Talk
"Poor, but sexy!" How Berlin became Europe's most exciting metropolis in the early 2000s

German-Hong Kong Alumni Talk with Mr. Klaus Wowereit

Thu, 14.11.2019
7:00 PM - 21:00 Goethe-Gallery, Goethe-Institut Hongkong

"Poor, but sexy!" How Berlin became Europe's most exciting metropolis in the early 2000s.
Former Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit in a conversation at the Goethe-Institut.  

Klaus Wowereit already had a remarkable career in Berlin local politics when he was elected Governing Mayor in 2001. During his tenure from 2001 to 2014, Berlin turned into a cosmopolitan, vibrant metropolis that attracted artists and creatives from all over the world: living and working conditions were favorable, the club scene became legendary, and the mayor himself became a symbolic figure for tolerance and diversity: he appeared at Christopher Street Day and in television shows and was one of the first top politicians in Europe to live openly as a gay man. His famous saying: "I am gay - and that's a good thing" encouraged many people to come out. Wowereit, as mayor of Berlin, had to steer a tough austerity course because of Berlin's catastrophic financial situation. He commented on this with the saying, which also became a catchphrase: "Berlin is poor, but sexy!”

We are honored to welcome Klaus Wowereit as a guest in our Alumni Talks series. In a conversation with Dr. C.K. Martin Chung, he gives an insight into the stages of his political career and describes what makes Berlin so special.

©BUHK

Dr. C.K. Martin Chung is Assistant Professor at the Department of Government and International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University and Germany Alumnus.

Registration opens until 13.11.2019 under: Eventbrite