Political Cultures in United Germany 1992

Attitude to democracy and the political system. Changes through
unification. Topics: Friendship contacts in the GDR before the turning
point; new friendships since the turning point; personal concept about
the future of the GDR after the turning point at the time of the wall
opening; personal judgement on reunification at the time of survey;
importance of improvement in the economic and political situation in
Eastern Germany; importance of living together of the Germans from East
and West in a country; closeness with one´s own city, with one´s own
state, with the FRG, before unification with Germany as a whole, with
the European Community, with the old states or with the new states and
their citizens; emphasis on national independence or increased merger
as preferred future political world; attitude to the idea of democracy;
satisfaction with democracy (scale); understanding of democracy;
importance of freedom of press and freedom of speech, freedom of
religion, unrestricted travel freedom, free and secret elections, party
competition, a strong opposition, the possibility of plebiscites, the
freedom to demonstrate, independent judiciary and the federalism
principle; significance of social equality and private economy for the
ideal of democracy; political interest; social trust; actual freedom of
speech in Germany; attitude to selected citizen duties and forms of
political participation such as: continually informing oneself, regular
election participation, trusting politicians, alert and skeptically
following politics, observing laws, publicly opposing unjust laws,
exercising government loyality or government criticism, making an
effort in political groups, parties and citizens´ initiatives,
admitting criticism of democracy, defending democracy against its
opponents, making an effort on social politcy, respect for one´s own
country and defense preparedness in the case of threat; personal sense
of responsibility; evaluation of possibilities of the citizens to
influence politics; uncertainty in political discussions; judgement on
the interest of politicians in the desires and concerns of the
citizens; understanding of politics; judgement on possibilities to
influence politics between elections; classification of the parties as
representatives of voter interests; national pride; attitude to the
idea of socialism; attitude to socialism as realized in the GDR;
earlier attitude of respondent to socialism; general judgement on the
results of politics in the GDR and assumed reasons for this result such
as socialism, politicians, SED or citizens; compatibility of socialism
and democracy; failure of socialism due to wrong image of mankind,
economic approach, leading politicians; development of a political
sense of responsibility in socialism; socialism and social justice;
judgement on FRG political results until reunification, the
understanding of democracy, the manner of realization, the politicians
and parties as well as the citizens of the FRG for the results of
politics in the old states; judgement on the achievements of the
current Federal Government, the current state government and the
parties; judgement on social values such as self-realization, diligence
and achievement, co-responsibility, observing rules, self-confidence
and critical faculty of the individual, hedonism, prosperity and
political commitment; extent of general differences between people in
Eastern and Western Germany; sympathy regarding the East Germans or
West Germans; judgement on the citizens of the former GDR as good
democrats; agreement with the moral obligation of West Germans for
financial support of Eastern Germany; judgement on reunification as
take-over of the GDR by the Federal Republic; assessment of Western
financial aid as necessity to stabilize the all-German situation;
overpowering of the West Germans by the unification desire of the East
Germans; personal change through unification; judgement on the economic
situation in Eastern Germany; demand for an increased effort of the
West Germans or the East Germans for an improvement in communication,
economic development and the development of democracy; postmaterialism
scale according to Inglehart; self-classification on a left-right
continuum; sense of well-being in Germany; judgement on the political
climate in Germany and the political sense of responsibility of the
Germans; judgement on the Germans as good democrats; trust in the
political future of the country; democracy as best form of government;
necessity of fundamental restriction of democratic rights and freedoms
to solve future problems; judgement on the ability of the political
system in Germany to function; realization of democratic principles in
Germany; judgement on democracy in view of the solution of future
problems; judgement on parties and politicians as deserving support;
pride in politicians and parties; judgement on politicians as poor
democrats; trustworthiness of politicians; judgement on the quality of
politics; judgement on the abilities of the politicians and parties;
attitude to government intervention in the economy; judgement on the
influence of the economy on politics; judgement on current and further
development of the economic situation; preference for social security
in a welfare state or for more personal responsibility; judgement on
the reality of social security in Germany; dogmatism, authoritarianism,
anomie (scales); conformism: adaptation to friends, agreement with
majorities and opportunism; month of birth; year of birth; employment;
occupational status; reasons for non-employment; social origins; church
solidarity; contentment with life; self-esteem (scale): sociable,
unsuccessful, recognition, moral inferiority, social uncertainty, pride
in oneself; party inclination and party preference (Sunday question);
self-classification of social class (top-bottom scale); size of
household; net household income; number of one´s own children; number
of one´s own children in different age-groups; membership in trade
unions, civil servant and employee organizations; membership in
professional organizations; party membership; participation in
citizens´ initiatives. Questions to East German respondents: interest
in politics before the turning point; SED membership; member of CDU,
NDPD, LDPD, DBD; participation in turning point demonstrations;
identification with West German parties before the turning point; time
of start of party inclination; city size; district code; identification
of interviewer; date of interview.