"The discussion about East Germany and the relationship between East and West flares up again and again. Be it on the occasion of anniversaries or after protests. And yet there has been no progress in understanding this debate. It goes round in circles, accusations are followed by counter-accusations: "You are dictatorship-socialized!" - "You have made us economically and symbolically small!"

November marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Even before then, the AfD could emerge as the strongest party in three state elections. In this situation, the "most sought-after social commentator in the country" (FAS) speaks out with a nuanced intervention. Steffen Mau examines prominent contributions and contradicts the equalization thesis according to which East Germany will become like the West over time. Due to the experiences of the GDR and the years of reunification, the East will remain different - economically, politically, but also in terms of mentality and identity. In view of the weak roots of the parties, Steffen Mau advocates trying out alternative forms of democracy and involving people more, for example through citizens' councils." (Publisher)