Introduction: Clearing the Air
Based on geography, you easily get mixed up concerning the state of affairs of one place or region. There’s one place, though which often causes people to raise eyebrows, and this is Berlin. Whether it is a country on its own? That said, let me offer you the comprehensive analytical answer to the question in the title of this article, so you got the whole picture of Berlin’s situation.
The Basics: Without doubt, appreciation of Berlin’s Identity is one cause of this strife.
Okay, so let me set the record straight first before moving on. Berlin is the energetic and historically charged capital of Germany although it is not a country itself. It acts as a state of the Federal Republic of Germany only, which has a quite strong centralized structure. They are like the states of the U.S. or the provinces in Canada as a state Berlin is similar.
In the cellular structure of Germany, Berlin is in a distinct league having both the status of a state as well as a city. It is the biggest city in the country and the $(political, cultural and economic) capital of the nation.
Historical Context: Divided and Reunited
Before careful the modern situation in Berlin is understood it is necessary to turn to the history of the city which was always colorful and often tragic. After World War II, Berlin found itself divided into four sectors, each controlled by different Allied powers: the U.S., Russia, UK, and France.
From 1945 to 1990, the city was divided by the berlin wall and including east and west berlin , which was managed by the Soviets and three western allies who were the U.S.A, Britain and France. , East Berlin become the capital of the GDR, that is the separate Soviet Socialist Republic.
But after years and political hostilities the two sides were divided by the Berlin Wall which came crashing down in 1989. Although the two had formally been united in 1949 East and West Germany were reunified in 1990. This was the final of the division of Berlin and its reunification as well as the capital city.
The Current Status: Berlin as a State
As said before, Berlin is a state as well as a city in Germany because Germany is a federal state. Besides its political demography, having more than 3.7 million people in its population, its importance is beyond the geographical content of the state.
In its turn, as a state, Berlin has its own governmental powers and an own legislative head called the ‘‘mayor’’ of Berlin. Such officials are voted into the office by the Berlin inhabitants for the express purpose of fulfilling certain requirements. However, on decisions of national policies and other crucial issues, the decision making is still done in Germany’s capital-Berlin.
Also, it has cultural significance and is one of the most popular tourist and artist destination centres in the world. It has a long history, that today tourists can visit the monument of the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall Memorial, and the Reichstag building.
Conclusion: Berlin’s Identity Unveiled
So, is Berlin a country? The answer is an unambiguous no. Berlin is one of Germany’s states, though it has its own government and meaning. only when one has a historical background of the city from the time it was divided right up to the time it has been reunified is it possible to understand the status that Berlin has today.
The next time you encounter this question you might want to explain, although Berlin is not a country it is a special city with great history and culture which has gone beyond political borders.
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