?’ is particularly demanding within the context of the work of Weiterdenken: A comprehensive target had to be conceived, financed, organised and realised with good results within a small period of time.

Looking back, we are satisfied and grateful in more than one respect: We experienced a very intense exchange between the students and the mentors and advisors in the city teams during the process of work on the projects. The exhibitions created through the project, providing different focal points and ways of illustration, represent a manifold, vivid consideration of the history of 1989 in each of the four countries involved.

During the process of creation we often noticed the open and committed way the students got immersed in their subjects. Their parts of the exhibitions thus reflect very individual perspectives which added important impetuses for all of us. We gained new contacts and friendships which will last longer than the actual project. Our discussions and the teamwork have brought us closer together as Europeans.

As a result of ‘Vastly Equal?’ we look back upon several exhibitions, numerous events in four countries, and now can proudly present a website with many pictures and articles, and this publication. The individual exhibition themes have, without any doubt, inspired important discussions in the individual cities, and have re-focussed the views on transformation processes.

Weiterdenken will also gladly be keeping in touch with contacts in the neighbouring countries. We greatly appreciated the new inspiration for our future work and would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all participants.

Kathrin Bastet, Stefan Schönfelder