East Germans in Generation Comparison

Even after 30 years of reunification, there are still differences both in socio-political attitudes and in satisfaction measurements between East and West Germans. Current political developments and election results also differ markedly between East and West. The study therefore examines the extent to which - in addition to East-West differences - the various generations of East Germans also have different (social) political attitudes. Is there a system-induced socialisation effect that affects attitudes? And do the attitudes of younger generations in the East and West converge again? In addition to looking at the different age groups (socialisation before and after the fall of communism), attitudes and opinions on reunification and the image of the GDR, as well as on the personal experience of the fall of communism and on current political issues were collected.

Topics: Life circumstances: life satisfaction; assessment of the general economic situation in East Germany and one´s own economic situation; optimism for the future.

Political attitudes and differences East-West: political interest; satisfaction with democracy; democracy as a good form of government; satisfaction with politics; assessment of different forms of government (preference for a strong state vs. a liberal state); assessment of representative democracy; participation in elections; trust in institutions; opinion on various statements on the general situation in Germany; opinion on various statements on society in eastern Germany; opinion on reconstruction in eastern Germany (continued priority support for eastern federal states or needy regions in eastern and western Germany equally); attitude towards the welfare state (expansion of welfare state services despite higher taxes vs. tax cuts despite cuts in social benefits); expansion of immigration opportunities and rights of residence for foreigners vs. restrictions; attitude towards immigration.

Attitudes towards the GDR: rather positive or negative feelings with regard to the GDR; evaluation of socialism on the basis of various statements about GDR politics and state; evaluation of social life in the GDR; evaluation of various areas of life in comparison with the FRG; evaluation of current media coverage of East Germany.

Reunification and post-reunification: assessment of the fall of the Wall; winner or loser of reunification; change after reunification; assessment of reunification.

Demography: age (year of birth); sex; household size; education; employment status; occupational status; unemployment; duration of unemployment; household income; party sympathy.

Additionally coded: respondent ID; weighting factor; GDR socialisation; city size (political community class); federal state.