Are we one people? Attitudinal patterns and expectations in East and West Germany since the year of unification

Coverbild: BWP 5/2015
Author
Issue/Year (Volume) 5/2015 (44)
Page(s) 8-12
Language(s)
    englisch

The search for security is indicative of a basic need that prevailed in Eastern Germany in the phase of system change and the subsequent economic transformation crisis. But the pursuit of security was and is traditionally widespread in Western Germany as well. Thus the ground was prepared for a social culture pattern recognised throughout Germany in which the traditions of the authoritarian welfare state of the GDR and the democratic social state of the Federal Republic were merged. The paper exemplifies how attitudes prevailing in East and West have converged in the course of 25 years.