Stability or Change? Cultural Convergence and Xenophobia in East & West Germany

During winter 2014/15, in Saxony, a regional protest movement articulated the perceived threat of superalienation in Germany. Simultaneously, counter-movements evolved all over the country. This development fueled a discussion within the German public sphere, on how culturally and religiously open the country should be. Moreover, it raised the question if xenophobia is woven into the legacy of the GDR. Starting with a focus on xenophobia, this study addresses the broader issue of convergence of political cultures of former West and East Germany. Has German culture already “become one” 26 years after the fall of the wall? Employing World Values Survey data, allows us to analyze longitudinal cultural developments since 1990 for both, East and West Germany. Furthermore it is possible to compare results with other post-industrial, ex-communist countries, and therefore assess different variables potentially related to cultural convergence.