In 1990 Germany launched an experiment to transplant democracy into
a formerly communist country, effectively dismantling the system of
the German Democratic Republic and rebuilding it in the likeness of
the democratic Federal Republic of Germany. "From East Germans to
Germans? "examines the role of the first generation of
democratically elected political elites in the former GDR's
transition to democracy.
Although the quick transplant of a ready-made democratic system
supported by West German financial backing and expertise provided
benefits, problems arose for the development of postcommunist
political leadership and for the growth of mass support for the
democratic system. Jennifer A. Yoder analyzes the implications of
the transition process for democratic legitimation and integration.
Based on field research in East Germany that included interviews
with parliamentarians, her study addresses issues such as culture,
identity, and the lack of continuity between the old and new
political elites. Although the availability of West German role
models, together with pressure to conform, allowed the process of
decommunization to occur much faster than elsewhere in Eastern
Europe, the cultural differences between east and west are more
extensive and complex than previously assumed. Unification has also
been followed by a reinvigoration of regional interests. Yoder
shows how some political elites have adopted western German
patterns, while others openly criticize many of the practices and
policies originating in Bonn and present themselves as democratic
alternatives and advocates for East German interests in the new
Germany. Indeed, for many East Germans, these new regional elites
are regarded as the only representatives of their interests in the
western-dominated political system.
Providing insight into elite-building at a time of transition and
a valuable alternative to the "institutions versus culture" debate
found in traditional analyses of political change, this book will
interest political scientists and students and scholars of European
politics and German studies.
General
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