Der andere Blick auf »den Osten«

In the 30th year of reunification, "the East" continues to be a charged topic in German society. An important complex of causes lies in the perspective of "the East" within the framework of modernization theory, where "the East" is always viewed and evaluated against the backdrop of the development of "the West," while interconnections and ambiguities are overlooked. The volume therefore argues for a paradigm shift in East German research. Following relational approaches, a change in the perception of "the East" is thus implemented, which particularly considers the relationship between "the East," "the West," and "the Migrant," thereby bringing "the West" into focus as a research subject for the first time. This enables a new form of East German research, which ultimately is no longer just that.