Inner Unity and Regional Diversity in Unified Germany. Issue 3 (1st September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Welsh, Helga A.
• Is Part Of: German politics and society. Volume 37:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 4
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2019-09-01
• Subjects: demographic change -- East Germany -- inner unity -- regional inequality -- subnational differences; Germany -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Germany -- Politics and government -- 1945-1990 -- Periodicals; Germany -- Politics and government -- 1990- -- Periodicals; 943.005
• DOI: 10.3167/gps.2019.370302
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1558-5441

Abstract

Abstract : German unification prompted expectations of harmonization in political culture and promises of equivalent living conditions across the federation. Almost three decades later, the revival of narratives based on East-West differences has raised concerns whether inner unity, a term coined to describe political and material convergence across the former East-West divide, has stagnated or fallen behind. Frustration with the process of unification based on East-West contrasts, however, tends to downplay achievements and, importantly, regional diversity across the federation. I advocate a shift in perspective to the subnational (Land and communal) levels and illustrate regional variation with examples that address equivalent living conditions and demographic change. North-South differences coexist with East-West and within-region differences, suggesting not two but four or five Germanies. The eastern regions still occupy a special place in the unified Germany; they contribute to agenda setting and policy making with important implications across the federation.