At the beginning of German unification in October, 1990, there were high expectations for where the integration of the former East Germany into the western system would be ten years later. Now, at the dawn of a new millennium, some argue that the expectations have not been met, with new questions arising as to when these changes will take place. Others, of course, say the process has been, under the circumstances, quite successful. What, if anything went as expected and hoped, and what are the prospects for the future?
What, if anything did not develop as expected, and what lessons can we take from the process and apply to our understanding of German society and politics and the broader process of unification? Finally, what implications has German unification had on the emerging European Union and what lessons can we draw from other national and sub-national forces of unification and consolidation in the world today as a result of a careful reflection and assessment of the German unification process.
This edited volume presents ten papers that offer fresh insight and perspectives on these questions and suggest pathways to future research on the topic.
