The move of the capital city from Bonn to Berlin in Germany was highly debated in both the daily press and in the academic world after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Germany was reunified and somehow a new country. The building of the new German capital Berlin is also strongly discussed. Berlin became a place for renewal and city development. During the 1990s and in the beginning of the new millennium Berlin went through many different development projects like the renewal of the Friedrichstraße in East Berlin and the development of the new/old government quarter (Regierungsviertel). The Potsdamer Platz is just another place of the places discussed in Germany. The case of Berlin as a new German identity or the face of a newly reunified Germany, features prominently in different academic journals. Despite that is the issue of people’s identification with places and the identity of space along with gentrification and planning are issued in some theoretical discussions through out the academic world. Identity, power and public places along with planning are issues that are very important, when it comes to Berlin and the new Germany. Berlin’s development is very interesting to analyse, because Berlin and the development or redevelopment deals with different aspects of Germany’s history as well as with economic or social aspects. The decision of the German government to move the German capital from Bonn to Berlin was very important for Berlin’s development as the new/old capital city of Germany and the federal government invested heavily on the redevelopment of Berlin (Heineberg 2001: 236-238).
Dealing with 20th-century history is understandably a very sensitive issue in Germany. Berlin has tried to do that in different ways, for example by the exhibitions in the German Historical Museum (see Till 2001 Reimagining National Identiy) or the building of different monuments dedicated to the victims of the Nazi terror or the DDR regime, but they have not been without critique (see Wiese 1998: 145-156 or Marcuse 1998).
The aims of this thesis are to take a closer look at the process of planning a new German capital city and to make sense of a place that is highly discussed in academic articles. I want to find out what plans are behind the new Potsdamer Platz and what was the purpose of these plans. What impression does the place Potsdamer Platz give.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Aim of this thesis
1.2 Delimitation
1.3 Methods and material
1.4 Structure of this bachelor thesis
2 Background
2.1 History of the Potsdamer Platz
2.2 Short facts about the Potsdamer Platz today
3 The theory behind the global city
4 The Potsdamer Platz – a way of pushing Berlin towards a global city?
5 Theories of urban development strategies
6 The new Germany? – The Potsdamer Platz as a sign of economic power?
7 Theories of public space in cities and ambient power at public places
8 Privatisation of public space and ambient power at the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin?
9 Conclusion
10 Summary
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary aim of this thesis is to investigate the planning process and development of the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin by examining whether the site reflects broader local, national, and global urban trends. The research evaluates if the area serves as an emblem of a "global city," a symbol of renewed German economic power, or a site characterized by the privatization of public space.
- The global city status of Berlin and the role of the Potsdamer Platz.
- The national context of Germany and economic power manifestations.
- Privatization, exclusion, and ambient power in urban public spaces.
- Qualitative analysis through literature review, interviews, and visual observations.
Excerpt from the Book
1 Introduction
The move of the capital city from Bonn to Berlin in Germany was highly debated in both the daily press and in the academic world after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Germany was reunified and somehow a new country. The building of the new German capital Berlin is also strongly discussed. Berlin became a place for renewal and city development. During the 1990s and in the beginning of the new millennium Berlin went through many different development projects like the renewal of the Friedrichstraße in East Berlin and the development of the new/old government quarter (Regierungsviertel). The Potsdamer Platz is just another place of the places discussed in Germany.
The case of Berlin as a new German identity or the face of a newly reunified Germany, features prominently in different academic journals. Despite that is the issue of people’s identification with places and the identity of space along with gentrification and planning are issued in some theoretical discussions through out the academic world. Identity, power and public places along with planning are issues that are very important, when it comes to Berlin and the new Germany. Berlin’s development is very interesting to analyse, because Berlin and the development or redevelopment deals with different aspects of Germany’s history as well as with economic or social aspects.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides the context for Berlin's redevelopment post-1989 and outlines the research objectives regarding planning, power, and identity.
2 Background: Offers a historical overview of the Potsdamer Platz from the 18th century to its modern-day development.
3 The theory behind the global city: Defines the conceptual characteristics of a "global city" as utilized in urban research.
4 The Potsdamer Platz – a way of pushing Berlin towards a global city?: Examines whether the development of the site serves as a strategy to elevate Berlin to global city status.
5 Theories of urban development strategies: Discusses the framework of Large-Scale Urban Development Projects and their relationship to neoliberal planning.
6 The new Germany? – The Potsdamer Platz as a sign of economic power?: Investigates the thesis that the site represents a manifestation of Germany’s economic power.
7 Theories of public space in cities and ambient power at public places: Reviews theories of privatization and the concept of "ambient power" in urban spaces.
8 Privatisation of public space and ambient power at the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin?: Analyzes empirical data from the Sony Centre and Arkaden to assess privatization and exclusion.
9 Conclusion: Synthesizes findings to argue that the Potsdamer Platz is not a sign of global economic power, but demonstrates significant privatization risks.
10 Summary: Recaps the research methodology and the central conclusions of the thesis.
Keywords
Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, urban planning, global city, privatization, public space, neoliberalism, economic power, urban development, architecture, identity, social exclusion, ambient power, gentrification, democracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this thesis primarily about?
The thesis explores the urban planning and redevelopment process of the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, analyzing it through local, national, and global lenses.
What are the central thematic fields?
The study centers on three main areas: the concept of the global city, the representation of national economic power, and the privatization of public space.
What is the primary research question?
The work asks whether the planning of the Potsdamer Platz reflects an intentional strategy to push Berlin toward a global city status and whether the site effectively represents a new face of German economic power.
Which scientific method is used?
The author employs qualitative methods, including a review of academic literature, expert interviews with urban planners, site observations, and document analysis.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers historical context, the theoretical definition of global cities, the analysis of urban development strategies, and the investigation of privatized public spaces like the Sony Centre.
How is the work characterized by keywords?
The work is characterized by themes of urban geography, the socioeconomic impact of large-scale development, and the democratic consequences of privatizing formerly public spaces.
Does the author find that Berlin is a global city?
No, the author concludes based on both empirical evidence and literature analysis that Berlin is not a global city and the planning of the Potsdamer Platz does not support this claim.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the privatization of the Potsdamer Platz?
The author finds that spaces like the Sony Centre and the Arkaden are heavily privatized, leading to exclusionary practices that threaten the democratic access to public urban spaces.
- Quote paper
- BSocSc Till Koglin (Author), 2007, Berlin's Potsdamer Platz - Planning in a local, national and global context, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/74969
