The multi-award-winning author Anne Rabe will be a guest at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, from 7.00 pm. Anne Rabe will be speaking with Viadrina legal historian Prof. Dr Benjamin Lahusen on the topic ‘Democracy is being saved in the East’, discussing political experiences, democratic culture and social change in eastern Germany. Anyone interested is warmly invited to attend the discussion in the Logensaal at Viadrina, Logenstraße 11, Frankfurt (Oder). This will be followed by a small reception offering the opportunity for informal discussions.
In her work, Anne Rabe repeatedly explores political experiences, democratic culture and social change in East Germany. Her highly acclaimed book *Die Möglichkeit von Glück* (The Possibility of Happiness) explores the influences of the GDR and the post-reunification era. In her latest book, *Das M-Wort*, she champions a liberal society that does not shy away from debate on moral values. In conversation with Benjamin Lahusen, the discussion will focus not least on the impetus for the future of democracy that can come from eastern Germany in particular.
Information about Anne Rabe and Benjamin Lahusen
Anne Rabe was born in Wismar in 1986 and is a playwright, screenwriter and essayist. Her plays have won several awards. As a screenwriter, she worked on the series “Warten auf’n Bus”. For several years, she has also been active as an essayist and speaker on the subject of coming to terms with the past in eastern Germany. Her prose debut, “Die Möglichkeit von Glück”, was nominated for the German Book Prize in 2023.
Benjamin Lahusen has held the Chair of Civil Law and Modern Legal History at the European University Viadrina since 2021. He regularly invites distinguished guests to the Viadrina for discussions; events have already taken place with the lawyer and Left Party politician Dr Gregor Gysi, the legal historian and songwriter Michael Kunze, and the sociologist Prof. Dr Steffen Mau.