Berlin as a Global City

Berlin’s multiple narratives point to the different roles of the city and its place in European and world history. One of Berlin’s most prominent identities is that of a city of wall. The Berlin Wall split the city in two separate parts for years, leading to a developmental, ideological and social split that is still detectable today. While Germany faced developmental issues based on its seperation due to the wall, it has recently transformed and become one of the most influencial cities in Europe. In addition its identity as a city of walls, Berlin is now a city that is a man factor in the European Union as Germany continues to be the strongest economic, and therefore political, nation in Europe.

However, as the world continues to become more interconnected, cities like Berlin expand to be more than just a city in Germany or a city in Europe, but instead Berlin becomes a global city. The increase in mobilization throughout the world has brought new people with unique views, experiences and cultures to hubs like Berlin The global city is one of interaction and interconnection. Migration is an issue that expands as the amount of people traveling thorough the increase. The increase of new people in Berlin and other global cities have lead to issues of integration and affecting Berlin's role as a city of immigrants.

For cities in Europe that previously had mostly homogenous populations have a very different relationship with minorities and immigrants than nations like the United States and Australia. These two nations began as migrant nations and have a long history of welcoming immigrants with different backgrounds, cutlures and lifestyles who are previously full-immigrant nations. Although there are still some issues with integrating the large numbers of migrants still crossing borders, it is not as strong as a the opposition and issues that arise in previously mono-cultural nations. Berlin faces issues of integration of minorities due to their history as mono-cultural and homogenous. However, there is a relation to this new section of people and the growing identity of Berlin as a city of migrants. There is now pressure to become a global city that is inclusive to all, and shed the previous national identity of German and what it means to be a Berliner and German.