From collective to association? Figurations of remembering and former state-owned enterprises in post-1989 Eastern Germany

Abstract

ABSTRACT The post-socialist transformation of Eastern Germany exterted a decisive influence on the world of work. The privatization and liquidation of the State-Owned Enterprises (Volkseigene Betriebe, VEB) changed the lives of their employees. Not only was an employee’s employment status suddenly called into question, but also their everyday lives and social environment. Today, many former members of the VEB workforce remain dedicated to preserving the memory of their factories. To achieve this, they drew on their social contacts from VEB settings and formed associations, initiatives, and interest groups. This article explores the new forms of togetherness and social cohesion created by those active in these groups, in addition to their motivations for establishing these associations. Adopting an actor-centred perspective, the article introduces two case studies drawn from a broader body of interview material gathered as part of a three-year ethnographic research project. Both case studies illustrate the interconnections between individual life stories and involvement with specific associations. The case studies are followed by a discussion of open-ended interpretive approaches that present possible ways of deepening the analysis of this material. With reference to the case studies, I suggest describing the groups and their activities in terms of “figurations of remembering.”