Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere

This panel will explore the firsthand experiences of two scholars who witnessed the momentous events of 1989. Dr. István Hegedüs, who was part of the opposition movement in Hungary during the 1980s, will offer his perspective of the events in Hungary and the opening of the border with Austria. Dr. Dirk Philipsen will likewise discuss the events as they unfolded in East Germany, and in particular will address the oral histories of East German citizens that he collected during those heady days. This panel is part of the CES speaker series The Collapse: 1989 Then and Now with support from the Department of Education Title VI National Resource grant.

Panelists:
Dirk Philpsen, Duke University
Istvan Hegedus, Hungarian Europe Society

Moderator:
Alice Freifeld, University of Florida